Category: Special Collections

Footage Found – SMU student collaborative project between Meadows and Jones Film and Video Collection

Footage Found was a collaborative project between students in the Video Art course (ASPH 3315) in the Meadows Division of Art and the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at SMU. The students were provided footage from the WFAA TV News Film archive, part of the Jones Collection’s holdings, to create new works from…Continue Reading Footage Found – SMU student collaborative project between Meadows and Jones Film and Video Collection

Exploring the Voices of SMU Collection

Last week, black students and alumni on Twitter described the racism, hate-speech, microaggressions, and harassment by police that they faced at SMU, with the hashtag #BlackAtSMU To learn more about the historical experiences of black students at SMU, consider exploring the Voices of SMU Oral History and Digital Humanities Student Projects. The university archives is…Continue Reading Exploring the Voices of SMU Collection

Remembering Sam Johnson ‘51

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

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

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

Octavio Medellin and the St. Bernard Church of Clairvaux mural project

“The art of this church has been the largest and most important commission given to me in the 30 years that I have been pioneering art in Texas.”    On December 7, 1958, the Dallas Morning News published the above quote by Octavio Medellin in reference to his commission at the Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic…Continue Reading Octavio Medellin and the St. Bernard Church of Clairvaux mural project