News from the DeGolyer Library
May 2020
Southern Methodist University
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DeGolyer Staff are Returning to Campus
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Starting June 1st, the DeGolyer Library will begin to return to “normal.” Our building will continue to be closed to the public, but staff will return to the building, greatly expanding our reference capacity.
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Houston Displayed, or, Who Won the Battle of San Jacinto? was first published in 1837. Written by “A Farmer in the Army,” Col. Robert Coleman, it cast grave doubts on the military exploits, political ambition, and personal character of Sam Houston, who had just become the president of the fledgling Republic of Texas. Edited with an introduction and scholarly annotation by Stephen L. Hardin, Houston Displayed is the thirteenth volume in our Library of Texas series, published in conjunction with the Clements Center for Southwest Studies.
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From Anderson’s Holler … to Washington, New York, Newport News, Casablanca, Sicily, Salerno, Naples, Anzio, Rome, Florence, Poltava, Southern France, Dachau, Munich, Berlin , Paris, Washington, Nuremberg, and Tokyo is a memoir by Melvin C. Shaffer, who served as a medical photographer in World War II. From the mountains of West Virginia to the far reaches of the globe, Shaffer recounts his experiences of the brutality, cruelty, and horror of the bloodiest war in history , laced with irony, touches of humor, and grace. For those interested in personal narratives of World War II, From Anderson’s Holler is a must-read!
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Email degolyer@smu.edu to order either of these titles
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A look at how DeGolyer staff is a
working from home
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Terre Heydari–Operations Manager
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“I’ve kept busy with book orders. If you haven’t had a chance, check out the DeGolyer bookstore for some quarantine reading. The latest Library of Texas title, Houston Displayed, or, Who Won the Battle of San Jacinto? edited by Steve Hardin, has been selling fast . Our backyard is our sanctuary and even more so since working from home. The view from every angle inside and out is comforting and pleasing. We have grapevines and honeysuckle vines, a number of fruit trees, many floral beds, and visiting butterflies, birds, and rabbits. We also have a small victory garden where we grow tomatoes and eggplant. “
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Joan Gosnell–SMU Archivist
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“My commute is much shorter, but the breakfast beverage is exactly the same…Diet Coke.
I’m spending a lot of time on two different oral history projects: Voices of SMU , an exploration of underrepresented students at SMU, and Class of COVID , a new project documenting students during this time of global pandemic. Our team includes undergraduates, graduate students, our colleagues from the Norwick Center for Digital Solutions, and Professor Jill Kelly of the History Department. We are doing everything remotely/virtually. It’s fascinating, exciting and fun. It’s also somewhat frustrating–due to my 10-year old, aging Mac at home. (Piece of advice. If you see a global pandemic in your future, buy a new computer.)”
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We were saddened to learn about the recent passing of Congressman Sam Johnson. An SMU alum (’51), Johnson represented the Texas 3rd congressional district for six terms. Prior to entering politics, Johnson served 29 years in the United States Air Force, obtaining the rank of colonel. Johnson was a combat veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars, and wrote of his seven years as a prisoner of war in his 1992 memoir, Captive Warriors: A Vietnam POW’s Story. In 2018, Johnson announced his retirement from office and donated his papers to the DeGolyer Library. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.
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New Finding Aids
Founded in February 1886 to promote a better acquaintance of general literature and the “standard authors,” the Standard Club is the second oldest women’s club in Dallas, Texas. Comprised of minutes, scrapbooks, yearbooks, and other organizational documents, these records document the history, the programs, and accomplishments of its membership.
Arthur Alvin Smith was an Economics professor at Southern Methodist University who served as head of the department from 1938 to 1950. Smith was also a Vice President and Economist at the First National Bank in Dallas. His papers chronicle his career as an economist, and include his speeches, articles, clippings, and an unpublished manuscript entitled “History of the Dollar.”
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Check out Samantha Dodd’s latest post, Dr. Duncan, Please Report to the Stacks to learn about the career of Dr. Clara Kocher Duncan (1878-1964) and what life was like for her when the world was gripped by the Spanish Flu pandemic, a century ago.
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Benjamin Franklin Hughes was a 19th century soldier and merchant sailor, who began his career as a 15 year old in the Texian Army. He fought in the battles of Refugio and Coleto, and was saved from the Goliad massacre by Francita Alavez. His handwritten memoir (1835-1875) recounts these events, and as a bonus to researchers, comes with a typed transcription. Click here to learn more.
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Recent Accessions
DeGolyer staff are spending the end of June collecting and processing a large addition to the Ebby Halliday papers. Stay tuned to learn more about the incoming accession from the home and offices of the “First Lady of Real Estate.”
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