Yesterday the SMU community lost one of its distinguished alumni. Sam Johnson was an Air Force pilot, Texas legislator, United States Congressman, and proud SMU Mustang. He grew up in Dallas and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. Johnson married his SMU college sweetheart, Shirley Melton, in 1950 before earning a business degree in 1951. …Continue Reading Remembering Sam Johnson ‘51
Dr. Duncan please report to the stacks…
Today was the first day back in the stacks for me as campus slowly begins reopening. Walking into my office felt strange as everything was in a perfect state of preservation from the day I left it back in March. I took a short break from responding to the avalanche of reference queries stacked in…Continue Reading Dr. Duncan please report to the stacks…
Exploring the Budner Collection on Theodore Roosevelt from home
Southern Methodist University is refining plans for the eventual reopening of campus, following the Covid-19 campus closure. In the meantime, history enthusiasts can browse our extensive digital collections, including the Doris A. and Lawrence H. Budner Collection on Theodore Roosevelt. The Budners spent more than 20 years building their collection of books, photographs, and…Continue Reading Exploring the Budner Collection on Theodore Roosevelt from home
News from the DeGolyer Library May 2020
News from the DeGolyer Library May 2020 Southern Methodist University Visit our Website DeGolyer Staff are Returning to Campus Starting June 1st, the DeGolyer Library will begin to return to “normal.” Our building will continue to be closed to the public, but staff will return to the building, greatly expanding our reference capacity. In the…Continue Reading News from the DeGolyer Library May 2020
Andy Hanson’s Dallas
This winter, we celebrated the life and professional legacy of Andy Hanson with our exhibit Andy Hanson: Picturing Dallas 1960-2008. The exhibit allowed visitors to appreciate Hanson’s incredible talent and reflect on the history of Dallas. If you were unable to visit the exhibit, you can explore the virtual exhibit at any time by clicking the…Continue Reading Andy Hanson’s Dallas
Documenting Student Life during Covid-19
It started, as these things do, with a conversation. Jill Kelly, history professor, had an idea that she shared with Cindy Boeke, digital collections librarian, and me, the SMU university archivist. Jill said, “What do you think about having a history intern use Zoom to interview students about their experiences during this time of Covid-19?”…Continue Reading Documenting Student Life during Covid-19
News from the DeGolyer Library April 2020
News from the DeGolyer Library April 2020 Southern Methodist University Visit our Website A Message From Our Director As you know by now from earlier email communications from SMU, the DeGolyer Library has suspended access to the library building in accordance with recommendations from SMU and local authorities. Like the rest of the university, we…Continue Reading News from the DeGolyer Library April 2020
A Woman’s Work is Never Done-Happy Birthday Girl Scouts
I moved around a lot when I was growing up. Fortunately, I was able to see much of the world at a young age; unfortunately, I was never able to put down roots anywhere. I missed out on joining teams, clubs, and school organizations. The Girl Scouts was one group I wish I could have…Continue Reading A Woman’s Work is Never Done-Happy Birthday Girl Scouts
Horton Foote
This week we remember Horton Foote’s birthday on March 14, 1916. Foote was a Texas playwright and screenwriter, whose award-winning work includes the play A Young Man in Atlanta, and the films To Kill a Mockingbird and Tender Mercies. He is also known for his play and film, The Trip to Bountiful, which has been…Continue Reading Horton Foote
A Woman’s Work is Never Done-Vivian Castleberry
Born in Lindale, Texas, as the oldest child and only daughter of William and Jesse Anderson, Vivian Lou Anderson was raised on the family dairy farm in East Texas. Determined at a young age to become a writer, Castleberry taught herself to read before entering school. She attended high school in Athens, Texas, and earned…Continue Reading A Woman’s Work is Never Done-Vivian Castleberry