by Sara Pezzoni
Special Collections in 2023: 3rd Quarterly Review
The purpose of The Compass Rose is to raise awareness of Special Collections' resources and to foster the use of these resources. The blog series also reports significant new programs, initiatives, and acquisitions of Special Collections.
This is the newest in an ongoing series spotlighting new acquisitions and reproductions of our content. For more on our previous featured material, read our previously published Quarterly Review blogs.
Special Collections is continually acquiring new materials and image reproductions of items from our collections are regularly used in new publications and by media outlets. This post reviews where and how materials from our collections are being used around the world in July, August, and September of 2023.
Acquisitions of Printed Materials
Alonso de León Letter
This quarter we received a donation of a three-page manuscript letter written in Spanish by Alonso de León of Coahuila, Mexico, dated 19 Mayo 1689, to Padre Juan del Rincón, "Descubrimiento de la Bahia del Espíritu Santo en el Ceno Mexicano en el de 1689 años," which translates in English to "Discovery of the Bay of Espiritu Santo in the Seno Mexicano (Gulf of Mexico) in the year 1689." In this extraordinary letter, Spanish pioneer and explorer Alonso de León describes his discovery of the remains of the failed colony established by the French explorer La Salle off Matagorda Bay on the coast of Texas. The letter includes amazing details about the colony and the peoples involved, both French and indigenous. This item ranks as arguably one of the most important pieces in Special Collections. It is accompanied by a transcription and a translation by UTA Professor Dr. Sonia Kania. Gift of Wesley A. Brown of Denver, Colorado.
Franke Map & Print Donations
This quarter, we acquired a multitude of maps and prints from donor Dr. Jack Franke.
Maps donated by Dr. Franke:
- Pieter van der Aa and Pieter de Marees, Het Koninkryk van Guinea of Afrikaanse Goud-Kust del Mina, engraving with applied color on paper, 1720-1729
- Nicolas Bellin, Il Paese degli Ottentotti ne’ Contorni del Capo di Buona Speranza, engraving on paper, 1781
- Carta della Costa Orientale di Affrica dal Capo di Buona Speranza sino al Capo del Gada
- Lapie and Tardieu, Carte d'Afrique, 1854
- Lapie and Tardieu, Carte des Etats-Unis du Mexique, 1854
- Handtke and Hubner, Afrika
- Carl Flemming, Senegambien, Sudan and Guinea
- Edward Stanford et al., A Map of the Nile, from the Equatorial Lakes to the Mediterranean, Embracing the Eastern Sudan (Kordofan, Darfur &c.) and Abyssinia, with the Surveys and Explorations of Emin, Junker, Stanley, &c. (London: Stanford's Geographical Establishment, 1896)
- Ron Rice, East Texas [Pictorial Map] (Longview, Texas: East Texas Chamber of Commerce, 1966)
Prints donated by Dr. Franke:
- Melton Prior, The Zulu War: The Burning of Ulundi [from The London Illustrated News, Aug. 23, 1879, pages 172-173, 184-185]
- Schonberg, The Zulu War: The Battle of Ulundi [Extra Supplement to The Illustrated London News, Aug. 9, 1879]
- Melton Prior and Richard Caton Woodville, The Zulu War -- Battle of Ulundi: Final Rush of the Zulus -- British Square in the Distance [Extra Supplement to The Illustrated London News, 1879]
Maps from the Ted W. Mayborn Collection
Ted W. Mayborn (1909-1996) was a wealthy petroleum trade journal publisher, writer, and Texas history aficionado. Mayborn was an avid collector and donated his collection of historical literature, maps, and memorabilia to UTA Special Collections in 1989. This quarter, we accessioned 332 maps from the Mayborn collection, mostly from Atlases, that were transferred to the general map collection, including:
- Map of Persia, Turkey in Asia, Afghanistan, Beloochistan (New York: S. Augustus Mitchell, 1872)
- Johnson's Hindoostan and Farther India (New York: A.J. Johnson, 1867)
- Map of China, from The Illustrated London News (1888)
- Russia in Europe (Philadelphia: Henry S. Tanner, 1845)
- Russia in Asia and Tartary (Philadelphia: Henry S. Tanner, 1845)
- Map of Granada, Venezuela, and Guiana / Map of Peru, and Ecuador / Map of the Argentine Confederation (Philadelphia: Henry S. Tanner, 1860)
- Chili, Paraguay, The Argentine Confederation, and Uruguay [verso:] Europe (Philadelphia: Henry S. Tanner, 1871)
- Johnson's Japan: Nippon, Kiusiu, Sikok, Yesso and the Japanese Kurlies (New York: A. J. Johnson, ca. 1860s)
- J. B. Wolters, De Havenwerken van Rotterdam / De Havenwerken van Amsterdam / Ijmuiden (Groningen, Netherlands, ca. 1880-1899)
- Jose Rodriguez, Plano Oficial de la Ciudad de La Paz (1959)
Kino's Map of California
James Hulett after Francis Eusebio Kino, A Passage by Land to California Discovered by ye Rev. Fathr. Eusebius Francis Kino, Jesuite between ye Years 1698 & 1701, engraving on paper, includes 7-page text article (London, 1721). Gift of Dr. Dennis Reinhartz.
