Patterson Effort to Display Travis Victory or Death&" Letter at Alamo Comes to ... a Vote?

Patterson asks Archives to let Texans see 1836 letter where it was written Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Jerry Pattersons idea to return William B. Travis Victory or Death letter to the Alamo for the first time since it was written there February 24 1836 has sparked a battle of its own. The Texas Land Commissioner will have to make his case to the Texas State Library & Archives Commission today in order to get permission to display the letter which Patterson says is not only a Texas treasure but one of the great defining documents of American history.  Bill ONeal 70 the official Texas State Historian has never seen the original written by Travis February 24 1836 at the beginning of the famous siege and battle. And the letter has never returned to the Alamo where Lt. Col. Travis penned it as he and his outnumbered men faced the Mexican Army.

Imagine the impact on a young Texan seeing this letter in person for the first time. Hell say I saw the letter and a special memory will be passed along to future generations" said Commissioner Patterson. William B. Travis Victory or Death letter written at the Alamo while it was under siege is not only a Texas treasure but one of the great defining documents of American history" Patterson said.

The Texas State Library & Archives Commission is the custodian of the 1836 letter and is charged by the State to protect it. But Patterson whose General Land Office oversees the management of the Alamo has proposed numerous steps to secure and protect the letter while on display at the Alamo for two weeks during the 177th anniversary of the battle and siege celebrated from Feb. 23 through March 6 2013. Patterson is planning to return Col. Travis Victory or Death" letter to the Alamo for a rare public exhibit beginning in February 2013.  This would represent the first time the letter has been at the Alamo since it was written there on February 24 1836 at the beginning of the famous siege and battle. As Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office the new custodian of the Shrine to Texas Liberty Patterson is asking  the states Library & Archives Commission Board to loan the Travis letter to the Land Office to display the iconic document during the 177^th Anniversary of the letters writing. We gain inspiration by seeing the original documents touched by patriots" Patterson said. At the hearing Patterson will outline the unprecedented steps the Texas General Land Office is prepared to take to ensure the safety of the Travis letter as well as explain how the state agency plans to raise $100000 in private donations to cover the costs of the transportation and display.

WHO:             Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson WHAT:           Request to exhibit Col. William Barret Travis Victory or Death" letter at the Alamo WHERE:        Texas Capitol room E2.036 WHEN:           9 a.m. Wednesday Oct. 24 WHY:             To allow all Texans a rare chance to see the crown jewel of Texas history