Lens on the Texas Frontier

Photographs of Texas’ frontier past are valuable as both art and artifact. Recording not only the lives and surroundings of days gone by, but also the artistry of those who captured the people and their times on camera, the rare images in Lens on the Texas Frontier offer a documentary record that is usually available to only a few dedicated collectors. In this book, prominent collector Lawrence T. Jones III showcases some of the most interesting and historically important glimpses of Texas history included among the five thousand photographs in the collection that bears his name at the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University. One of the nation’s most comprehensive and valuable Texas-related photography collections, the Lawrence T. Jones III Collection documents all aspects of Texas photography from the years 1846–1945, including rare examples of the various techniques practiced from its earliest days in the state: daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, and paper print photographs in various formats. The selections in the book feature cartes de visite, cabinet cards, oversized photographs, stereographs, and more. The subjects of the photos include Confederate and Union soldiers and officers in the Civil War; Mexicans, including ranking military officials from the Mexican Revolution; and a wide spectrum of Texan citizens, including African American, Native American, Hispanic, and Caucasian women, men, and children.

About the Author :
Perhaps the nation’s premier private collector of historic Texas photographs, LAWRENCE T. JONES III began collecting Texas images some forty years ago. He has provided research and images from his collection for museum and library exhibits, state park sites, television productions, and numerous publications.

Review :
"Lens on the Texas Frontier presents a stunning look at life in early Texas."--Texas Public Radio--David Martin Davies "TPR.org" (9/3/2014 12:00:00 AM) " . . . an expert and in-depth examination of nineteenth-century Texas photography . . . eminently readable and unembellished . . . expertly written . . . 'hook' the reader on the first page . . . impeccable and quite competent . . . author is very much in love with his subject . . . lasting and important contribution to the cultural history of the nineteenth-century Texas . . . rarest and most fascinating nineteenth-century photography in the state to date . . . stunning visual legacy for every Texan who wants to see the past come alive . . . a modern classic . . . covers the visual immensity of the state . . . cultural themes will resonate for years . . . stunning book . . . truly extraordinary photography . . . deep cultural history of Texas shines forth, bright and beautiful, on every blessed page. . . ."--John Miller Morris, Professor of Geography, University of Texas - San Antonio--John Miller Morris "The Eagle" (9/27/2011 12:00:00 AM) "Lens on the Texas Frontier by Lawrence T. Jones II is a stunning coffee table book full of rare early Texas photographs."--The Eagle--Glen Dromgoole "The Eagle" (6/25/2014 12:00:00 AM) "Everyone from the seventh grade Texas History student to the graduate history major, the scholar to the general history enthusiast will enjoy Lens on the Texas Frontier. It is not only strong in Texas history, but also in the history of photography in Texas."--Dallas Historical Society--Samantha Dodd "Dallas Historical Society" (11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM) "For Devotees of early Texas and American Photography, Lens on the Texas Frontier, is not only an indispenable reference; it is an entertaining, and a very personal account of one collector/researcher's quest for that great Texas image with a fabulous story connected to it." -- Tom Kailbourn--Tom Kailbourn "The Eagle" (4/23/2014 12:00:00 AM) "This lushly illustrated new books offers a glimpse into the frontier days of Texas by providing the stories behind 5,000 photographs of the Lawrence T. Jones III collection at the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University . . . deals with the evolution of Texas photography from 1846 to 1945 and includes examples of daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes and paper print photos."--Austin American Statesman--David Martin Davies "Austin American Statesman" (9/3/2014 12:00:00 AM) "This well-researched collection of photographs is a gift for those who study the history of the frontier, Texas, women, the military, and photography. . .often breathtaking, the landscapes, faces, clothing, settings, and historical value of each and every frame transport you to a time seldom witnessed. Jones's dedication and obsession with collecting and preserving photographic history is surpassed only by his knowledge of his superb collection and Texas photography. . .for casual and professional historians alike, this is a must have for your collection."--Southwestern Historical Quarterly--Samantha Dodd "Southwestern Historical Quarterly" (10/1/2015 12:00:00 AM) "Whether your interest is general photo history, stereography or Texas history, Lens on the Texas Frontier will be an informative and elegant addition to your library." --STEREO WORLD --John Dennis "Stereo World" (6/13/2014 12:00:00 AM)