Michael Duty infuses spirit of the American West into Dallas Historical Society.
Being a true native Texan may not be in the official job description for Director and CEO of the Dallas Historical Society, but it sure helps. Michael Duty, who holds this title, feels fortunate to have grown up in Wichita Falls. “We were close enough to Dallas to appreciate its colorful past and far enough away to get a sense of general pride in Texas and the American West.”
Mr. Duty believes that one of the best things about the DHS collection of 3 million-plus items is that most are related both to Dallas and Texas history. “There’s something about the character of Texans that I didn’t quite feel in other states I’ve worked in during my career. Texans—native residents especially—have a strong sense of identity…that their state is unique, maybe because it was once a republic. From its music to unmistakable state shape, Texas has a laid-back spirit with Dallas located somewhat in the heart of it all. Small wonder that visitors to our museum instantly feel connected with their roots.”
Mr. Duty’s vision is to provide Dallas-area residents of all ages access to that rich history that spans blueprints of the 1936 State Fair Centennial buildings to a collection of Braniff Airlines memorabilia. Since he came on board in 2005, Mr. Duty has placed a high priority on revealing the stories behind the vast collection of archived printed materials that are housed at the Hall of State, and important 3-dimensional items that are housed in a massive warehouse. And while he has succeeded on a major scale, that’s just the beginning of his vision for the museum.
A devoted follower of Western civilization.
Michael Duty’s family history goes back to Stephen F. Austin. In the 1830s, the five Duty brothers were among the first 300 families that Austin contracted to move to Texas. “When I was young and going to grade school in Wichita Falls, I loved to read and write a lot, and learn about some of the state’s history and beyond. I figured I’d be a writer someday, so I went to Midwestern State University, majoring in Journalism and English as an undergrad, then earning a Master’s degree in English.”
As Duty pursued a Ph.D in American Studies at the University of Oklahoma, he encountered a very interesting professor who spoke on the importance of studying the American West. “He inspired me to do research at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, perhaps the first museum in the country to take a genuine interest in American Western culture. It portrayed the West as much more than Cowboys and Indians. As someone who was raised knowing real people who worked on real ranches, I wanted to somehow spread the message.”
Duty soon left the Ph.D program and became Director of Development and Public Relations for the Amon Carter Museum. “Since I had neither a museum or art background, I did a lot of research to get up to speed on the American West. I was suddenly energized!” Duty’s passion led to director positions at the only museums east of the Mississippi River focused on American Western art and history: the Rockwell Museum in Corning, NY and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis, IN. He also helped found Museums West, a consortium of leading western art and history museums in the U.S. and Canada. After serving as Executive Director of the California Historical Society in San Francisco—another important institution for western art and history—Duty was ready to return to Texas. He also accepted his current position in order to be closer in proximity to his mother in Wichita Falls.
Telling the story of Dallas through even more avenues.
Following his goal of greater public access to the Dallas Historical Society collection, Mr. Duty has been making inroads via such means as a website that is exceptionally comprehensive, including myriad topics and photos on the history of Texas and Dallas. He has overseen publication of a large crop of books written about Dallas history; many incorporate archived images and items in storage. One book in the works highlights Polly Smith’s photos of the 1930, which depict an era that is at once nostalgic yet progressive.
One of the most exciting programs overseen by Duty is
Texas Treasures, in which display cases of historical documents and artifacts will be placed in businesses, schools and other significant locations around the area. Another program will be a statewide traveling exhibition designed for other museums, including many items never before displayed
as a group outside of the Hall of State. “Some museum pieces, such as letters from Sam Houston to his lady friends and the original minutes of the 1836 Texas Constitution—have previously only been shown at other locations as single items.” Many documents
and artifacts will travel while the Hall of State undergoes renovation to achieve a look similar to its appearance at the 1936 Texas Centennial.
When not at work, Michael Duty and wife Laura enjoy playing golf and traveling far and wide (especially to the American West, of course). Ever a prolific writer, he finds time on the side to publish a number of books on western-related subjects. His newest release, “Dallas/Fort Worth, a Pictorial Celebration,” is part of a series of history and travel books on major American cities.
“We have so many stories of Dallas and Texas yet to tell,” says Michael Duty of the Dallas Historical Society. “Come see how your own history fits into our Texas culture.” To learn more about the Dallas Historical Society, located in the Hall of State, visit the Dallas Historical Society website.
