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Source:
San Antonio de Bexar
Historical, Traditional,
Legendary.
An Epitome of Early Texas History
by Mrs. S. J. Wright
Past-President Texas Federation of Women's Clubs
Illustrated With Drawings by J. M. Longmire
from Rare Photographs.
Publ. by
Morgan Printing Co., Austin, Texas
Copyright 1916
PREFACE
The early
history of San Antonio de Bexar, the oldest city, and
for many years the capital of Texas, is, broadly
speaking, an epitome of the history of our State from
the founding of the first mission to the founding of the
Republic.
It was when gleaning from many authoritative sources,
material for "The District of Bexar," Part II of the
work now in preparation, "Texas: Historical,
Traditional, Legendary," that this fact became
evidenced. My attention was then withdrawn from
all other portions of the District of Bexar and
concentrated on San Antonio. The wonder of her
history, the richness of her legendary and traditions,
entitle San Antonio to a volume consecrated to the story
of her development and her fascination.
The contents of this volume, abridged as regards
distinctly local events, and extended in those relating
to the State at large, will be incorporated within the
next six months, into Volume I of "Texas: Historical,
Traditional, Legendary." This latter work is being
edited and compiled by myself as Chairman of the History
Committee of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, and
is endorsed by that organization. Many club women,
as well as many other loyal Texans, both men and women,
have rendered able assistance in securing local data for
this work, and to them it will be gratefully dedicated.
The contents of this volume on San Antonio de Bexar, to
be absolutely authentic, could not have been published
at an earlier date. It is to Professor
Herbert E. Bolton, formerly of the University of
Texas, but now of the University of California, that our
State is indebted, through his recent ''Texas in the
Middle Eighteenth Century," for the history of an epoch
hitherto considered uninteresting and unimportant,
because unknown. For the greater part of thirteen
years Professor Bolton burrowed in
archives of Mexico, Texas and Western Louisiana, therein
discovering the lost and scattered records of that
neglected period. From these he has prepared an
exhaustive narrative which it has been my good fortune
to secure and use as a most valuable volume of
reference.
Professor Bolton's ''Native Tribes Around
the East Texas Missions" is our authority for the
location of early Texas missions, while the chief
reference for this period, historically, is Clark's "The
Beginnings of Texas," especially recommended by
Professor Bolton
for this work, supplemented by the latter's "Notes" on
this monograph, which gives the latest researches into
the Texas archives of this period.
Other authorities for other epochs are Yoakum's
and John Henry Brown's "History of
Texas," Barker, Potts & Ramsdell's "School
History of Texas," - the last for brief chronological
reference - and some local contributions accredited in
the body of this book.
It is hoped and believed that the demand for a
convenient and reliable work on San Antonio de Bexar,
containing the lastest authoritative researches, though
in miniature, will be met by the production of this
volume.
MRS. S. J. WRIGHT.
Paris Texas, Sept. 9, 1916.
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