Step Into the Past: How to Access the Magoffin Home Archive

Tucked behind the brick walls of the Magoffin Home State Historic Site Visitor Center lies a treasure trove of El Paso’s layered past—over 30 linear feet of letters written in looping cursive, family scrapbooks, original artwork, and ephemera from four generations of the Magoffin and Glasgow families and El Paso history. If you're a researcher, historian, student, or a curious community member, the archive is open to you—by appointment, with a bit of planning and a passion for the past.

This page contains everything you need to know to plan your visit. 

Appointments can be made by filling out the form at the bottom of this page.

Archive Hours and Appointments

The archive is available by appointment only, Tuesday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In special cases, experienced researchers who have visited before may request a Saturday appointment.

Appointments must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.

To request an appointment, contact us at magoffin-home@thc.texas.gov or call 915-533-5147.

What’s in the Archive?

The Magoffin Home Archive houses:

  • Handwritten letters spanning four generations
  • Financial records and business documents
  • Newspaper clippings and historic scrapbooks
  • Photographic images, including portraits and historic El Paso views
  • Original artwork and family-created ephemera

Notable people who are included in the archive include James Wiley Magoffin, Joseph Magoffin, Octavia MacGreal Magoffin, Samuel Magoffin, Charles Richardson, William Jefferson Glasgow, Josephine Magoffin Glasgow, Joseph Magoffin Glasgow, Octavia Magoffin Glasgow, Joseph Glasgow, Edward Glasgow, Harriet Glasgow Lucker, Leola Freeman, and others. 

Finding aids and inventories are currently in development with the help of staff and volunteers. If you're unsure whether we have materials relevant to your research, we encourage you to contact us with your inquiry.

While the collection is not yet digitized, we hope to offer more online access in the future. Volunteers interested in helping with digitization are always welcome.

How to Request Access

Before your visit, please submit a formal letter to the museum. This letter must include:

  • Your name, mailing address, and contact information
  • The topic or focus of your research
  • Any publication goals (if applicable)
  • A list of materials or subjects you are hoping to access

This request must be received at least two weeks prior to your proposed appointment date.

Reading Room Policies

To help preserve these one-of-a-kind materials, we ask all researchers to observe the following guidelines:

  • Only pencils and unbound, blank paper are permitted
  • No bags, food, or drink are allowed in the archival space
  • Researchers may be monitored during their appointment
  • A maximum of two boxes may be accessed at a time

We provide magnifying glasses, gloves, and scrap paper as needed.

Reproductions and Publishing

Researchers may take personal reference photos of materials. High-resolution scans or formal copies require written authorization from the Site Manager or a Texas Historical Commission representative.

There are no fees for reproduction services at this time.

If you intend to publish any materials found in the archive, you must submit a formal request for permission. We also request that researchers provide a copy of any final publication for our records.

Remote Research

If you cannot visit the archive in person, you may request research assistance via email or phone. Please note that requests may take up to 12 weeks to process.

There is a suggested donation of $50 per remote research request, which supports our nonprofit partner, Casa Magoffin Compañeros.

Planning Your Visit

Researchers may park on-site for free and will have access to a designated research space within one of El Paso’s only publicly accessible historic homes. The Magoffin Home is within walking distance of several local restaurants and cafes.

We welcome conversation—if you're open to sharing your research interests, our staff may be able to connect you with additional resources or even invite you to speak at a future public program.

If you’re ready to explore the stories woven through the Magoffin family papers, we’re ready to welcome you.

To begin your research journey, contact us at:
magoffin-home@thc.texas.gov
915-533-5147