Jenkins Garrett 1914–2010
A distinguished Fort Worth attorney and philanthropist, Jenkins Garrett died Jan. 28 in Fort Worth. He was 95. Mr. Garrett accumulated one of the state’s most comprehensive collections of Texas historical artifacts. He began collecting historical material in earnest in the late-1950s and built one of the 20th century’s finest private libraries focusing on Texas and the U.S. War with Mexico, 1846–48. Mr. Garrett said his primary reward as a collector was to see his work used and appreciated by students, scholars, and the public. To that end, he and his wife, Virginia, donated their Texas and Mexican War collections to UT Arlington in 1974. The initial donation spanned more than 10,000 items, including books, broadsides, newspapers, graphics, manuscripts, sheet music, currency, and historical materials in other formats. Through the years, Mr. Garrett continued adding pieces to the collection that bears his name. The Jenkins Garrett Collection of Texana and the Mexican War is housed in the UT Arlington Library’s renowned Special Collections. A strong proponent of higher education, Mr. Garrett served on the Board of Trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the governor’s Committee on Education Beyond the High School Level, the Board of Trustees of the Tarrant County Junior College District, and the UT System Board of Regents. UT Arlington named him an Honorary Distinguished Alumnus in 1985, and UT Austin, his alma mater, named him a Distinguished Alumnus in 1995.
