About The Aikin Archives

Published or Revised August 14, 2023

For information from or related to the archive, contact the PJC library at 903-782-0415.

The A.M. and Welma Aikin Regional Archives serve both as a collection of archives from the senator's years of public service and as a State Depository for historical collections from this area. Texas Sen. A.M. Aikin (1905-1982), "the Father of Texas junior colleges," served in the Texas Legislature from 1935 until 1979. His 46 years in the Texas Legislature marked the longest period served by any legislator in the state.

The A.M. and Welma Aikin Regional Archives, in the Mike Rheudasil Learning Center, has archival material from Sen. Aikin's public life and information about the Texas counties of Delta, Fannin, Lamar and Red River. It was dedicated in 1978 in honor of Senator and Mrs. Aikin.

The Archives includes a replica of Aikin's Senate office, a gallery exhibit, and the Archives reading room for research. The Aikin Archives serves as a State Depository for official local government records of Red River, Delta, Fannin and Lamar Counties and for regional and local historical collections, such as:

• Manuscripts, documents, official publications.
• Private and family papers, letters, diaries, journals.
• Yearbooks, civic and business records, school and club records.
• Newspaper clippings, articles, books pertaining to or written by people in the region.
• Photographs, maps, and illustrative material showing streets, public buildings, homes, pioneer citizens, etc.
• A part of the collection, the Papers of John Monroe (Jack) Owens, Jr. is an example of what may be found in the archives.