3Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Iraan Public Library
Iraan, Texas
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Iraan.
1947 to 2012Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
44,436Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Iraan, Texas.
Explore the past of Iraan, Texas through newspapers in the Iraan Public Library's digital archive. Its three titles include material from 1947 to 2012.
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Selected titles
Iraan Public Library shares titles including “Iraan News” and “Pecos River Dispatch”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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A closer look
Newspaper pages connect individual accounts with a wider story, preserving how events were reported and presented to the readers of the day.
Reporting from the time can reveal how people described the events, work and concerns of their day, placing a local story within the history unfolding around it. Whether you are tracing a family connection, exploring a local event or sharing history with a class, there is more to discover than names and dates alone. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse three titles and 44,436 digitized pages, with material from 1947 to 2012. This collection is shared through Iraan Public Library's partnership with Advantage Archives. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
A familiar name or place can be the beginning of a story. Explore the titles below to see where that connection leads.
Iraan News
41,918 pages from 1948 to 2009
McCamey News
830 pages in 1947
Pecos River Dispatch
1,688 pages from 2010 to 2012
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About the Library
About The Iraan Public Library
The Iraan Public Library, located at 120 W. 5th Street, provides free services to all residents living within the surrounding counties of Pecos, Crockett, and Terrell. The library serves a population of 2,171 residents and offers a collection of 16,344 volumes, circulating 10,912 items per year. The library is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens by providing resources that contribute to individual knowledge and enjoyment.
Library History
The History Of The Iraan Public Library
Established to meet the educational, informational, and recreational needs of the community, the Iraan Public Library has continuously evolved to serve the diverse population of Iraan and its surrounding areas. The library's commitment to service encompasses individuals and groups of every age, education, philosophy, occupation, economic level, ethnic origin, and human condition. Over the years, the library has expanded its collection and services to keep pace with the changing needs of its patrons. The mission of the Iraan Public Library is to maintain and improve the quality of life for all citizens of the community by providing resources that enhance and contribute to individual knowledge and enjoyment in the most efficient manner possible. Most of all, the Iraan Public Library wants to serve and be responsive to the needs of their community.
About the Community
About Iraan, Texas
Iraan, Texas, is a small town located in Pecos County, known for its rich oil history and close-knit community. The town was established in the 1920s following the discovery of oil in the area, which led to a boom in population and economic growth. Iraan is also home to the iconic Alley Oop Fantasy Land Park, dedicated to the comic strip character created by local artist V.T. Hamlin. The town's unique blend of history and culture makes it a fascinating place to explore.
Local History
Did You Know?
The name "Iraan" is a combination of Ira and Ann Yates, the wife of Ira Yates, who discovered oil in the area and played a significant role in the town's development. Iraan is home to the Alley Oop Fantasy Land Park, a unique attraction that celebrates the comic strip character Alley Oop, created by local artist V.T. Hamlin in the 1930s. The Iraan Public Library's collection includes rare historical documents and photographs that provide a glimpse into the town's rich past and its development over the years.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Follow a story beyond the first mention
A family name, a familiar street or a story passed down through generations can lead to a closer look at the history of Iraan. The digital archive shared by the Iraan Public Library offers a place to begin. When using historical newspapers, try alternate spellings and nearby dates, then read the surrounding page to place a local story in its time. Compare later reporting or another available title to explore different perspectives rather than treating one account as the whole story.
When a promising newspaper lead runs out, check the dates and titles represented before trying another name, place, or nearby issue. Keep unsuccessful searches with useful findings; gaps in coverage can limit what a search reveals. Use the dates and references to shape your next question, not as proof a missing result never existed.
As you piece together a story from the past, note where each detail came from and why it matters. Include the title, date, and page or item reference. Mark uncertain identifications and unanswered questions so a promising connection does not become an unsupported fact.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Iraan Public Library, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.
Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.
Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.
Learn about partnerships
Stories, research tips, and archive news
Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.
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Why Microfilm is still important in 2023
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Unveiling the Hidden Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases and Unconventional Clues
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April 1, 2025
This Week in History: March 31st through April 6th
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March 24, 2025
This Week in History: March 24th through March 30th
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March 18, 2025
It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?
We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
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