Pop-up exhibit showcases excellence of Rees-Jones Collection
Last week on the Hilltop, Rees-Jones Archivist Christina Wood curated a pop-up exhibit coinciding with the Board of Trustees dinner at Fondren Library. This exhibit celebrated the arrival of the exciting new Rees-Jones Collection as the new library, rising only steps away from the dinner venue, takes shape. With the curation of the exhibit, guests enjoyed the opportunity to view materials that will soon anchor the library’s valuable special collections: rare manuscripts, letters, maps, and artwork that reveal the complexity of Texas and the greater Southwest across centuries. Seen together in this transitional moment, with the future home of these materials nearby, the items offered a compelling glimpse of the depth and scholarly potential of a collection poised to help define SMU Libraries’ next chapter.
Visual chronicles of 19th-century life
Among the materials on display, several highlights exemplified the collection’s significance, particularly the visually striking items that brought the region’s history vividly to life. The exhibit presented a range of 19th-century visual and documentary materials that record American life, landscapes, and culture. It includes sketches, drawings, maps, and more that offer insights into daily life, military history, Native American communities, and regional economic practices.
One example highlighted in the exhibit are the Amelia Arnold Smith Comes photographs and sketchbook, dating back to the 1840s. This sketchbook and two artist daguerreotypes preserve Comes’ artistic record of Independence, Texas. Finely executed pencil drawings of local scenes and structures offer a rare visual glimpse of daily life and the natural environment in the Republic of Texas just before statehood.
The exhibit also featured items from the Charles H. Stephens collection of pencil and watercolor drawings. During the 1890s, Stephens created pencil and watercolor drawings documenting the cultures of the Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Comanche, as well as the Winnebago, Hupa, Blackfoot, Crow, Shawnee, and Ojibwa. Art was a central focus of the exhibit, as pencil drawings from artist Fernand Lungren displayed portraits of Native American individuals, desert landscapes, and more.
Personal correspondence and historical narratives
Stories from the collection on display were told both visually and through the written word, as the exhibit featured numerous letters from the Rees-Jones Collection. Two letters highlight correspondence involving two U.S. presidents, with one written by then-General Zachary Taylor. This letter, written to General John E. Wool on May 10, 1847 (two years before Taylor assumed the presidency), General Taylor wrote from the field during the Mexican-American War to report on recent fighting at Cerro Gordo and Buena Vista. Concerned about inaccurate newspaper accounts, Taylor provides clarifications and updates on the campaigns. In another letter to President James K. Polk, Archibald Yell, a former governor and congressman, reflects on his upcoming military service in the Mexican-American War.
Exhibit viewers had the chance to view materials from the J. Frank Dobie papers, a collection which centers on the correspondence of celebrated Texas folklorist J. Frank Dobie (1888–1964), reflecting his ties to writers, artists, and figures of the Texas ranching world. Publications and writings in the collection complement the letters, and the exhibit also featured additional correspondence, such as a letter capturing key moments in New Mexico history.
Journey through time in the Rees-Jones Collection
In addition to letters and written correspondence, the exhibit also highlighted firsthand accounts of travel and exploration, providing a more personal glimpse into historical journeys. Among these are the Tom O. Plunkett’s journal of travel through the Texas panhandle (1880), which chronicles Plunkett’s expedition with the Texas State Capitol land survey party, and the William H. Surgens diary of 1849, detailing his voyage around Cape Horn aboard the Hopewell. These travel narratives offer vivid accounts of the landscapes, people, and challenges encountered, complementing the earlier letters and correspondence by capturing life in motion across Texas and beyond.
This incredible collection offers a rare and immersive window into the past, weaving together personal stories, historical events, and the spirit of exploration. Visitors can look forward to discovering even more treasures as the library prepares to open in 2027.
This post was written in collaboration with Christina Wood, archivist for the Rees-Jones Library of the American West.