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Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1908-1973
  • Existence: 1908-08-27 - 1973-01-22

Biography

Lyndon Johnson attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College from 1927-1930. He took a year off (1928-1929) to teach at Welhausen School in Cotulla, Texas in order to earn money to continue his education. He graduated with a degree in history and a permanent teaching certificate in 1930. After teaching for a short time, he went to work as a secretary for Congressman Kleburg, beginning his political career. He was later appointed to Texas Director of the National Youth Administration by President Roosevelt. Johnson ran successfully for Congress in 1937 and the Senate in 1948. Following an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1960, he was asked to serve as Vice President by John F. Kennedy. Johnson became president after Kennedy’s assassination, serving the rest of JFK’s term and one of his own.

Throughout his political career, Johnson maintained a close relationship with the college in San Marcos, in all its incarnations. He visited the campus frequently, often several times per year, until his death in 1973. Johnson often credited his experiences at college with shaping his policies on education. In 1965, Johnson chose Southwest Texas State College as the location to sign the Higher Education Act into law.

Johnson, regularly referred to as LBJ, continues to have a presence on the Texas State University campus. The student center was named for LBJ, as was an ongoing lecture series. A statue of LBJ as a student was installed on the quad in September 2006. And in celebration of his 100th birthday in 2008, the university published “Connections: Lyndon B. Johnson in San Marcos.”

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Helen Hornsby collection

 Collection
Identifier: 90.200-Faculty-2015-Hornsby
Abstract

Helen Hornsby was one of the first 17 faculty at Southwest Texas State Normal School, teaching from 1903 to 1919. Collection includes materials owned and collected by Helen Hornsby Crawford and her family. Includes topics related to the university, such as Lyndon Johnson, the inauguration of Robert Hardesty, homecoming, and the 50th reunion of the SWT class of 1949.

Dates: 1889-1979, 2008, undated
Found in: Special Collections and Archives / Helen Hornsby collection

LBJ 100 Celebration Records

 Collection
Identifier: 11.100-LBJ100-2008
Abstract

Collection consists of planning materials for the events and the oral history project commemorating Lyndon Baines Johnson's 100th birthday (often referred to as LBJ 100). Most of the materials were created by members of the LBJ Centennial Celebration Steering Committee and overlapped with the Common Experience at Texas State University.

Dates: 2002-2009, undated
Found in: Special Collections and Archives / LBJ 100 Celebration Records

Lyndon Baines Johnson distinguished lecture series collection

 Collection
Identifier: 11.200-LBJLecture
Abstract

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Distinguished Lecture Series honors the Texas State University's most distinguished alumnus by fulfilling his promise to bring important leaders to the university to share their philosophies and experiences. Records of individual lectures may include transcripts, videorecordings, press releases, invitations, programs, and photographs.

Dates: 1982-2020
Found in: Special Collections and Archives / Lyndon Baines Johnson distinguished lecture series collection