SAN MARCOS, Texas \u2013 The Wittliff Collections, Texas State University\u2019s historical museum, has unveiled a new exhibit highlighting 40 years of documenting state history. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Spirit of The Wittliff in 40 Objects\u201d pulls together 40 unique objects from the archives of the Southwest Writers Collection, Texas Music Collection and Southwestern & Mexican Photography Collection from 1986-2026, according to a university news release.<\/p>\n
\u201cTogether, these objects tell the story of The Wittliff\u2019s mission and spirit of place,\u201d the release said.<\/p>\n
Visitors to the exhibit can see the guitar pick Stevie Ray Vaughan used at his last concert, or sit at the desk where author Cormac McCarthy wrote the novels \u201cBlood Meridian\u201d and \u201cNo Country for Old Men.\u201d<\/p>\n
In October 2024, the Wittliff announced a doubling of its archive of McCarthy\u2019s work<\/a>, whose searing, brutal works garnered acclaim and several film adaptations.<\/p>\n Throughout 2025, the Wittliff welcomed several new additions to its growing archive. <\/p>\n In October, the Wittliff acquired Taylor Sheridan\u2019s creative archive<\/a>. Sheridan is known for the television works \u201cYellowstone\u201d and \u201cLandman,\u201d as well as screenwriting credits for \u201cSicario\u201d and \u201cWind River.\u201d Also in October, outfits and sketches from Selena Quintanilla\u2019s fashion designer<\/a>, Martin Gomez, were on display.<\/p>\n The Wittliff Collections today houses more than 500 collections used by scholars, authors, filmmakers and more. It was founded in 1986 after screenwriter and photographer Bill Wittliff and his wife, Sally, donated their growing archive of Southwestern literary manuscripts to the university\u2019s library, according to the release.<\/p>\n The exhibit will hold events, exhibitions and announcements of plans throughout the year. <\/p>\n Other exhibits included a permanent \u201cLonesome Dove\u201d exhibition that takes visitors behind the scenes of the Emmy-winning series. <\/p>\n