The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) has loaned the famous letter written by William Barret Travis on Feb. 24, 1836, signed “Victory or Death,” to the Alamo Trust. The public is invited to view this iconic Texas Treasure from Feb. 23 through March 24, 2024, at the Alamo Exhibit at the Ralston Family Collection Center, 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX.

Gloria Meraz, TSLAC Librarian and Director, expressed, “The Commission’s loan of the Travis letter for this exhibit presents a special opportunity for Texans to view what is perhaps the most famous document in Texas history. We are proud to work with the Alamo as it celebrates the 300th anniversary of the Misión San Antonio de Valero and commemoration of the Battle of the Alamo.”

Regarding the historical significance of the letter, it was carried from the Alamo by Captain Albert Martin of Gonzales and delivered to the citizens' committee in San Felipe within 40 hours. John G. Davidson, Travis’ great-grandson, initially loaned the document to the Texas Department of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics and History in 1891, where it was later purchased and transferred to the Texas State Library in 1909 for preservation.

Today, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission takes great care to ensure the perpetual preservation of the Travis letter, displaying it only for special occasions and exhibits. The State Archives maintains and provides access to more than 200 million pages of archival documents and more than two million volumes of printed library materials, including government records dating back to the 18th century.

Learn more about the letter and the State Archives on the TSLAC website at www.tsl.texas.gov/travisletter. For further information about the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and its services, visit www.tsl.texas.gov.