News from the DeGolyer Library September 2019

On Thursday, September 12th, we celebrated our latest exhibit, “All Goes Onward and Outward”: Walt Whitman at 200 . The exhibit is curated by Robert O. Harris, with items from his private collection. After refreshments and time spent exploring the exhibit, guests met in the Texana room for a conversation between Harris and DeGolyer Library Director Russell L. Martin.

The discussion took place as the 3rd Democratic primary debate got underway in Houston, inspiring a question as to what Whitman would say or do regarding the current state of American politics. Harris noted “that cat has a long tail” before reflecting on Whitman’s circle of socialist friends, admiration for Presidents Lincoln and Garfield, and enduring belief in democracy.

Thanks to all who attended the event.

The fall semester has started, and the DeGolyer has hosted a number of classes this month. Early in September, Prof. Elizabeth Eager brought in a group of art history students to view and discuss maps of ‘the New World’ and how depictions of the western hemisphere changed over the centuries.

The following week, Prof. Anna Lovatt led her art history students (pictured above) through selection of children’s books, in preparation for a semester-long research project. We’ve also hosted seminars for graduate students, and introduced them to collections of note for research or teaching. Pictured right is Archives of Women of the Southwest Curator Samantha Dodd discussing the Virginia T. Whitehill papers with a group of first year Anthropology graduate students.

On Thursday, October 3rd, in Fondren Library’s Texana Room, author Anne Rosen will discuss her latest book, Deep South Dispatch: Memoir of a Civil Rights Journalist . The reception begins at 6:00, followed by a talk at 6:30. Refreshments will be provided, and parking will be available on Bishop Blvd. RSVP: mandrews@smu.edu

On Thursday, October 17th, journalist and art critic Tyler Green will be discussing his book, C arleton Watkins: Making the West American in Fondren Library’s Texana Room. The reception begins at 5:30, followed by a talk at 6:00. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP: degolyer@smu.edu

On Thursday, October 24th, Professor Eric Perramond will discuss Unsettled Waters: Rights, Law, and Identity in the American West . The reception, in Fondren Library’s Texana Room, begins at 5:30, followed by a lecture at 6:00. There will be a book signing, with books available for purchase. RSVP: swcenter@smu.edu

The DeGolyer Library and renowned collector Robert Harris are marking the bicentennial of Walt Whitman’s birth with “All Goes Onward and Outward”: Walt Whitman at 200 . Mr. Harris has selected some treasures from his collection, ranging from the 1855 edition of  Leaves of Grass  to a souvenir viewbook on the 1957 opening of the Walt Whitman Bridge over the Delaware River.

On display are rare books, newspapers, periodicals, broadsides, posters, and photographs, all documenting Whitman’s place in American literature and culture. We are grateful to Mr. Harris not only for his curatorial expertise and generosity in lending parts of his collection but also for his estate plans, which will keep his collection intact in the DeGolyer Library where it will be preserved and available for future generations.

“December 1, 1878

I got up in time for breakfast and helped do up all the work and then fixes up and went by myself to study my history lesson. But Ed and Alice came and spoil it all. So I learned it this evening.”

Check out “Today I went to school…” to read more about the trials and tribulations expressed by 12 year old Nellie Pettibone in her 1878 diary

The SMU Mustangs are 4-0 at the time of writing, having just captured the Iron Skillet from TCU. So we’ve got football on the mind, and an artifact from the SMU archives to highlight. Pictured here is the helmet worn by All-American center Dick Hightower, who played from 1949-1951, and was inducted into the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982.

Click here for a guide to SMU sports history.

‘Little Fanny’ recently arrived at the DeGolyer. This rare 1810 children’s book and paper doll set tells the story of a young girl who disobeys her mother, leading to a series of misfortunes (and lessons for young readers). Fanny is forced to beg on the street, before having to work as a servant, till she is finally able to make her way home, having learned the error of her ways.

The DeGolyer has a large collection of nineteenth century children’s literature. Click here to explore the collection.

Five stereographs which document Chinese American life in the late nineteenth century were recently digitized by the Norwick Center for Digital Solutions. The images will be featured as part of the promotion for Stanford professor Gordon Chang’s October 3rd lecture at SMU, “Alien Chinese Railroad Workers and the American National History.” Click here to learn more about the event, and click here to view the stereographs.