Saturday, March 28, 2020

Everything El Paso Digital Resources

Everything El Paso


Access Resources About El Paso Digitally


Use your El Paso Public Library Card to access these digital resources and others:


See photos of El Paso through our partner page at Portal to Texas History:


See and add your own photos of El Paso to the El Paso Museum of History's DIGIE:



Thursday, March 19, 2020

Border Heritage Center Status 3/19/2020 *Update 3/28/2020

COVID-19 Update 3/19/2020

*UPDATE 3/28/2020 the library is staff is no longer taking phone calls, but questions may be submitted using the Ask A Librarian form on the website here.

The El Paso Public Library has closed all branches until further notice due to the social distancing efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 within El Paso. 

During this time period:

- All library materials checked out will not accrue fines during this period of closure.
- All loan periods on items currently checked out will be extended during this time period. 
- Digital materials can continue to be checked out and returned with your library card.
- The Border Heritage Center will not offer research services as the materials will be unavailable, and the department phone will not be monitored.
- The blog post schedule might not follow the regular once a week schedule as it will be dependent upon staff availability.
- An active full service library card can get you access to the TexShare databases for learning and research resources.
-For more information, you can contact the library through the Ask A Librarian contact form here or call your library branch for more information.
- For questions about WorkPLACE, please call 915-212-3267. Please leave a message if there is no answer.

For more information on COVID-19 see the City of El Paso's resource page here.

Please take precautions for your health, and thank you for your understanding. 

We look forward to assisting you with your research once we reopen to the public.



Sunday, March 15, 2020

New Books Alert

We are pleased to inform you that a new shipment of books has just arrived at our department and is now available to read in the library or check them out to enjoy at home. If you are unable to come downtown, just place a hold to be picked up at your nearest El Paso Public Library Branch.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Sanatorium

Health Havens in the Sun City


 St. Joseph's Sanatorium
St. Joseph's Sanatorium - El Paso, TX

Sanatorium: A facility of long term medical care most closely associated with the treatment of tuberculosis. 

Before the discovery of antibiotics, tuberculosis, or consumption, was a major threat to public health. The desperation of lungers seeking climate treatment was seen throughout the Southwest. That includes El Paso. The earliest mention of Sanatoriums in the local papers was the El Paso Times January 4th issue of 1893. The popularity of Sanatoria created the opportunity for specialization of the facilities such as fraternal sanatoriums and even a baby sanatorium.

One of the many sanatoriums that operated in El Paso was St. Joseph's Sanatorium. It was started by the Sisters of St. Joseph on August 21, 1927. The first year, they cared for 32 patients suffering from tuberculosis. Even after Tuberculosis sufferers had lessened, the usefulness of the facility had not. In fact, the sister later needed to appeal to the city of El Paso for assistance in an expansion. The older building needed undergo changes for safety purposes, but they also needed more space to support a growing number of patients suffering long term illnesses.

In 1971, the new facility that boasted space for 118 patients and more health services.The original St. Joseph's building was remodeled and was renamed the Mt. Franklin Center.


Rendering for Sister's Sanatorium
Proposed Sanatorium for Dr. L.T. Liddell
Rendering for Masonic Sanatorium

More Resources on Sanatoriums in the Southwest

Cover image for Sanatoriums of New Mexico Cover image for Chasing the cure in New Mexico : tuberculosis and the quest for health
Doctors of medicine in New Mexico : a history of health and medical practice, 1886-1986
Memoirs of a country doctor
Images are available through our partner page at The Portal to Texas History
El Paso Vertical Files
El Paso Herald / El Paso Herald Post Microfilm
El Paso Times Microfilm



The month of March may hold many reasons to celebrate......Spring Break, National Read Across America Day, National Pi Day, St. Patrick'...