Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
Extent
7.5 linear feet in 9 document boxes and 2 records storage boxes.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Pat Ireland Nixon was born in Old Nixon, Texas, on November 29, 1883 to Robert Thomas and Fannie (Andrews) Nixon. He graduated from Luling High School in 1900, the Bingham School in Ashville, North Carolina in 1902, the University of Texas in 1905, and the John Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1909. Nixon married Olive Gray Read in 1912, and they had four sons.
Nixon opened his medical practice in San Antonio in 1911, and served patients in the city for more than fifty years. Nixon was an active member of the San Antonio community, serving on the San Antonio Board of Health, as president of the Bexar County Medical Association, and an active member of Laurel Heights Methodist Church. He was a frequent speaker for various San Antonio organizations. Nixon received an honorary doctorate from Trinity University in 1963.
In addition to his medical and community work, Nixon was an avid amateur historian. He authored five books: <i>A Century of Medicine in San Antonio</i> (1936), <i>The Medical Story of Early Texas</i> (1946), <i>A History of the Texas Medical Association</i> (1953), <i>The Early Nixons of Texas</i> (1956), and posthumously <i>Pat Nixon of Texas: Autobiography of a Doctor</i> (1979). He wrote numerous articles and essays as well. Nixon served as president of the San Antonio Historical Association, Texas State Historical Association, and the Philosophical Society of Texas, and received the Summerfield G. Roberts Award for best work on Texas history.
Nixon died on November 18, 1965.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection consists of the papers of Dr. Pat Ireland Nixon, primarily concerning his professional medical practice, work as an amateur historian, civic and community engagement, and personal life.
This collection contains insensitive and socially unacceptable descriptions and depictions of different races and cultures. These materials reflect the viewpoints and opinions of the creators, not Coates Library Special Collections & Archives.
System of arrangement
This collection has been arranged in nine series, described as follows:
Series 1 - Personal: consists of materials related to Dr. Nixon's personal life, primarily focused on his education and major achievements.
Series 2 - Correspondence: Contains a bulk of the correspondence found in this collection. Correspondence from significant contacts is arranged in separate folders, reflecting Dr. Nixon's organization of his papers. The rest of the correspondence is arranged chronologically. Additional correspondence, including some from the significant contacts, can be found in Series 8 (Scrapbooks) and Series 9 (Bound Materials).
Series 3 - Texas State Historical Association: Contains correspondence, records, and ephemera related to TSHA. Additional material from Dr. Nixon's presidency of the organization can be found in Series 9 (Bound Materials).
Series 4 - Writings and Addresses: Contains manuscripts of articles, speeches, essays, and other writings by Dr. Nixon. Additional manuscripts can be found in Series 9 (Bound Materials).
Series 5 - Clippings: Contains newspaper and magazine clippings related to Dr. Nixon and his family.
Series 6 - Ephemera: Contains ephemera largely related to organizations with which Dr. Nixon was affiliated. Materials are arranged by organization.
Series 7 - Publications: Contains pamphlets, periodicals, and other brief publications collected by Dr. Nixon.
Series 8 - Scrapbooks: Contains four scrapbooks compiled by Dr. Nixon. These scrapbooks consist primarily of correspondence, with some clippings and other ephemera.
Series 9 - Bound Materials: Contains material that Dr. Nixon had bound into hardcover books, including manuscripts and correspondence.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
This collection is open and available to the public for research in the Special Collections & Archives reading room. The materials are non-circulating.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
The materials in this collection may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). The materials are available for personal, educational, and scholarly use. It is the responsibility of the researcher to locate and obtain permission from the copyright owner or his or her heirs for any other use, such as reproduction and publication.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Gift of Dr. Pat Ireland Nixon to Trinity University, 1964.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
The location of the original manuscript copies of the correspondence between Dr. Nixon and Olive Read Nixon (Series 2, Folders 24-32) and the journal from medical school (Series 1, Folder 3) is unknown. The typescript copies in this collection were made by University of Texas secretarial staff under the direction of Harry Ransom. It is possible that the originals remain in the custody of the University of Texas libraries.
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Pat Ireland Nixon Collection at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio: https://txarchives.org/uthscsa/finding_aids/00002.xml
Patrick Ireland Nixon Papers at the Briscoe Center: https://txarchives.org/utcah/finding_aids/02986.xml
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
In addition to this archival collection, Dr. Nixon gave Trinity University his extensive collection of rare Texana books. These are located in Special Collections, and can be found using the library catalog.
Specialized notes
- Citation: Pat Ireland Nixon Papers. Coates Library Special Collections & Archives, Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas).
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
DACS
Sources used
Archivist's note
This collection was inventoried by library staff around the time of acquisition. Reprocessed by Colleen Hoelscher, August 2024.
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Nixon, Pat Ireland, 1883-1965 (Subject)
- Texas State Historical Association (Subject)
- Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964 (Subject)
- Haley, J. Evetts (James Evetts), 1901-1995 (Subject)
- Ransom, Harry Huntt, 1908-1976 (Subject)
- Hertzog, Carl (Subject)
- Sparkman, Robert S. (Subject)
- Wardlaw, Frank H., Jr., 1913-1989 (Subject)