Category: DeGolyer Library

In Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monday January 18, 2021 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. During these turbulent times of a worldwide pandemic causing thousands of deaths daily and national political and social unrest in the United States, it is particularly appropriate to remember Martin Luther King and everything he stood for. His inspirational words ring as true today as…Continue Reading In Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

C is for cookie that’s good enough for me, nom…nom…nom

It’s that time of year again. Even though the pandemic has forced us to change things up a bit, I can still hear the sweet call…”Would you like to buy a box of Girl Scout cookies?” The Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. is an organization devoted to furthering the development of girls and young women…Continue Reading C is for cookie that’s good enough for me, nom…nom…nom

My dear husband…

128 years ago, on January 5th, 1893, Frankie Smith wrote a letter on stationery of “Office of C.R. Breedlove, Horse Brand TZ, Cattle Brand X-Z” to her husband W.R. Smith in Colorado, Texas. Her honest and rather “frank” note details their affairs at home including their infant son (“the lad”), visiting Aunt J. and Lulu…Continue Reading My dear husband…

SMU and the Spanish Flu

On October 1st, 1918, The Campus, SMU’s student newspaper, led with stories on an upcoming football game between the Mustangs and the Texas Longhorns, a look at how SMU was losing faculty to war work, and an exploration of street car service in University Park. News about the First World War was found throughout the…Continue Reading SMU and the Spanish Flu

News from the DeGolyer Library January 2021

News from the DeGolyer Library January 2021 Southern Methodist University Visit our Website Remembering Melvin Shaffer Join us in remembering the life of Melvin Shaffer, a good friend and donor to the library, who passed away this month. Born in 1924 in West Virginia, Melvin served as a medical photographer in World War II, documenting…Continue Reading News from the DeGolyer Library January 2021

(Not) home for the holidays

“I’ll be home for Christmas,” promised Bing Crosby in 1943 in one of that year’s top hits. “I’ve been here all year anyway,” quips one of the myriad of memes trending on social media at the end of 2020. Both allude to situations in which protagonists long to be reunited with their loved ones for…Continue Reading (Not) home for the holidays

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Tidings of Comfort and Joy Joy may not be a word often associated with the year 2020. This year has presented numerous hardships and challenges for everyone. However, it has also presented opportunities for us to slow down, explore different hobbies, and develop new skills. Over the course of 2020 I have read more, advanced…Continue Reading Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Turkey Season

It’s not hard to figure out why Turkey, and its preceding political entities, the former Ottoman Empire, Byzantine Empire,  and Eastern Roman Empire, have been written about at length by western European diplomats, historians, and travelers.   The region which encompasses some of the earliest sites of permeant human settlement, is positioned at a critical geographic…Continue Reading Turkey Season

Someone’s back in the Kitchen…

Hard to believe that next week is Thanksgiving. It is even harder to believe how different the holidays might look. Last year I spent Thanksgiving with my family, and whipped up a traditional feast of turkey, stuffing, and assorted sides. In my post from last fall, “Someone’s in the Kitchen,” I scoped out some fun…Continue Reading Someone’s back in the Kitchen…