Jesuit Father Francis Eusebio Kino walked from Sonora to Baja California, in part to disprove the long-standing cartographic myth that California was an island. This version of Kino’s map, donated by UTA Professor Emeritus Dennis Reinhartz, is quite rare, and its accession gives us a third – the first published in French in 1705 in a Jesuit journal and a second, another English version from John Lockman’s Travels of the Jesuits, published in 1743.
Newly Processed Archival Materials
Dr. Beth Haller Papers
The Dr. Beth Haller Papers, one of our recently processed collections, contains letters and publications that connect researchers to disability history. Of particular note are publications about Kaleidescope, a television channel that was created to make media more accessible to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population, as well as those with visual disabilities. Kaleidescope provided early forms of audio description and closed captioning to its audience, helping to pave the way for media that was accessible and enjoyable for all.
Mary Kemp Parker County, Texas, History Collection
From photos of local ranches to newspaper clippings about local tragedies, the Mary Kemp Parker County, Texas, History Collection provides a brief glimpse into Parker County. Mary E. Kemp is a respected Parker County historian, author of several books on Parker County historical topics, founder of the Abandoned Cemetery Association, former member of the Parker County Historical Commission, and organizer and hostess of the Shaw-Kemp Open House. This collection is comprised of photographs, newspaper clippings, scrapbook pages and printed materials relating to the history of Weatherford and Parker County, Texas. Of particular note within this collection are photographs of small local businesses, which are quite rare in historical records.
New TARO Finding Aids
TARO (Texas Archival Resources Online) makes descriptions, or "finding aids," of the rich archival collections in repositories across the state available to the public. Finding aids assist users in locating information in our collections and serve as a descriptive guide to the unique materials only available here in Special Collections. Here are our most recent finding aid uploads to TARO:
University Archives
- UTA Office of the President Records. Wendell Nedderman Papers (AR465)
- Southland Conference Records (AR611)
- Dean Elizabeth Poster, College of Nursing Records (AR631)
- UTA College of Engineering Presentation Binder (AR640)
- UTA Military Science Department records (AR693)
- UTA Libraries Administrative Office. Betty J. Wood Records (AR713)
- Howard W. Joyner Papers (AR766)
- UTA Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations Event Planning Records (AR796)
- Lana Rings Papers (AR806)
- Robert E. and Anne Witt Papers (AR811)
Texas Disability History Collection
- The Child Development Center Collection (AR709)
- John Dycus Papers (AR820)
- Dr. Beth Haller Papers (AR822)
Texas Labor Archives
- Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators, and Paperhangers of America, Local 393 (Wichita Falls, Tex.) Records (AR565)
- Millmen’s Union, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 2374 (Wichita Falls, Tex.) (AR651)
- International Hod Carriers, Building, and Common Laborers Union of America, Local 701 (Wichita Falls, Tex.) (AR652)
- Journeymen Barbers' International Union of America, Local 432 (Greenville, Tex) (AR653)
- Typographical Union, Local 505 (Wichita Falls, Tex.) Records (AR654)
- David N. Powers Collection (AR664)
- Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Cheryle Leon Records (AR694)
- Donald A. Horn Papers (AR697)
- Mid-Western Texas Building and Construction Trades Council Records (AR765)
- Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO), Local 403, Houston, Texas Records (AR773)
- Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, Dallas-Fort Worth Region Records (AR774)
- Julie Bowman Papers (AR805)
Historical Manuscripts Collection
- Robertson Colony Collection (AR342)
- Mrs. J. A. Stanley Family Diaries (AR538)
- Fielder Foundation, Inc. Records (AR562)
- David Keens Papers (AR563)
- E.T. Dumble Papers (AR564)
- Arthur Saft Family Papers (AR569)
- Jack White JFK Assassination Collection (AR593)
- Schmidt Family Papers (AR594)
- C.C. Cummings Papers (AR625)
- Curtis Family Papers (AR632)
- William E. Jary Jr. Papers (AR634)
- San Sabá Painting Documentation Files (AR641)
- Society of Professional Journalists. Fort Worth Chapter Records (AR647)
- Purvine Theater Program Collection (AR692)
- Jose Cano Papers (AR699)
- William E. Jary Jr. Papers (AR701)
- Thomas and Samford Family Papers (AR739)
- Altrusa International of Southeast Tarrant County Early Risers Records (AR740)
- Flora and Dickson Reeder Papers (AR746)
- Joseph H. Pyle Papers (AR747)
- John Luther Morgan, Jr. Collection (AR772)
- Latham Family Correspondence Collection (AR786)
- Society of Professional Journalists, Fort Worth Chapter Records (AR809)
- Texas Map Society Records (AR812)
- Mary Kemp Parker County, Texas, History Collection (AR826)
Texas Political History Collection
- Don Woodard Papers (AR775)
- Ron Carleton Papers (AR778)
- Helen Krebs Maddox Papers (AR782)
- Ora Estelle Teague Papers (AR788)
Photographs Collection
SPCO Class Visits
Students from a variety of classes and organizations visit Special Collections to engage in experiential learning activities using our unique materials. Visits this quarter have included History, Gender & Women’s Studies, Mexican-American Studies, Art History, and a summer camp with K-12 students from the Arlington community. Pictured below are a few examples from class instruction over the past few months.
