University Archives Presents Exhibit on History of UT Tyler

In recognition of Archives Month (October), the University Archives and Department of Special Collections (UASC) at the Robert R. Muntz Library is pleased to present an exhibit on the history of The University of Texas at Tyler.  Chartered in 1971 as Tyler State College (an upper-level baccalaureate and master’s level institution),  The University of Texas at Tyler now offers undergraduate education at all levels and post-graduate studies at both the master’s and doctoral level. The six panels of the exhibit trace the growth of the University as it has moved through its various iterations as an institution for higher education in East Texas.  For more information on the history of the University, please visit the University Archives and Department of Special Collections.

This exhibit was created by University Archives Assistant, Brandy Monts, under the supervision of the University Archivist, Déirdre Joyce.  The UT-Tyler Office of Alumni Affairs assisted the Robert R. Muntz Library in the production of this display. Patrons may view the exhibit in the hallway outside the UASC; it will be displayed indefinitely.

Works by 2008 Texas Poet Laureate Available at the Robert R. Muntz Library

The Robert R. Muntz Library has acquired the following books by 2008 Texas Poet Laureate Larry D. Thomas. Mr. Thomas recently visited UT Tyler, where he was featured as the keynote speaker for the Annual Student Poetry Awards. The books are available to be checked out. Here are the titles and call numbers; their location is in the third floor stacks.

• The Woodlanders. PS 3620 .H63 W66 2002.
• Where the Skulls Speak Wind. PS 3620 .H63 W48 2004.
• Amazing Grace. PS 3620 .H63 A43 2001.

If you are looking for some poetry, and you are in the mood for poetry that evokes the greatness and beauty of Texas, then go check these books out.

Student Poetry Awards: A Night of Verse and Friends

On Tuesday, April 29, 2008, the UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library held its Annual Student Poetry Awards. This was the library’s capstone even for National Poetry Month. The event took place at Braithwaite Auditorium. The keynote was delivered by the 2008 Texas Poet Laureate Mr. Larry D. Thomas. Following a reception and book signing, the event drew students and members of the community for a night of poetry and performance. We had 34 entries this year in the contest. The winners of the contest this year were:

1. Jesse Florendo for “Japan Sketch #1.”
2. Conor Herterich for “”Epitaph.”
3. Paige Hayter for “Ode to the Gardenia.”
4. Carly Thompson for “The Need for a Story.”

• And honorable mention to Jesse Florendo for “Frankenstein’s Creature Finds Solace.”

Local poet and friend of the library Anne McCrady (link to her blog here) was one of the judges for the contest. She also gave the introduction for Larry Thomas during the event. McCrady described Mr. Thomas as an inspiration to her and other poets. She also added that Mr. Thomas’s poetry comes from the heart of a visual artist. In addition, McCrady observed that Mr. Thomas sees the job of poet laureate as a gift to the people of Texas.

After the introduction, Mr. Thomas went right on with the poetry. He talked about himself, his writing, and then delighted the audience with selections of his poetry. Mr. Thomas took the audience on a tour of Texas from West to East with poems like “Wind,” “Neches River,” “Out of the blue,” and “Apricots.” After the reading, Mr. Thomas took questions and comments from the audience.

Next came the award ceremony. As part of the ceremony, the winners were asked to read their pieces. They delighted the audience with their craft and diversity of themes and images in their verse. Winners received a trophy and a signed copy of Mr. Thomas’s new book.

The library would like to take this opportunity to thank The Friends of the Arts and the members of the Texas Poetry Society for their generosity in making this event possible. Our thanks as well to Joseph’s for providing the hors d’ouevres. In addition, I took some photos of the event, which interested readers can see over in my Flickr page here.

