LU Special Collections awarded Rescuing Texas History Grant

Lamar University’s Special Collections has been awarded a $1,000 Rescuing Texas History grant from the University of North Texas Libraries. The grant will help digitize, physically preserve, and provide public access to the special collection of LU alum and world-renowned mycologist, David Lewis ’72, ’78. 

As a chemist and mycologist, Lewis has extensively studied the biodiversity of mushrooms in the Big Thicket National Preserve, Southeast Texas and around the world for more than 30 years. With more than 750 photographs dating back to his time at LU in the 1970s, the David P. Lewis collection documents the unique characteristics of the Big Thicket National Preserve including mushrooms, swamp lands, preservation efforts and folklife.

“The Big Thicket is a fascinating region,” said Penny Clark, Special Collections librarian. “This grant will help us bring more public focus to that area and make the collection more accessible.”

The David P. Lewis Collection will be uploaded to The Portal to Texas History supported by the University of North Texas Libraries.