The Research Center of the Southwest (RCS) seeks materials of all kinds—books, personal correspondence, ranch histories, photographs, scrapbooks, diaries, business papers, architectural drawings and records (particularly concerning architect David S. Castle), maps, artwork, genealogies, and other kinds of documents—concerning the history of the Southwest, Texas, Abilene, and the Big Country.

The RCS encourages interested parties to contact the Center about the possibility of archiving personal papers, business records, and architectural drawings having to do with the history and development of the Southwest, Texas, and Abilene and its region. Such desired materials include letters, memoirs, diaries, photo albums, professional papers, genealogical information, speeches, legal documents, brochures, photographs, architectural documents, film/video, and audio tapes.