The Maritime Collection is focused on pre-steam maritime history and nautical architecture, nautical archeology, and maritime exploration. Works produced during the pre-steam era on all aspects of naval architecture, the practice of navigation and sailing, and maritime laws are collected. Additionally, modern works exploring pre-steam maritime history, nautical archeology discoveries of pre-steam vessels, and works produced by faculty in the Texas A&M Nautical Archeology Program within collection scope. Works on modern maritime technology and architecture are outside of collection scope.
The Maritime Collection supports research interests in pre-steam maritime history and nautical architecture, navigation and sailing, and maritime laws. The collection was originally developed to support the Nautical Archeology Program, Department of Anthropology, but has wider application to History, Archeology, and other fields with interests having to do with the sea.
The Maritime Collection consists mainly of books, both printed and manuscript. The collection also includes serial publications, atlases, and prints and illustrations. Emphasis is placed on acquiring items in their original states. Facsimiles are purchased, but sparingly. Material is collected in all languages and in multiple translations of the same title.
Printed books in the field of maritime history, naval architecture, and maritime technology are a strength of the Maritime Collection. This includes texts on shipbuilding, rigging, sailing and navigation, and mercantile and maritime laws. The collection holds an extensive set of society publications, including works published by the International Maritime Economic History Association, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and Marine Research Society.
The Library seeks to acquire historic works that fill gaps in our holdings on pre-steam maritime history, naval architecture, and maritime technology. Current foci include texts on naval defense, materials used in naval architecture, and sailor handbooks. A special emphasis is placed on collecting materials written in non-Latin alphabets.
Chapman Texas & Borderlands Collection: The Texas Collection includes charts of the Gulf of Mexico and it’s ports along the Texas and Mexico coastline. Additionally, the Texas Collection includes documents covering trade, immigration, and exploration from the pre-steam era.
Colonial Mexican Collection: Housed in the Colonial Mexican Collection are government publications, travel narratives, and maps/charts of ports and trade routes.
Map Collection: The Map Collection includes maps of ports and bathymetry charts from the pre-steam era.
Ragan Military History Collection: There are a number of works on naval battles and strategies in the Ragan Collection.
Rare Books & Manuscripts Collection: The Rare Collection contains travel narratives and descriptions of exploration from the pre-steam maritime era.
Curator: Sierra Laddusaw
Created: 7/15/2020
Mailing Address:
Cushing Memorial Library & Archives
TAMU 5000
College Station, TX 77843-5000
Physical Address:
400 Spence St.
Main Campus near the Central Campus Garage
Phone:
979-845-1951