| Special Collections
Policies,
Procedures, and Hours Southwestern University students,
staff, and faculty as well as the general public are welcome
to conduct research in Special Collections. Although materials
are non-circulating, the John G. Tower Library reading room
provides an elegant and comfortable space to read and study
the university's rare books and other collections. Convenient
outlets are available for laptop computers.
Researchers are asked to read and sign a policy of rules
and regulations upon registering. These policies, designed
to protect and preserve rare and fragile materials, include
requests that patrons show photo-identification upon registering;
use pencils only; check all book bags, briefcases, and other
personal property not necessary for research; wear provided
gloves when handling photographs, and use care when examining
materials. Works in good condition may be photoduplicated
for a fee.
Materials are available for use Monday through Friday, 9:30-12:30
and 1:30-4:30. These hours are subject to change and may not
be observed during interim periods and university holidays;
patrons are encouraged to call to schedule a research visit.
Inquiries concerning the use of the Special Collections or
the John G. Tower Papers are welcome and should be addressed
to:
Kathryn Stallard
Head, Special Collections & John G. Tower Papers
A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center
Southwestern University
P.O. Box 770
Georgetown, Texas 78627-0770
telephone (512) 863-1221
e-mail stallark@southwestern.edu
John G. Tower
Library and Archives John Goodwin Tower a Southwestern
alumnus, represented Texas in the United States Senate from
1961 through 1984. Before his retirement, he named Southwestern
University as the official repository for his
papers. The approximately 800 linear feet of materials
primarily reflect his Senate activities and include records
and documents, legislative files, correspondence, speeches,
campaign items, photographs, memorabilia, books, and audiovisual
tapes and film. Materials from before the beginning of his
Senate career concern his family, education, and teaching
career. Later items document his writings and his post-Senate
appointments, including his nomination as Secretary of Defense
and his appointment as ambassador to the Strategic Arms Limitation
Talks in Geneva. The library also holds several smaller related
accessions, including the papers of political consultant and
writer John Knaggs and of Senator Tower's legislative aide,
J. French Hill.
Collections
Edward A. Clark Texana Collection
One of the largest special collections in the nation among
schools of Southwestern's size, the Edward A. Clark Collection
was a gift of more than 2,400 volumes donated in 1965 from
the private collection of Ambassador Edward A. Clark. It is
rich in basic, printed materials for the period of the Republic
of Texas (1836-1845), the annexation by the United States
(1845) and Reconstruction (1865). Also included in this collection
are a number of periodicals, photographs and other printed
materials. Since Clark's original gift, the collection has
grown to more than 10,000 items, including more than 7,000
books.
Edward A. Clark Australia Collection
Collected during the time that Edward A. Clark was ambassador
to Australia in the 1960's, this collection of 240 titles
includes works on natural history, social life and customs,
art, literature, ethnology and history.
Edward A. Clark Burr Collection
Chronicled in a collection of 49 printed works is the life
of Aaron Burr with highlights of his career, trials and memoirs.
The collection was donated by Ambassador Edward A. Clark.
Isabel Gaddis Collection of J. Frank Dobie
A collection of 542 titles rich in early J. Frank Dobie materials,
it included contributions made by the noted folklorist and
author to the university's yearbook, the Sou'wester,
proof copies and manuscripts of many of his books, and a complete
collection of all his printed works.
Jessie Daniel Ames Collection
Ames was a well-known suffragist and anti-lynching activist.
This small collection reflects her retirement interests and
activities and primarily contains clippings, articles, and
cartoons related to politics and social issues. She placed
many of these into scrapbooks on specific subjects, such as
"The Negro and the Schools, 1954-1956" and "Foreign Policy
and Foreign Relations, 1954-1958." One document case contains
personal notes and correspondence, most of which is with family
members, especially her daughter, Lulu. Ames,
a Southwestern University alumna (1902), also donated a large
portion of her library to the University.
