Flickr Commons: Southern Methodist University’s Photostream

I’m back, finally, with a new post. Here are some examples of the close to 2300 photos Southern Methodist University (SMU) has placed in their Flickr Commons photostream and labeled as having “no known copyright restrictions.” All that is asked is that you “Please cite Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library when using this image file.” Some of the photos also include collection notes and photographer’s names, so it would be best to include those too.

SMU is located in Dallas, TX, and so unsurprisingly a number of their albums feature topics related to Texas and the Southwest. There are lots covering the oil industry, which is probably the most unique feature of this photostream. But there are some albums that go further afield, Alaska in the early 20th century and German trains, for example.

SMU includes this note to accompany its images: “A high-quality version of this file may be obtained for a fee by contacting degolyer@smu.edu.”

Bibliographic material is cut and pasted from the photostream.

One of the oddest things that caught my eye was a series of postcards — postcards! — depicting firing squads, executed bodies, and disposal of the dead from the Mexican Revolution. Who would choose to send such a thing — and to whom? And what would you write: “Wish you were here, right here, right in the line of fire?”

Here’s a mild example.

Triple execution in Mexico

Creator: Horne, Walter H., 1883-1921             Date: January 15, 1916           Place: Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico

Part Of: Collection of Walter H. Horne photographs, Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library

I’m not including the worst. I have some taste. But I will tell you where to find them.

This one — a postcard, remember — of a man killed in battle Nov 2, 1915 1/2 mile south of Agua Prieta, Mexico is really horrid, and this of the dead on the battlefield isn’t much better.

Here’s another view of Mexico altogether.

The Observatory, Chichen Itza

Creator: Medellin, Octavio    Date: 1959    Place: Yucatan, Mexico

Cite: Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library

The oil industry has long been interested in Mexico, or so it appears from many of the shots here, including this dramatic one of a oil well fire.

 

Potrero del Llano No. 4  burning

Date: ca. 1914-1915   Place: Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico

Part Of: Manning Texas and Mexico Collection,  Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library

Meanwhile, back in the US:

Climax-Molybdenum Co., Iowa Colony, Texas, rough neck and fish tail bit on drill collar

Creator: Robert Yarnall Richie          Date: November 2, 1938        Place: Iowa Colony, Texas

Part Of: Robert Yarnall Richie photograph collection, Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library

Gulf Oil Corp., #1 F. C. C. Unit

Creator: Richie, Robert Yarnall         Date: July 15, 1956            Place: Port Arthur, Texas

Part Of: Robert Yarnall Richie Photograph Collection, Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library

Did you know that before Texas was a state it was a nation, the Republic of Texas? Here’s an example of its currency. I’m amused by the Venus figure in the upper left corner. Somehow, I doubt in Texas’s 21st century political climate that its lawmakers would suffer the presence of a nude woman on any document, let alone money.

Republic of Texas $50.00 (fifty dollars) ”redback” note

County of Origin: Travis County    Town of Issue: Austin

Currency Type: “Redback”        Denomination: $50.00

Bank Issuer: Republic of Texas

Imprint: Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson. New Orleans.; Rawdon, Wright & Hatch New-York.; Engraved by Geo. [W.] Hatch.

Date Issued: May 22, 1839

Vignette: (L) Nude Venus standing. (C) Steamship (three-mast side-wheeler) and sailing ship (brig). (R) Bust of Stephen F. Austin. Lower center: Lone Star seal.

Notes: This ”redback” note was issued in Austin by the Republic of Texas. Redbacks were issued from late 1839 until 1842.

Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library

A True Girl of the West.

Creator: Cornish, George Bancroft               Date: 1906

Part Of: 101 Ranch and Burroum Ranch, Del Rio, Texas, Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library

Did you ever see The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, a 1972 feature starring Paul Newman and introducing Victoria Principal (later of Dallas fame) and a cast including Ned Beatty, Anthony Perkins, John Huston, Roddy McDowell, Ava Gardner and so on and on? You ought to. It was based on a real Texan.

Judge Roy Bean, Justice of the Peace, Law West of the Pecos Building

Creator: Studer Photo

Part Of: Lawrence T. Jones III Texas photography collection, Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library

Finally, we have this guy, who, it seems, for reasons best known to himself, thought it a fine idea to ride a  longhorn steer from Brownsville, TX to New York City.

Ralph Sanders and ”Jerry.” May 12, 1930.

 Place: Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas

Part Of: Collection of real photographic postcards of Texas, Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library