A previously unknown journal by American explorer John Maley was presented to SMU’s DeGolyer Library on April 19th, 2013 by the SMU Board of Trustees to celebrate the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.  The journal represents the four millionth volume at the SMU libraries.

In the 188-page handwritten journal, John Maley recounts his 1808-1812 travels through present-day Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana. Often traveling alone, he wrote of prairie fires, snakebites, robbers and an encounter with a panther. But in addition to his adventures, Maley carefully describes agriculture, mines and mineral deposits, trading opportunities and the inhabitants of settlers’ villages and Native American camps.

Historians have long been aware of the second half of Maley’s journal, which has been housed at Yale University since 1824 and includes an account of Maley’s trip up North Texas’ Red River. The existence of the first half of the journal was unknown until it was acquired by a Philadelphia rare book dealer.

The Maley manuscript has been digitized and is available to scholars worldwide.

• Read more about the gift
• View Maley’s journal online

A free souvenir keepsake describing the manuscript and its significance is available at DeGolyer Library while supplies last. The keepsake is also available digitally.

Related: If you enjoy Americana, you may also like DeGolyer Library’s U. S. West: Photographs, Manuscripts, and Imprints digital collection.

SMU is commemorating the Year of the Library, the 100th anniversary of the 1913 creation of University’s first library, the hiring of the first librarian and the acquisition of its first book.

Exhibition at DeGolyer Library

The Decatur Road,
Thirtieth Anniversary Edition
Available April 18th

Acclaimed author Joe Coomer ’81 recently donated his literary archive — more than 20 boxes of materials – to the DeGolyer Library. The current exhibit draws on this wealth of material, from Coomer’s earliest undergraduate essays and exams to manuscripts of his most recent novels. Known for his graceful prose and memorable characters, Coomer has published 11 works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. “A Life in Letters” explores Coomer’s creative process through handwritten manuscripts, typed drafts, galley proofs, first editions, and translations. In conjunction with the exhibit, DeGolyer Library is republishing Coomer’s first novel, The Decatur Road, in a limited “thirtieth anniversary edition,” available April 18.

Location: DeGolyer Library
Dates: March 21 – May 24, 2013
Time: 8:30 – 5:00 pm, M – F

This exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Pamalla Anderson at degolyer@mail.smu.edu or 214-768-3231.

Also by Joe Coomer

Come grab a free cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate at the Fondren Library Center.

Where: Fondren Lobby

When: Every night from 8:00 pm – 12:00 am while supplies last, Tuesday May 7 through Thursday May 9

See you there!