UTA Libraries joins the University of Texas at Arlington community in remembering Dr. George Norris Green, a respected historian, educator, and longtime supporter of the Libraries whose vision helped lay the foundation of Special Collections and Archives. 

 
Dr. Green dedicated his life to preserving Texas history and ensuring future generations would have access to the stories, records and voices that help us better understand the past. A member of the UTA faculty for 45 years, he left an indelible mark on the University, his students and the library collections he helped build. 

 
Born in Rockdale, Texas, Dr. Green earned his bachelor’s degree with honors from The University of Texas at Austin before completing his master’s degree and doctorate in history at Florida State University. In 1966, he joined the faculty at what was then Arlington State College, just one year before the institution became The University of Texas at Arlington. He would go on to become a professor of history, professor emeritus and one of the University’s most influential advocates for historical preservation. 

 
While his impact on generations of students was significant, one of Dr. Green’s most enduring contributions began shortly after his arrival on campus. 

 
In 1967, Dr. Green worked with then-Library Director John Hudson and fellow historian Howard Lackman to establish the Texas Labor Archives. The initiative emerged after Dr. Green recognized that an important part of Texas history was at risk of being lost. At the time, few institutions in Texas or the Southwest were actively collecting and preserving the records of labor unions, labor leaders and working Texans. 

With support from the Libraries and university leadership, Dr. Green helped launch an effort that transformed UTA’s role in preserving the history of labor and working communities across the state. 

 
Former UTA Libraries Dean Gerald Saxon, who worked closely with Dr. Green for more than 25 years, said the creation of the archives came at a pivotal moment for the University. 

 
“The stars kind of aligned,” Saxon said. “The library had just expanded; the university was growing, and George came back with this idea that Texas needed a labor archive. He saw a gap in the historical record and set out to fill it.” 

 
What began as an ambitious idea grew into one of the most significant labor history collections in Texas. Over nearly six decades, the Texas Labor Archives expanded from a small collection of donated records into a nationally recognized research resource documenting the experiences of working Texans and the organizations that represented them. 

 
Today, the Texas Labor Archives contains hundreds of collections documenting labor unions, labor councils, statewide labor organizations, labor leaders and activists. The collection includes organizational records, photographs, publications, correspondence and oral histories that preserve firsthand accounts of workers and labor advocates whose stories might otherwise have been lost. 

 
The collection documents the history of Texans who worked in industries ranging from oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction to transportation, entertainment and public service. Through these materials, researchers can examine the experiences of workers, the development of labor movements and the relationship between labor and the political, economic and social history of Texas. 

 
Dr. Green spent decades traveling across the state, meeting with labor leaders, union officials and organizations, encouraging them to preserve their records at UTA. Summer after summer, he worked to build relationships that would help grow the collection and ensure future researchers would have access to these important historical materials. 

 
“He continued to solicit unions, labor councils and labor leaders to donate their materials to UTA,” Saxon said. “He conducted oral histories, secured grants and spent decades building those collections. That work never really stopped.” 

 
Dr. Green’s efforts also extended beyond the Texas Labor Archives. Recognizing the close relationship between labor movements and public policy, he helped establish the Texas Political Archives, which preserve records documenting the political history of Texas and the individuals who shaped it. 

 
According to Saxon, those collections served as the foundation for what would eventually become Special Collections and Archives. 

 
“He was kind of the granddaddy of a lot of this,” Saxon said. “Before there was a Special Collections division, there was the Texas Labor Archives and the Texas Political Archives. George was pivotal.” 

Today, those collections remain a cornerstone of Special Collections and Archives and continue to support students, faculty, scholars and community researchers from around the world. 

 
“Special Collections and Archives, as we know it today is rooted in the work Dr. Green began nearly 60 years ago,” Kera Newby, Director of Special Collections and Archives, said. “The Texas Labor Archives was one of the first major archival collecting initiatives at UTA, and Dr. Green dedicated decades to building relationships, preserving records and ensuring that the stories of Texas workers would not be lost.” 

 
Newby said the collections Dr. Green helped establish continue to play an important role in student success, teaching and research. 

“Students, faculty and researchers actively use these collections to examine the history of labor, politics and social change in Texas,” Newby said. “The materials Dr. Green helped preserve provide opportunities for hands-on learning and original research.” 

That continued impact can be seen through the many ways students engage with archival materials today. 

Special Collections and Archives regularly partner with faculty members to connect students with primary sources and hands-on learning opportunities. In one collaboration in the 2026 Spring semester, students from a UTA public relations course worked with materials from the Texas Labor Archives to examine historical records and develop communication projects that helped share archival stories with new audiences. 

The experience allowed students to move beyond simply studying history and instead to work directly with original documents, photographs and records preserved in the archives. Through the project, students developed a deeper understanding of how historical materials can inform storytelling, research and public communication. 

For Newby, these experiences represent the continuation of Dr. Green’s original vision. 

“Dr. Green saw that archives are more than historical records,” she said. “They are tools for learning, understanding and asking new questions. His vision helped establish UTA as a destination for labor and political history research, and that impact continues to benefit students and researchers today.” 

The significance of Dr. Green’s work extends far beyond the collections themselves. His efforts helped create a culture of archival preservation at UTA that would later support the growth of Special Collections and Archives and many of the distinctive collections that followed. 

“I’m not sure we would have had a Special Collections program without George and the work that he did,” Saxon said. “The Texas Labor Archives and Texas Political Archives demonstrated what these collections could mean for the university and for research.” 

Dr. Green’s legacy also lives on through the many students he taught during his 45-year career at UTA. Known for his popular and engaging teaching, he encouraged students to think critically about history and its connections to contemporary issues. His scholarship helped expand understanding of Texas history, politics and labor through multiple books, scholarly articles and essays. 

His contributions to the historical profession extended well beyond campus. He served as president of the Texas State Historical Association from 2003 to 2004 and earned recognition throughout the state for his scholarship and public service. 

Even after retirement, Dr. Green remained deeply connected to the collections and causes he championed throughout his career. In 2017, he authored and curated “Walking the Line: The Diverse History of Organized Labor in Texas,” an exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Texas Labor Archives, the very collection he helped establish half a century earlier. 

His passion for historical research never faded. He authored over 25 scholarly articles, various essays, and multiple books over his career, and continued researching and writing long after retirement. Just days before his passing, he was in conversations about editing his latest labor manuscript, which was almost 200,000 words. 

Those who knew Dr. Green remember not only his professional accomplishments but also his personality. He possessed a sharp wit, a dry sense of humor and an unwavering curiosity about the world around him. 

“George was a fun guy,” Saxon said. “He had a great sense of humor and was always thinking about how to reach more people, how to acquire more collections and how to use history to help people better understand the world around them.” 

As UTA Libraries reflect on Dr. Green’s life and contributions, we are reminded that libraries are more than buildings and books. They are repositories of human experience, made possible through the dedication of individuals who understand the importance of preserving stories for future generations. 

Dr. Green’s vision transformed UTA into a leader in labor and political history research. His work created scholarship opportunities, enriched the University’s academic mission and established collections that continue to grow nearly six decades after their founding. 

UTA Libraries is grateful for Dr. Green’s enduring partnership, his commitment to preserving Texas history and his belief in the power of archives to expand knowledge and understanding. 

His legacy remains woven into the fabric of UTA Libraries, and the collections he helped build will continue to serve researchers, students and the public for generations to come. 

A memorial service will be held on July 25 at 10 a.m. at Wade Funeral Home, located at 4140 Pioneer Parkway, Arlington, Texas 76013. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Schieffer Endowment at UTA Libraries in Dr. Green’s memory.