At the time it was dedicated in 1979, the W. R. Poage Legislative Library Center for Advanced Studies and Research was the only congressional library associated with an institution of higher education which honored an individual for his service wholly in the United States House of Representatives. Building on this foundation, it now houses not only Poage's congressional papers, but papers of nine other U.S. congressmen, several judges, papers of Texas legislators, and other important ancillary papers. On July 11, 2004, the W. R. Poage Legislative Library Center for Advanced Studies and Research opened the Bullock Archive and the papers of Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock.
Beginning
in 1993, the Baylor
Collections of Political Materials (BCPM) began the transfer of documents
from the office
of Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock in Austin to Waco. This transfer took the
next six years. Eventually, over 1,000 linear feet of papers, microfilm,
bound speeches, press releases, photographs, awards, and multi-media were
deposited in the BCPM.
In addition to his papers, Bullock endowed a professorship and his friends endowed the Texas legislative intern program. It is time for Baylor to do something to honor the generosity of this man. The return of the original exhibit area in the Poage Library to the BCPM will allow friends of Bob Bullock to create a lasting memorial to the most influential man in Texas politics for the last quarter of the century.
Built
over twenty years ago (at left), the exhibition area was converted into
offices following the death of Congressman Poage in 1988. With proper
funding, the exhibit area in the BCPM may be transformed into an up-to-date
multimedia exhibit area not only to honor the life and legacy of Bob Bullock,
but also to educate students about the entire legislative process from
Waco to Austin to Washington.
The newly refurbished exhibit area with its distinctive slanted glass wall is centrally located in the University library complex with entrances on both sides of the building. The BCPM is only a short distance from the Wiethorn Visitors' Center on University Parks Drive just a few blocks off of Interstate 35.
Bob Bullock was ahead of his time in many areas, but especially in technology.
He not only had the Lieutenant Governor's correspondence microfilmed,
but he also created a sophisticated database so he could retrieve any
letter in a variety of ways. When scanning became feasible, he had the
letters scanned into the database.
Then
he had a digital CD of his family scrapbooks and photographs created.
Because of his dedication to technology, it is only fitting that the Bob
Bullock Exhibit Area be a state-of-the-art facility with multi-media presentations
from his life and work similar in quality to those at the new Bob
Bullock Texas State History Museum. Bullock's love of Texas and love
of history can both be embraced by technology in this new exhibit area.
Baylor would be honoring itself by creating an exhibit area worthy of the stature of the man. Students studying Texas politics for generations to come will have access to the life and work of a true Texas legend. The exhibit will also be open to the public who regularly visit Waco's many museums and attractions.
The
University Libraries is looking for donors
who will provide between $100,000 and $300,000 to not only create the
exhibit area but also establish an endowment
for its maintenance, the purchase of books related to Texas government,
and personnel to monitor the area.
Contact John Wilson or Ben Rogers for more information on this important opportunity.
