This winter, we celebrated the life and professional legacy of Andy Hanson with our exhibit Andy Hanson: Picturing Dallas 1960-2008. The exhibit allowed visitors to appreciate Hanson’s incredible talent and reflect on the history of Dallas. If you were unable to visit the exhibit, you can explore the virtual exhibit at any time by clicking the link below:
https://www.smu.edu/libraries/degolyer/Exhibits/Hanson%20Virtual
You can also view the digital Andy Hanson collection via the link below:
https://www.smu.edu/libraries/digitalcollections/han/
Much of Andy’s career was spent in a Dallas newsroom, covering the city’s politicians and leaders. If you’d like to learn more about the political history of Dallas, consider the following collections:
Earle Cabell Papers
Earle Cabell (1906 – 1975) was a dairyman, food merchant, Dallas mayor, and United States Congressman. In serving as mayor of Dallas, Cabell followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. His term was from 1961 to 1964, during which time he guided the city through the John F. Kennedy assassination and aftermath. Cabell served four consecutive terms as Texas’ Fifth District Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1964 to 1972.
You can view the finding aid, in two parts, here:
https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00050/smu-00050.html Part 1
https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00077/smu-00077.html Part 2
And see photographs of Cabell from the Hanson collection here:
Erik Jonsson papers
Erik Jonsson (1901-1995) was the Brooklyn-born co-founder and president of Texas Instruments, and mayor of Dallas from 1964 to 1971, which saw among other achievements the development of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. A strong advocate for education, Jonsson founded what would become The University of Texas at Dallas.
You can view the finding aid, in three parts, here:
https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00053/smu-00053.html Part 1
http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00093/smu-00093.html Part 2
http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00094/smu-00094.html Part 3
And explore the digital collection here:
https://www.smu.edu/libraries/digitalcollections/jej/
James M. Collins Congressional papers
James M. Collins (1916-1989) was raised in Dallas and earned a bachelor’s degree from SMU before serving as a captain in Patton’s Third Army, where he earned a Purple Heart. After years of working in his family’s insurance firm, he was elected in 1968 to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Texas’ Third Congressional District. After leaving politics in 1983, Collins served as president of SMU Alumni, and as a member of the SMU Board of Trustees.
View the finding aid here:
http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00352/smu-00352.html
Dallas in the second half of the 20th century was known for its booming businesses and high-society, marked by glamour and decadence. If you’d like to read more about some movers and shakers captured by Andy, check out the following collections:
Caroline Rose Hunt papers
Caroline Rose Hunt (1923-2019) was the third of legendary oilman H.L. Hunt’s fifteen children. As an adult she was recognized as the richest woman in the world, thanks to careful management of her inheritance, and bolstered by the success of the numerous hotels she opened and operated under the Rosewood Hotels and Resorts banner. In addition to her business interests, Hunt published a novel and two cookbooks, and was a dedicated supporter of the arts and humanities.
The Caroline Rose Hunt papers are currently being processed
Click below to learn more about the collection:
Stanley Marcus papers
Stanley Marcus (1905-2002) was the eldest son of Neiman Marcus department store founder Herbert Marcus. He joined the family firm after attending Harvard Business School, and became the creative heart of the company, launching numerous initiatives including in-house fashion shows, industry awards, and the annual Fortnight celebrations, which brought international culture and fashion to Dallas. “Mr. Stanley” was also a noted patron of the arts and humanities in Dallas, as well as a critical voice for social justice in the city.
The Stanley Marcus papers are open to researchers
Click below to view the digital Stanley Marcus collection:
https://www.smu.edu/libraries/digitalcollections/smp
Ebby Halliday papers
Ebby Halliday (1911-2005) went from selling women’s hats to founding and leading one of the world’s largest independently owned real estate firms, earning her the nickname the “First Lady of Real Estate” and recognition as one of the business leaders of Dallas.
The Ebby Halliday papers are open to researchers. You can also check out her biography Ebby Halliday: the first lady of real estate.
If you’d like to learn more about the history of Dallas, consider the following titles:
Big D: triumphs and troubles of an American supercity in the 20th century by Darwin Payne
The Dallas Myth: the making and unmaking of an American city by Harvey J. Graff
Dallas: A History of ‘Big D’ by Michael V. Hazel
If you have any questions about the collections mentioned above, please email Christina Jensen at cwjensen@smu.edu, or stop by the DeGolyer reading room.