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
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
G. William Jones Film and Video Collection – Winter 2019 Update
News We thankfully survived the fall and winter months of 2019, so that we can ring in the new year and celebrate the Jones Collection’s 50th anniversary! Reporter Chris Sadeghi, along with a film crew from WFAA, came down to the vault to film a promotional piece for Sadeghi’s REWIND series, which features footage from…Continue Reading G. William Jones Film and Video Collection – Winter 2019 Update
Remember the Alamo
It’s been 184 years since the battle of the Alamo was fought between February 23 and March 6, 1836 in San Antonio, Texas. Stephen Hardin’s Handbook of Texas article explains the context of these thirteen days that eventually led to Texas’ independence from Mexico. Lon Tinkle’s papers contain manuscripts for his 1958 book, 13 Days…Continue Reading Remember the Alamo
Kirk Douglas, Passing of a Hollywood Icon
One of the last survivors of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Kirk Douglas died on February 5, 2020 at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 103. After an impoverished childhood with Jewish immigrant parents and six sisters, Douglas made his film debut in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck. Douglas’s rugged…Continue Reading Kirk Douglas, Passing of a Hollywood Icon
Impeachment Season
Impeachment of the President of the United States has been rare. Only three presidents have been impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors”: Andrew Johnson (1868), Bill Clinton (1998), and Donald Trump (2019). Richard Nixon resigned from office before he almost certainly would have been impeached by the House and likely convicted by the Senate. Presidential…Continue Reading Impeachment Season
And the Award Goes To…
It’s that time of year again. No, I’m not talking about a time of goal setting, resolution making, and making plans for the future. It is the time of year where I am reminded of just how many movies, actors and actresses I am currently unaware of, and what I have missed in popular culture…Continue Reading And the Award Goes To…
Hollywood Bookshelves
It’s always fun to come across evidence of provenance in our collection. From bookplates belonging to eighteenth century aristocrats, to the carefully written name of a young reader on the front page of a nineteenth century children’s book, I can’t help but imagine the life of a book’s previous owners. For our newly accessioned copy…Continue Reading Hollywood Bookshelves