The Bywaters Special Collections at Hamon is an excellent resource for those interested in Texas visual and performing arts. In addition to photographs, sketchbooks, and works of art on paper, Bywaters holds smaller treasures that offer an historical glimpse into Dallas’ art and business communities.
Linda East, an art history graduate student at the University of North Texas, has been doing research at Bywaters and DeGolyer for her master’s thesis. Her thesis will focus on the patronage of art in a corporate setting – specifically Texas Instruments’ decision to hire architect O’Neil Ford and artist Thomas Matthew Stell, Jr. during planning and construction of their Dallas Semiconductor Building.
“I found primary resources, such as personal handwritten letters to and from Bywaters, and secondary resources including newspaper clippings, magazine articles and programs from events. In DeGolyer, I was given access to extensive corporate photos of construction of the Semiconductor Building along with specifications, promotional materials and interoffice correspondence from Texas Instruments files.”
Click here for more information about Bywaters’ holdings. The Bywaters staff is happy to assist researchers in finding relevant materials. Reach them at BywatersSpecialCollections@smu.edu or at 214-768-1860.