By Gerald Saxon

The Friends of the UTA Libraries are entering their second decade as an organization committed to enhancing the resources of the Libraries. Along the way the organization has had many memorable speakers and programs, none better than the offerings of 1998-99. Chartered in 1987, the Friends organization is a unique community partnership. Members further their awareness and appreciation of the University Libraries while contributing to the enrichment of their collections and services.

During the past 12 years the Friends have sponsored more than 60 programs, attracted more than 2,500 members, underwritten awards to library staff and faculty, and built countless bridges between the community and the UTA Libraries. The Friends continue to develop into an organization that is leaving its mark on the University and the Arlington-Fort Worth-Dallas area. The following is a summary of the events and accomplishments of the Friends:

Woodcut of Lincoln from an 1866 biography.

September 1, 1998. The year officially began for the Friends’ 1998-99 slate of officers, who were Dennis Reinhartz, president; Bansy Johnson, first vice president; Charles Deur, second vice president; Evelyn Hellier, secretary; Tom Kennedy, treasurer; and Lannie Forbes as parliamentarian. New members of the Advisory Council were Beth Anderson, Richard Francaviglia, and Mary Anne Bailey.

John Waugh spoke about Reelecting  Lincoln.

September 18, 1998. Friends member John C. Waugh discussed his book Reelecting Lincoln: The Battle for the 1864 Presidency. After his presentation the Friends hosted a reception and autograph party/book sale in his honor.

A photo from Portraits of Community by Alan Govenar.

November 13, 1998. Writer, folklorist, filmmaker and photographer Alan B. Govenar gave a slide presentation that focused on the photographs and photographers represented in his book Portraits of Community: African American Photography in Texas. An autograph party and book sale followed Govenar’s presentation.

Original art for the Holiday Friends meeting invitation from the University Publcations office.

December 5, 1998. Elmer Kelton was the featured speaker at the Friends’ holiday program. Best known as the author of more than forty Western novels, this best-selling author read a personal account of the Christmases of his youth, entitled “A Texas Christmas Story.” The UTA Trio also performed for the standing room only crowd.

February 26, 1999. UTA’s own Richard Francaviglia, director of the Center for Greater Southwestern Studies and the History of Cartography, used slides to illustrate his talk based on his upcoming book The Cast Iron Forest: A Natural  and Cultural History of the North American Cross Timbers.

Susan Albert.

March 26, 1999. Susan Albert, writer of the China Bayles mystery series, spoke on “The Mysteries of Herbs,” revealing how she has used herbs in her stories. The Friends hosted an autograph party for Albert after her presentation and copies of her books were sold to an eager public.

April 30, 1999. Ann Arnold of Fort Worth discussed her new book Gamblers and Gangsters: Fort Worth’s Jacksboro Highway in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Local anecdotes were shared with the group by Arnold and several Friends’ members who remember “The Bad Good Old Times,” as she titled her talk.

Ann Arnold signs copies of her book for Jenkins Garrett.

The April 30 meeting was also the annual business meeting. Newly elected Friends officers included Bansy Johnson, president; Charles Deur, first vice president; Tom Kennedy, second vice president; Betty Bob Buckley, secretary; Daniel Kauth, treasurer; outgoing president Dennis Reinhartz serves as parliamentarian; and Dorothy Rencurrel was newly appointed to the Advisory Council at large. These officers will take office on September 1, 1999.

May 4, 1999. The STAR Award, sponsored by the Friends, was presented to Lisa Smith at the Libraries Staff spring reception.

June 18, 1999. UTA History Professor Dennis Reinhartz addressed a standing room only crowd at a special Friends meeting. This extra meeting was scheduled so Friends members and interested community members could hear Dr. Reinhartz discuss the crisis in Kosovo and the history of the former Yugoslavia. Dr. Reinhartz specializes in history in that part of the world and was frequently interviewed on this topic by journalists from both local and national media sources.

September 1, 1998 – August 31, 1999. Membership dues or gifts in kind from Friends members (other than through the Adopt-A-Journal program) total $7,865.00.

September 1, 1998 – August 31, 1999. There are 366 members who joined the Friends or renewed their membership during the year.

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