UTA Libraries welcomed kids from Arlington for summer camp. On the first day, students visited Special Collections to learn how to identify parts of a map. Each student worked in groups to find different map elements – ranging from rivers and lakes to a compass rose or title – as part of a scavenger hunt. After viewing historical maps from Special Collections and completing their activity, the students created their own fantasy maps with the elements they had just sought out. The kids really enjoyed their time looking at maps that were hundreds of years older than they were!
Each semester, Special Collections welcomes multiple sections of HIST3300 – Historical Research Methods. In Dr. Ortiz-Diaz's section this Fall, the students visited twice. In their first visit, students viewed a wide range of materials from Special Collections in a quick overview tour we like to call "Special Collections' Greatest Hits." From a page of the Nuremberg Chronicle to correspondence between the AFL-CIO and John F. Kennedy, this tour really runs the gambit of what our materials have to offer. To wrap up day one, students engage in our Document Analysis workshop, where they analyze a primary source from our collection. This activity teaches basic historical inquiry and critical thinking skills, while also helping the students feel comfortable conducting research. In their second visit (pictured above), students engaged in more in-depth research with materials they requested. As they work towards the end goal of the class – writing a historical research paper – this research trip allowed them to begin assessing primary sources they might want to analyze. We’ve definitely got some budding historians in the group!
Events
The Office of Transition Programs & Services hosted its third annual First-Generation College Student Brunch & Alumni Mixer on August 26. Special Collections was invited to showcase university history at the event, and our team filled four tables with artifacts, newsletters, photographs, yearbooks, pins, and other UTA-related memorabilia!
Image Reproduction Highlights
Materials found within Special Collections’ holdings have been used across a wide variety of outlets, including (but not limited to) features in local news stories, on television shows, printed in publications, and used in public exhibitions. Below are some examples of where and how our materials have been used this quarter.
Local News
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram collection, which came in increments to UTA Libraries from 1984 to 2022, is often used in a variety of news articles and columns published by the original donor, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. This quarter, the Star-Telegram used photographs from the collection for 11 stories:
- "Fort Worth and Tarrant County flew an electric U.S. flag," by Bud Kennedy, June 30, 2023
- "Comparing impeached Texas AG Ken Paxton and Gov. Pa Ferguson," by Hollace Ava Weiner, July 1, 2023
- "What is the history of Fort Worth's Como neighborhood?" by Megan Cardona, July 5, 2023
- "Fort Worth's early Chinese migrants slowly built livelihoods," by Carol Roark, July 5, 2023
- "Story behind the owner of the Wheat Building in Fort Worth," by Richard Selcer, July 29, 2023
- "Handler brothers followed different paths to sports fame," by Hollace Ava Weiner, August 5, 2023
- "Brunch new at T & P Tavern train station grill in Fort Worth," by Bud Kennedy, August 7, 2023
- "First Texas Christian University med school struggled, closed," by Carol Roark, August 19, 2023
- "Civil War veteran groups from both sides formed in Fort Worth," by Richard Selcer, September 2, 2023
- "Fort Worth's forgotten history of building Chevrolet 490 cars," by Carol Roark, September 23, 2023
- "TV history: Texas' oldest, KXAS, turns 70," by Bud Kennedy, September 27, 2023
Photographs from the collection were also used in 9 photo features:
- "Photos of 1980 Texas heat wave seen for the 1st time in 43 years," by Matt Leclercq, July 6, 2023
- "Historic photos of Fort Worth restaurants from Star-Telegram," by Matt Leclercq, July 13, 2023
- "Historic archive photos of Fort Worth Zoo in the 1940s-1950s," by Matt Leclercq, July 28, 2023
- "100 years of Boy Scouts in Fort Worth from our vault," by Matt Leclercq, August 2, 2023
- "First day of school photos from Fort Worth over the decades," by Matt Leclercq, August 14, 2023
- "Newly published photos of 1988 crash of Delta 1141 at DFW," by Matt Leclercq, August 22, 2023
- "PHOTOS: How Fort Worth has celebrated Labor Day since 1800s," by Matt Leclercq, August 24, 2023
