Texas State Library and Archives Commission

[1] The Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building, located at 1201 Brazos Street in the Capitol Complex in Downtown Austin, houses the State Archives, a library reference collection, two public reading rooms for researchers, a lobby exhibit gallery, and administrative offices.

Meraz is the first person of color and first Hispanic woman to serve as State Librarian of Texas since the position was created in 1909.

[4] $10,000 was designated for its use, though the ongoing bankruptcy of the Republic meant that no more than $250, spent on a set of encyclopedias, was used during this initial phase of development.

On 9 November 1881 a massive fire destroyed the Texas Capitol Building, where the library was housed, and ruined much of the collection.

[4] In 1891 construction of the present Capitol building was completed, and Governor James S. Hogg created the office of historical clerk, adding a Spanish translator and an archivist to the staff two years later.

Marion Price Daniel Sr. went before the Fifty-fifth Legislature and recommended that a building specifically for the State Library be erected, was there adequate housing for the growing collection.