Reference Book of the Week: Texas State Directory

Welcome to another edition of Reference Book of the Week. We are featuring the Texas State Directory this week, which is a convenient tool to learn more about the structure of Texas government. The book is billed as “the comprehensive guide to the decision-makers in Texas government.” Started in 1935, the book is now in its 50th edition, which is the 2007 edition. It was initially published every other year, but it is now an annual publication. This almanac covers all branches and levels of Texas government. The book is arranged as follows:

• A state section: This is a guide to every branch of the Texas state government and its officials (elected and appointed). It covers the legislative, executive, and judicial branches as well as agencies, boards, and commissions.
• A county section: Get information and data from 254 Texas counties and their public officials. Information featured includes: name of the county, population, the county seat, an internet address if available, the mailing address of the county judge as well as phone numbers. There are also listings for various county officials. For example, get information about Smith County officials in the county section.
• A city section: This provides information on officials for incorporated cities in the state. For instance, get information on Tyler, Texas officials here. Note that the book states it covers “most” elected officials.
• A federal section: The book states that this section covers “the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of Texas’ Congressional delegation, federal law enforcement officials, and members of the federal judiciary in Texas” (559).
• A reference section: This features information on items of general interest such as the Capitol Press Corps, Democratic and Republican Party officials, and other pieces of information. For example, there is a diagram of the legislative process on page 607.

Basically, this is a book you would use to find out directory information about elected and appointed officials in the state of Texas. The book will also give you a sense of how the Texas state government is organized and who does what. The Texas State Directory, 2007 edition, is available in the library’s ready reference shelf (right behind the reference desk) under call number JK 4830 .T4 2007.

Join us for the Annual UT Tyler Student Poetry Awards on April 29

As part of the festivities for National Poetry Month, the UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library, in cooperation with the Poetry Society of Texas, would like to invite our students, faculty, staff, and friends to share in a special evening of recognition and entertainment. Please join us for the Annual University of Texas at Tyler Student Poetry Awards Ceremony. This year we are featuring as keynote speaker the 2007-2008 Texas Poet Laureate, Award-winning Poet Mr. Larry D. Thomas. The details are as follows:

The Place: Braithwaite Auditorium, UT Tyler.

The Date and Time: Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 at 7:00pm.

Note that there is a reception and book signing with the Texas Poet Laureate from 6:00pm to 6:45pm in the Braithwaite Lobby. Please call 903-566-7174 or 566-7161 for complimentary reservations.

The events are free and open to the public. The program is made possible in part by a grant from the UT Tyler Friends of the Arts.

Reference Book of the Week: Texas Almanac

When you want to know a little more about the Lone Star State, you can get the Texas Almanac. Published since 1857, this publication is now in its 64th edition with the 2008-2009 volume. For someone like me who came to Texas from someplace else, this is a valuable book to learn about the state I now call home. However, the book can also be indispensable to native Texans. So, what can you find in this book? Here are some examples of information you can find in the Texas Almanac:

• Under Environment, you can learn about the geology of Texas, Texas forest resources, and Texas endangered species.
• The book includes an astronomical calendar.
• Are you like me, and you like to travel around the state? This book has a handy list of National Natural Landmarks in Texas. There is also a list of Fairs, Festival, and Special Events throughout the state.
• There are lots of trivia in the book as well. Find out what are the 10 largest cities in Texas. Do you need the lyrics to the state song “Texas, Our Texas”? They are in here (page 13).

You can learn about Texas history, politics, business, and government. This is basically a one volume guide to the state of Texas. It features maps, statistics, and photos too.

There is a companion website to this book at www.texasalmanac.com. According to the book’s editor, the website has been expanded and does feature items that could not be included in the current book edition due to space constraints. The site is a companion to the book. The site includes some features from the book but not everything. Available only online is a Searchable Town Database so you can look up Texas towns. For teachers, there is a Teacher’s Guide to the Almanac, which is now available as a PDF download.

You can find the latest edition of the Texas Almanac, the 2008-2009, in the Ready Reference shelf in reference. That’s the shelf right behind the reference desk. The call number for it is AY 311 .D3 T5 2008-2009. As a reference book, it is not available to be checked out. Some previous copies are available on the third floor stacks; they do not circulate outside of the library. With each new edition, some features are added or changed, so at times, it may be useful to look at earlier editions.

So, if you want to know more about the state of Texas, reach for the Texas Almanac.

Native Texan Hero on Pearl Harbor

December 7, 1941 was the day of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It drew the United States into the war. The Handbook of Texas Online has a note today on Doris Miller, a native Texan serving aboard the USS West Virginia who shot back at the Japanese aircraft. Read the story here.