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A Review of “Into the Archive: Writing and Power in Colonial Peru”

Gracy embraces the drama of Texas history in each chapter as he carefully documents the actions and decisions that led to the creation of the Texas Library and Historical Commission in 1909. He examines the influence of the State Legislature and Commission over each state librarian from 1909 to 1962 and assesses both the progress and the lapses in the development of the State Library. Always grappling with the lack of money and space, the state librarians were constantly frustrated by the misunderstanding of the Library’s purpose and needs. These hindrances made providing public library services throughout the state, summer programs for children, services for the visually impaired, and accessibility of state and federal records to lawmakers a difficult task. Gracy includes within The State Library and Archives of Texas two key appendices. One is the list of Texas Library and Historical Commission members from 1909 to 1962 and the other is the list of commissioners and state librarians during the same period. Many of these people are mentioned throughout the book and the appendices provide an easy way to keep track of who the decision makers were at various times. The book concludes with an extensive set of endnotes, bibliography, and index. Reading Gracy’s book is like watching a child come of age. From the few records of a fledgling government to the 1962 legislation enabling the construction of a library building staffed with professional librarians, Gracy analyzes and critiques each step along the way. His thorough research supports his definition of the State Library’s mission, stated in the Preface, “to provide an information service to the government.” Of value not only to Texas librarians and archivists, this book provides an understanding of the complex workings of state government and the rigors of achieving one’s objectives.