The main areas of interest for the Research Center for the Southwest (RCS) are: general history of Abilene and its Big Country region including events, ranch histories, families, historically and/or architecturally significant structures, businesses, and organizations; the southwestern and western United States; Texas; Hardin-Simmons University; Fort Phantom Hill; Albany and Fort Griffin; Sam Houston; Elizabeth and George Custer; and Charles Goodnight.

The RCS supports the curriculum of Hardin-Simmons University. Thus, the RCS seeks collections that will augment the education of the university’s students and that will provide its faculty with additional scholarly resources.

To accomplish its goals, the RCS accepts, on a case-by-case basis, items related to the above areas of focus.