When people think about working in a rare book library, they imagine librarians reading books all day. What they don’t imagine is the hard physical work that we do many days. Lifting boxes of books. Shelving and reshelving books. Putting the pieces together for an exhibit. Moving the cases. Lifting the lids. Putting material…Continue Reading Under Construction–Putting the Pieces together for an Exhibit
On Thursday, November 16, the DeGolyer Library hosted David Kruger to discuss his book, J.C. Penney: the Man, the Store, and American Agriculture. David kept the audience entranced with a slideshow of over 100 images, and people stayed after the event to chat. Some might know that the store in the mall, JCPenney, was founded…Continue Reading Mr. Penney’s Farming Pursuits
DeGolyer Library is pleased to announce that Congressman Sam Johnson ’51 will donate his congressional papers at the end of his term in 2018. Before representing Texas’ 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1991, he served six years in the Texas House of Representatives. Prior to his political career, he served 29 years in…Continue Reading Veterans and Their Stories
The Mustang Band will be celebrating its 100th anniversary during SMU’s Homecoming this month. Known for its school spirit, its use of jazz music, and its uniforms, the band has made an indelible contribution to our campus throughout the past 100 years. The band’s uniforms have their own history. On November 3, 1922, the student newspaper…Continue Reading SMU Mustang Band: Celebrating 100 Years
Oct. 4, 2017 is “Ask An Archivist” day. This yearly Twitter campaign began in 2010 to engage everyday people who want to know about historic collections and the people who work with those collections. The SMU Archives has formally participated in Twitter’s #Ask An Archivist day for only 2 years, but this day always…Continue Reading Ask An Archivist
Kenda North Photography Archive Donated to the DeGolyer Library, SMU It is an honor to announce that Kenda North has donated her photographic archive to the DeGolyer Library to be included in the Archives of the Women of the Southwest. The spectacular lifework collection includes color photographs from the 1970s to the present. The list…Continue Reading Kenda North Photography Collection
Preparing students to join college life has always been a concern to university administrators. In 1915 (and for some years after), freshmen at SMU were called “Fish.” During that first spring semester, seniors pranked two unsuspecting classes with fake finals. As early as 1919, incoming freshman had mandatory psychological tests. These tests (although updated) remained…Continue Reading Joining the SMU Community
The Archives of Women of the Southwest remembers Julia Scott Reed this July 17th on what would have been her 100th birthday. We are honored that Ms. Reed’s family placed her papers here at DeGolyer Library for future generations of scholars. Dallas native Julia Scott Reed was born July 17, 1917, daughter of Johnnie and Nina McGee….Continue Reading Happy 100th Birthday to Julia Scott Reed (1917-2014)
It usually starts with an email from a reporter. “I am working on a story…..” The first question is “what is your deadline?” Then I begin the search for information, photographs, or anything else that can shape the story. With this assignment, the reporter was looking for specific information about the JCPenney Pendleton, Oregon,…Continue Reading Helping to document the closing of a JCPenney store
On February 23, 2017, Bill Wittliff and Virgil Musick reunited for the first time in 20 years. Bill and Sally Wittliff, creators of the Encino Press, joined Virgil Musick, a faithful collector of their work, for an exhibition opening and panel discussion at the DeGolyer Library. Brought together nearly 30 years ago by Musick’s admiration…Continue Reading An Evening Reminiscing