CUL Digital Collections Update: June 2015

In June 2015, SMU’s Central University Libraries uploaded 248 items into CUL Digital Collections. CUL now has 48,001 published items.

Highlights include:

2 items relating to Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow from the George W. Cook Dallas/Texas Image Collection, including a handwritten letter and postcard of Bonnie & Clyde, ca. 1931-1933, along with 5 photographic postcards of Bonnie’s hometown, Rowena, Texas. The Rowena postcards depict depots, town fairs, main streets, and industry circa 1906-1920.

[First-hand Account of the Preparation of Bonnie Parker’s Body], ca. May 23, 1934, written by an unknown mortician, describes in detail the preparation of Bonnie’s body after its arrival in Dallas. The writer discusses the condition of the body upon arrival, the final preparations of the body, and the security at the funeral home. Additionally the author debunks some of the stories found in newspapers at the time. The letter gives the modern reader a sense of just how popular the outlaw duo was in 1933, in life or death.

143 Texas railroad negatives from the Everett L. DeGolyer Jr. Collection of United States Railroad Photographs as part of the Texas Treasures FY2015 grant program, sponsored by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Railroads include the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, Texas and New Orleans Railroad Company, and Texas & Pacific Railway.

8 photographs, ca. 1868-1870, by Andrew J. Russell from Utah and Wyoming.
The photographs, which Russell made while documenting the route and construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, include hospital buildings in Laramie, Wyoming; Granite Canyon; Carmichael’s Camp; Echo City looking down the Weber River; Hall’s Fill near Sherman; a group portrait of officials at Echo Canyon, Utah; the theater in Salt Lake City; and Brigham Young’s buildings.

City of Austin, the new capital of Texas in January 1, 1840. This lithograph, a frontispiece to A. B. Lawrence’s Texas in 1840, or The Emigrant’s Guide to the New Republic, is the first printed view of Austin, Texas, showing the old capitol building, governor’s mansion, government buildings, log houses, and the Colorado River in 1840.

Communication from Governor Pease of Texas, Relative to The troubles in that State. May 11, 1868.

2 postcards from American Border Troops and the Mexican Revolution.

5 stereographs, ca. 1882-1895, by Francis Parker of markets, churches and street scenes in Chihauhua.

Frank Modoc: A Modoc Indian and Minister of the Gospel of Christ, 1886, a 24-page pamphlet by the Indian Department of the Women’s Foreign Mission Society of Friends of New England.

Five photographs from the George W. Cook Dallas/Texas Image Collection of San Marcos, Texas, including four real photographic postcards, ca. 1906, of the IGN depot, a fish hatchery, Normal Hill, and the Methodist Church, and a photograph, ca. 1940s, of the glass bottom boat at Aquarena.

10 specification cards from the Baldwin Locomotive Works Builder’s Cards including locomotives from the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, Chestnut Ridge Railway, the Chicago & Alton Railway, and George Craig & Sons.

50 drawings from the Potter Art Iron Studios Collection. There were 50 drawings from Box 19, including fire screens, log holders/baskets, and grates, as well as lampposts, lamps, semi-flush mount ceiling lights, chandeliers, pendant lights, sconces, and carriage lanterns.

3 railroad items, including a photograph of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Locomotive No. 442, a detail drawing for a Ferrocarril de Antioquia draw casting, and an erecting card drawing for Locomotive 1 of the South and Western Railroad.