{"id":328,"date":"2026-02-11T15:14:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T15:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/tcfb\/?p=328"},"modified":"2026-04-20T13:45:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T13:45:24","slug":"lonestarlibraries_dallas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/tcfb\/lonestarlibraries_dallas\/","title":{"rendered":"Priceless Treasures and Creative Spaces: The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, Dallas Public Library"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Library name:<\/strong> J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, Dallas Public Library<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location:<\/strong> 1515 Young Street, Dallas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hours:<\/strong> Monday, closed; Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more<\/strong>: Watch our video<\/a> for an in-depth look at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Dallas Public Library’s copy of the Declaration of Independence is the only one located west of the Mississippi.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes this library special:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seventh floor of the massive J. Erik Jonsson Central Library holds two rare treasures, both free to view by the public. The first is an original copy of the Declaration of Independence printed on the night of July 4, 1776, one of only about 25 surviving copies. It\u2019s the only original copy located west of the Mississippi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen the Declaration of Independence was ratified, they had the one document that everyone signed and we all know about that one, it\u2019s at the National Archives,\u201d said Manya Shorr, Director of the Dallas Public Library (DPL). \u201cBut they had to figure out how to tell everyone in the colonies that we were now a nation. So they printed between 80 and 100 copies, unsigned, and they sent them out to the colonies. And the copy we have is one of the original broadsides.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The copy at the DPL is known as the \u201clost copy\u201d and is one of only a few remaining in good condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was found in a bookstore in Philadelphia in 1968, folded up in a box,\u201d Shorr said. \u201cIt was sold at auction in 1969 for $404,000 to two Dallas businessmen. In celebration of the Bicentennial in 1976 they sent it around the whole country, and it came back here and was given to the City of Dallas.\u201d At first displayed at the Dallas City Hall, the Declaration found its permanent home when the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library opened in 1982.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearby, on the same floor, is an even older and equally beloved treasure\u2014an original copy of Shakespeare\u2019s First Folio, published in 1623. Shakespeare died in 1616 without publishing any of his plays. Two of his friends decided to publish 36 of his plays in this volume. Only about 235 copies exist today, and the DPL is privileged to have one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf the 36 plays that are in the Folio that we have, 18 of them had never been published before,\u201d Shorr said, including The Tempest<\/em>, Macbeth<\/em>, and Twelfth Night<\/em>. The book was donated to the library in 1986 by the Dallas Shakespeare Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople absolutely come from all over the world to see what we have\u2014specifically what we have on this floor,\u201d Shorr said. \u201cTo have an America\u2019s founding document, especially in our country\u2019s 250th anniversary birthday year\u2014I\u2019m beyond thrilled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About half a million people each year visit the Dallas Public Library’s downtown location.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Searching for your family\u2019s history:<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the eighth floor of the Central Library, the Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck Genealogy Collection<\/a> holds one of the largest and most comprehensive collections for family history research in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe collection is worldwide,\u201d said Stephanie Bennett, Genealogy and History Manager at DPL. \u201cThe Center was established so that no matter when you come to Dallas, we have something available for you to look at to learn more about your own family history. Whether that\u2019s a social period in history, a book with your family\u2019s name in it, a record you haven\u2019t seen before, we want to make sure you leave with something you didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suzan Younger is a former president of the Dallas Genealogical Society who has been doing research in DPL\u2019s Genealogy Collection since the 1970s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe collection is so large and so good,\u201d Younger said. \u201cThey have all the census records, there are always new books coming out and new technology. The library is an affiliate of the Family Search Network. The tip I have\u2014first come and talk to the staff. Whether you are a beginner or experienced genealogist, the staff knows their collection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Heritage Lab, also on the eighth floor, is an invaluable space for patrons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Heritage Lab is for preserving your family history,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cWhether that is a scrapbook that you want to scan or a family Bible you are scared to open because it\u2019s so fragile, we can help you. We also convert VHS tapes, records, mini cassette tapes\u2014you can use the equipment and scan it for free.\u201d Preserving the voices of late loved ones is meaningful to many people: \u201cThey\u2019re an important part of your family history, and we want you to be able to preserve that for future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Many newspapers, magazines and thousands of mourning cards are part of the library’s JFK collection.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Collection:<\/strong> \u201cThe JFK Collection is one of our major collections. We\u2019re obviously in Dallas, where the assassination occurred. Librarians at the time really worked hard to collect everything they could to record information. I would say our collection is second only to the Sixth Floor Museum, also located in Dallas (nearby), so we are a major hub for people coming to do research,\u201d said Misty Maberry, History and Archives Manager for DPL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the most unique things that we have is our mourning card collection: cards and mementos and photos left at Dealey Plaza. Thousands of people came to Dallas from all over the world to pay tribute to President Kennedy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filmmaker Oliver Stone did research at the library for his film JFK<\/em>; author Stephen King had his assistants come to the library for research for his book 11\/22\/63<\/em>. DPL librarians have also worked with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns\u2019 team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the JFK Collection, Maberry\u2019s division oversees a photography collection with more than one million images (both print and digital images) and worked with the Portal to Texas History<\/a> at the University of North Texas to digitize records from The Dallas Express<\/em>, the largest Black newspaper in the South during its publication era (1892-1970).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to look for as a first-time visitor:<\/strong> The Declaration of Independence and Shakespeare First Folio on the seventh floor. The Genealogy Collection and Heritage Lab on the eighth floor. And so much more\u2014the library\u2019s Creative Spaces<\/a> include the third floor Story Center, where you can record a podcast or film a movie. The fourth floor Fiber Arts Workroom is a favorite for patrons who enjoy sewing, knitting, embroidery, and weaving. There\u2019s also a Pollinator Garden on the fifth floor balcony facing City Hall. The Central Library features extensive public art, including a sculpture by Barbara Hepworth and a serigraph by Texas-native Robert Rauschenberg. The JFK Collection is on the seventh floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And one more thing:<\/strong> DPL is celebrating its 125th birthday in 2026. In addition to the Central Library, DPL has 28 branch locations throughout the city of Dallas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DPL has robust plans to celebrate America\u2019s 250th anniversary<\/a>, including hosting programs, exhibits, and book clubs, with chances to win Dallas Wings and Mavericks tickets, as well as passes to state parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are proud to serve the citizens of Dallas,\u201d Shorr said. \u201cEverything we do is for them. I really hope people take the opportunity to come visit us, because we are here for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n