- "Historic photos of Mexican Independence Day in Fort Worth," by Matt Leclercq, August 29, 2023
- "40 historic photos of State Fair of Texas from Star-Telegram," by Matt Leclercq, September 26, 2023
Other local news outlets published the following stories using our collection materials:
- Fort Worth Report news article, "The River Walk transformed San Antonio. Could Panther Island do the same for Fort Worth?" by Haley Samsel, Rachel Behrndt, Tracy Idell Hamilton, and Andrea Drusch, July 9, 2023; images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection
- Fort Worth Report news article, "As Fort Worth seeks a new location for its Central Library, locals look back on the building’s impact on arts and culture," by Marcheta Fornoff and Emily Wolf, July 11, 2023; images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection
- UTA News news article, "Photo goes from UTA Digital Gallery to Disney's Hall of Presidents," by Andy Branca, July 24, 2023; images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection
- The Shorthorn news article, "Welcome events encourage student solidarity," by By Hannah García, August 23, 2023; images used from the UTA Office of the President. James D. Spaniolo Materials
- WETA PBS episode, "Koreagate: How Tongsun Park Gave Nearly $1 Milllion to Congressmen — And Got Away With It," by Frank Carroll, September 18, 2023; images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection
- Fort Worth Report news article, "Deep dive: Segregation crippled Fort Worth’s aquatics. Here’s how the city could recover its pools," by Rachel Behrndt, September 14, 2023; images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection
Printed Materials
- Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) Handbook of Texas online entry for “Lewis, Erma Mozelle Duffy, 1926-1982” by Hollace Ava Weiner, published August 2023; images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram collection
- Texas A&M Foundation, Spirit Magazine article, "The Aggie Apollo Apostle," by Grace Jones, Summer 2023; image used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram collection
- TCU Magazine article, "Football Powerhouse: The 1930s were a golden age for TCU Football under legendary coach Dutch Meyer," by Jeff Wilson, August 15, 2023; images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram collection
- TCU Magazine article, "How James Cash Forever Changed TCU," by Brandon Kitchin, August 15, 2023; images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram collection
Film/Television
- Episode for Dark Side of the Ring (Season 4: Episode 2), VICE TV, aired June 6, 2023; image used from the Cirrus Bonneau and Ana Beaulac Photograph Collection
Exhibitions and Displays
- Traveling exhibit, “Black Cowboys: An American Story,” curated by the Witte Museum, on display at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum (September 2023-January 2024); images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection and Jenkins Garrett Texas Postcard Collection
- Temporary exhibit, "Cowtown Takes Flight," Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, August 19, 2023-August 31, 2024; images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection; the W. D. Smith Commercial Photography, Inc. Collection; the Squire Haskins Photography, Inc. Collection; the Montfort, Sawtelle, and Gilbert Families Papers; the Amon Carter Photograph Collection; the Meacham-Carter Papers; the Aviation Photographs Collection; the PATCO Records for the DFW Tower Group; and the Keith Kahle Papers
- Permanent exhibit, "Hall of Presidents" in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL); image of George W. Bush used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection
- Temporary exhibit, "Forest Forward: The Future Is Here" by Forest Forward, on display at NorthPark Center’s “NorthCourt,” (Dallas, TX), September 14-Oct. 17, 2023; image used from the Squire Haskins Photography, Inc. Collection
- Traveling exhibit, "Mumentous," curated by Amy J. Schultz, on display at the Grapevine Tower Gallery, September 23-October 14, 2023; images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, the UTA Photograph Collection, and the UTA News Service Photograph Collection
- Public presentation, "If Walls Could Talk: 100 Years at Lily B. Clayton," presented by Debra Nyul for a Junior League of Fort Worth meeting on September 25, 2023; images used from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection and the Gracious Ladies Research Collection
Visit The Compass Rose in December for our next quarterly blog review!
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