Year: 2025

SMU Libraries Digital Collections Update: January 2025

Minnie Tom, Cedar [No. 4], ca. 1929-1930s, DeGolyer Library, SMU.

In January 2025, SMU Libraries uploaded 308 items into SMU Libraries Digital Collections. Highlights include: 40 negatives, ca. 1955-1957, from the Richard Steinheimer Photograph Collection. Subjects include a trip to Arizona and aerial photographs of the Glendale and La Crescenta areas of Los Angeles County. 128 items, ca. 1850-1950s, from the Elmer and Diane Powell Collection on…Continue Reading SMU Libraries Digital Collections Update: January 2025

The Lilly Endowment awards Bridwell Library a $2.5 million grant

Exciting changes ahead for one SMU library With the new year comes exciting news for one of the SMU Libraries. The Lilly Endowment, a philanthropic foundation dedicated to community development, education and religion, has awarded Bridwell Library a $2.5 million grant through the foundation’s Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative, which has provided awards to only…Continue Reading The Lilly Endowment awards Bridwell Library a $2.5 million grant

Generative AI in Library Databases

Applications of generative AI are on the rise, and many of SMU Libraries’ subscription databases are adding these features. A differentiating factor of generative AI tools in databases is that vendors build their own custom tools instead of using third-party ones like ChatGPT, Bard, or Gemini. The vendors’ custom tools rely only on content found…Continue Reading Generative AI in Library Databases

Rare Maps, Early Texas History, and Serendipity

The Rees-Jones Collection continues to expand as excitement mounts for the 2025 groundbreaking of the much-anticipated library. These articles by Pat Ward appear in the Fall 2024 issue of the SMU Libraries Newsletter. Mapping early Texas history An 1833 Texas map commissioned by Stephen F. Austin and presented to the Rees-Jones Library of the American…Continue Reading Rare Maps, Early Texas History, and Serendipity

A World Awaits at Bridwell Library

This announcement, along with other news at Bridwell Library, can be found in the Fall 2024 editions of The Bridwell Quarterly and The Bridwell Quill. One need not travel across time or space to learn the stories of those who came before – they need only to visit Bridwell Library, and specifically, Bridwell Library’s Special…Continue Reading A World Awaits at Bridwell Library

SMU Libraries Digital Collections Update: December 2024

Ansicht bei Werth nachst Ober-Laibach, ca. 1857, from K.K. Staats-Eisenbahn von Laibach nach Triest, DeGolyer Library, SMU.

In December 2024, SMU Libraries uploaded 478 items into SMU Libraries Digital Collections. Highlights include: 86 negatives, ca. 1930s, from the Robert Yarnall Richie Photograph Collection. Highlights include a series of 19 aerial views of private school campuses in New England, including St. Mark’s School, St. George’s School, and Taft School. Two programs, 1946 and 1948, from…Continue Reading SMU Libraries Digital Collections Update: December 2024