Schieffer family gift strengthens UTA Libraries archives
The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries has received a gift to establish the Bob and Patricia Schieffer Endowment.
The endowment will provide UTA Libraries with sustainable support for the acquisition, preservation and stewardship of archival materials, while also enabling UTA Libraires to pursue initiatives that reflect a shared commitment to journalistic integrity and open discourse. These efforts will advance the preservation, accessibility and interpretation of archival resources for scholars and the public.
Bob Schieffer, a Fort Worth native, began his journalism career at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram before embarking on an illustrious tenure at CBS News, including nearly a quarter-century as moderator of Face the Nation.
For the UTA Libraries the endowment represents a meaningful investment in the Libraries’ long-term ability to support teaching, research and public engagement said John Wang, dean of UTA Libraries.
“We are truly grateful for Bob and Pat’s generosity, which will benefit students, scholars and our broader community for years to come,” Dr. Wang said. “It strengthens our capacity to grow collections, preserve history and develop programs that deepen civic and academic understanding.”
The gift follows the recent opening of the UTA Libraries Special Collections exhibit “Our Man in Viet Nam,” which showcases Schieffer’s collection of photographs, letters, notebooks, paintings and other materials from his time reporting from the front lines of the Vietnam War 60 years ago. Schieffer will attend the UTA Libraries’ grand opening event for the exhibit on Feb. 9 from 4 – 7 p.m.
The exhibit offers a glimpse into the experiences of soldiers serving in Vietnam from late 1965 through early 1966, as the conflict escalated into a large-scale American ground war. Photographs captured by Schieffer provide compelling insight into the daily lives of soldiers and raw depictions of pivotal military operations during the war.
Related: It’s Bob Schieffer Week at UTA
“We were so impressed by the fine job the Special Collections team at UTA did in putting together the exhibit of Bob’s Vietnam photos that we wanted to help further the work that they do,” said Bob and Patricia Schieffer. “We believe an accurate history is one of the most important things that our generation can pass on to the next one. We hope that this grant will allow for future historians to accomplish this mission.”
On Tuesday, Feb. 10, Bob Schieffer will take the Maverick Speaker Series stage at Texas Hall and reflect on his career as a journalist with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and later CBS News, including recounting his four months in Vietnam as a war correspondent.
Tickets to the Maverick Speakers Series are available at utatickets.com. The event is free for students, faculty and staff and $5 for members of the community.
For more information about the exhibit, visit the exhibit’s website.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.