Special Collections Division the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Vol. XI * No. 2 * Fall 1997

In Memory of Jerry Lee Stafford
By Gerald D. Saxon

Jerry Lee Stafford, Curator of Photographs and Graphics in the Special Collections Division, died unexpectedly and suddenly on October 2, 1997. Jerry’s death has left a void in Special Collections, and all of us are deeply saddened by his passing.

Jerry was born on April 10, 1947, in Vinita, Oklahoma. He was married to Pat Stafford, and they had three children: Bob, Bill, and Robin. Like so many of UTA’s students, Jerry spent the first years of his adult life working in many different fields, including law enforcement, the jewelry business, and the finance business before deciding to enroll in college to pursue his passion and interest. In his case, these were history.

He entered the university in the late 1980s as a history major and excelled in his classes. In the early 1990s he graduated with his B. A. in history and enrolled in the history graduate program, pursuing his interest in public history. While a student, he worked for Special Collections as a work study student and for the history department as a graduate teaching assistant. He graduated with his M. A. in 1995 and was hired in Special Collections as Curator of Photographs and Graphics.

Jerry’s commitment to service and providing access to the division’s one million images was always evident. He worked well with our users and initiated the division’s digital imaging project. After hearing of his death, a number of the users he has assisted called to relay their condolences and to say how helpful he had been to them.

We are all better for having known and had the privilege of working with Jerry. He was kind, considerate, and a gentle spirit, whose dedication to studying and understanding the past was deeply ingrained. He will be missed.

Top of Page    Next Article    Previous Articles List    Special Collections Home Page

Special Collections
The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries
Phone: (817) 272-3393 * Fax: (817) 272-3360 * E-mail: Reference Desk

This page last update on Wednesday, June 25, 2003