Jackson/Greenwood Collection
The Jackson/Greenwood Collection is very large and consists
of several areas of interest including literature, religion
and Methodism among others. The Collection features 19th century
English and American literary titles; Wesleyana materials
focusing on the extensive Wesley family; history of religion,
including an English translation from the Greek of Eusebius'
History of the Church; Methodism and church history,
including journals, such as the Arminian Magazine
and Martin Luther's Artzneybuch (Doctor Book); books
issued to German prisoners of war in San Antonio; and books
about China. A collection of correspondence, issues of The
Emancipator, picture postcards and personal papers belonging
to Bishop John Cowper Granbery and his family are part of
this collection. A large collection of youth titles including
an extensive selection of Horatio Alger's books and Martha
Finley's Elsie Dinsmore stories, as well as a number of works
by L. Frank Baum, is included.
Thomas Bewick Collection
The Thomas Bewick Collection of 33 volumes contains works
by the English naturalist and wood engraver Thomas Bewick.
Some of the titles in this collection include his General
History of Quadrupeds and History of British Birds.
Also included in the collection are letters and other printed
materials containing Bewick's engravings.
William Blake Collection
The William Blake Collection contains works by and about the
poet and printer William Blake. Included are Blake's Jerusalem
and Songs of Innocence.
Brown Collection
The Brown Collection, donated by Margaret Root Brown, contains
over 200 volumes including the Bewick Collection (above),
Bibles, English histories, religious books, the Englishwoman's
Domestic Magazine and descriptive books on Europe and
the Middle East. Included are books by several prominent authors
such as Stephen Crane, Daniel DeFoe and Emile Zola.
Henry E. Meyer Hymnal Collection
The Henry E. Meyer Hymnal Collection of 106 volumes contains
hymnals, Bibles and religious texts. Some of the items unique
to the collection are a hymnal in the Delaware Indian language,
an English Old Version Psalm Book and the first Wesleyan
Hymn Book. Many of the books are more than 100 years
old and have fine leather bindings handsomely embossed with
gold.
Bertha McKee Dobie Collection
The Bertha McKee Dobie Collection contains a large collection
of her correspondence, memorabilia, manuscripts, personal
documents and books from the personal library of the wife
of the noted author, J. Frank Dobie.
Osborne
Collection of Herman Melville
The Duncan E. Osborne Collection of Herman Melville, on loan,
contains papers and memorabilia pertaining to his great-great-grandfather.
Of particular note is a letter from Herman Melville to his
aunt Lucy Melville written in 1828 when he was 9 years old.
Cox Map Collection
A large set of maps, the Cox Map Collection features maps
of early 19th century through the mid-20th century. Maps of
all parts of the world are included.
Additional Collections
Through the years complete libraries of several ministries
were given: Rev. Homer S. Thrall, Rev. R.G. Mood, Rev. C.M.
Bishop, Dr. H.L. Gray, Rev. F.L. Batchelor and Rev. Bruce
Galloway. Some of the libraries include Methodist Conference
Minutes and other books that help form the present-day valuable
collection on Methodism.
Other large gifts were received from the following friends:
Dr. Decherd Turner, Dr. and Mrs. Donald Klein, I. Edward Tonkon,
Roger M. Busfield, Elizabeth Beaver, Dr. William E. Barnes,
and Jessie Daniel Ames. Other donors include Dr. King Vivion,
Dr. J.W. Bergen, Dr. J.N.R. Score and Dr. Durwood H. Fleming.
In 1933, Mrs. J.T. Sneed gave copies of the Methodist Conference
Minutes from 1773-1813. In 1946, Dr. Carl Bergquist gave a
set of rare works of John Wesley.
Archives
The library's archives receives, preserves and makes available
to researchers gifts donated by families or individuals. Holdings
include archival and manuscript collections, photographs,
prints, newspapers, maps, microfilm and audiovisual materials.
The department attempts to collect many of the University
archives that it feels will be of value to alumni and friends.
Of local interest is a small collection of material on Georgetown
and Williamson County. |
