Special Collections The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Vol. XV III* No. 1 * Spring 2004

Table of Contents
Spring and Fall 2004

Spring 2004

Compass Rose PDF

Special Collections now offers a PDF format that can be downloaded to your printer! Click on the title, Compass Rose PDF above and the file will be delivered to your computer. Don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader? Adobe offers free software for viewing and printing Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html .

Squire Haskins: High Flying Images
By Brenda S. McClurkin

The article describes the Squire Haskins photographic archives recently acquired by Special Collections. McClurkin relates the history of the Dallas firm, considered among the premier aerial photographers in the Southwest, and and its owners, Squire Haskins and his son Ben. While the photo archives includes commercial, architectural, convention, and portrait photography, the main focus of the collection is aerial images. 

Coordinator's Corner
By Ann Hodges

This is the first appearance of a recurring column intended to keep readers informed of happenings in Special Collections. New Coordinator, Ann Hodges, will provide insight into happenings behind the public face of Special Collections. In this premier column, she covers recent activities of Special Collections personnel, reports on new projects undertaken by the division, and briefly describes some exciting new acquisitions.

From Mexico City to Fort Duncan:
Accounts of the Mexican War and its Aftermath
By Brenda S. McClurkin

McClurkin describes two recently acquired manuscript collections relating to the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 and its aftermath. The Lt. Delaney Floyd-Jones Letters, 1846-1862, with forty-one autographed letters, and the Lt. Joseph Bennett Plummer Copy Letter Book, 1849-1853, with three hundred letters, are rich additions to the comprehensive collection of Mexican War materials held in Special Collections.

Remove and Repair:
The Conservation Project for Historic Maps and Atlases
By Katherine R. Goodwin

Article reports on the multi-year project to inspect, evaluate, preserve, and conserve the maps and atlases in Special Collections, by Cartographic Archivist, Kit Goodwin, who worked with independent conservator, Gayle Young of Weatherford, Texas. The maps and atlases include a number of prominent items in the collection with dates ranging from 1690 to the early twentieth century. The conservation project was made possible with support from the Summerlee Foundation of Dallas, Texas.

Special Collections Acquires Rare de la Peña Derrotero
By Ann Hodges

Hodges describes the 1722 publication of de la Peña as "the first book devoted entirely to Texas." One of only eleven copies in existence, the book records the re-occupation expedition led by the Marques de Aguayo in response to the French invasion of 1719. The report, in addition, contains four engraved maps depicting presidios of the region.

Mark Your Calendars for the 2004 Garrett Lecture

On Friday, October 4, 2004, the Virginia Garrett Lectures will explore the many ways in which maps reflect the connection between cartography and art. The Lectures will also illustrate the strong connection between science of mapmaking and the creative and artistic expression that mapmakers bring to their work. Information on the lectures and the Texas Map Society meeting following on Saturday are noted.

Fall 2004

Philpott Collection Treasures Emerge:
From Emily West and Santa Anna...to Dead Bank Robbers!
By Brenda S. McClurkin

Dallas resident and banker, William A. Philpott, Jr. (1887-1971), assembled and nurtured for over fifty years an acclaimed collection of books, maps, historical manuscripts, national bank notes and coins.  A portion of the historically significant collection has been acquired by Special Collections through the generosity of the Summerlee Foundation in Dallas. McClurkin, Manuscripts Archivist, describes the collection and highlights some of the rich and diverse items.

Coordinator's Column
By Ann Hodges

The recurring column is intended to keep readers informed of happenings in Special Collections. Coordinator, Ann Hodges, provides insight into happenings in Special Collections. In this column, she covers recent activities of Special Collections personnel, reports on changes in staff,  projects undertaken by the division, and briefly describes some exciting new acquisitions.

The Neighbours Legacy
By Brenda S. McClurkin

Dr. Kenneth Franklin Neighbours, Wichita Falls historian, educators, and author, bequeathed his papers to The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Special Collections upon his death in March, 2002. The Papers date from 1757 to 2001 and chronicle his youth in north central Texas, his World War II service, and his scholarly career and business affairs. McClurkin reports on the acquisition and describes the varied items that will be available for research when the collection is processed.

Fort David Campaign Map Returns to Texas
By Katherine R. Goodwin

A rare manuscript map that formed the basis of the military tactics which ended the depredations in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas by the Apache Chief Victorio in 1880, has been acquired by Special Collections through the generosity of a Texas Collector. Goodwin, Cartographic Archivist for Special Collections, narrates the campaign by the 10th Cavalry from Fort Davis as they sought to bring the elusive chief and his band of warriors under control and the part the map played in the operation.

The Compass Rose is published semi-annually by Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries, Box 19497, Arlington, Texas 76019-0497. ISSN 1065-9218 Special Collections and other staff members who helped produce this issue are Dr. Gerald Saxon (editor), Ron Aday, Maritza Arrigunaga,  Maggie Dwyer, Katherine Goodwin, Ann Hodges, Carolyn Kadri, Brenda McClurkin, Blanca Smith, Cathleen Spitzenberger, Gary Spurr, and BettyWood.  The purpose of The Compass Rose is to raise awareness of Special Collections' resources and to foster the use of those resources. The newsletter also reports significant new programs, initiatives, and acquisitions of Special Collections. A compass rose is a circle graduated to degrees of quarter points and printed on a chart or map for reference.