J. Frank Dobie biographer Steven L. Davis - Folklore offers a glimpse into the soul of a region.  A community with colorful folklore typically has fascinating residents.  One of the first Texas-based authors to garner national recognition, J. Frank Dobie captured the folklore of Texas and penned over 20 books, including Tales of Old-Time Texas, Coronado’s Children, and The Longhorns. 

Steven L. Davis, author of J. Frank Dobie: A Liberated Mind, will discuss the famed folklorist at 7:30 p.m. Thursday September 7, at the Allen Public Library.

Admission to the program is free. Can’t be there in person? The program will be streamed live on ACTV. Find viewing options at Watch ACTV or view online at ACTV.org or YouTube.com/AllenCityTV.

During the 1920s and 30s, Dobie was known to have driven down country roads, and when he spotted senior citizens on porches, he would stop and interview them.  When asked about his motivation for penning a Dobie biography, Steven explained, “I got interested in studying Dobie when I realized that the conventional wisdom about him had been totally wrong. The truth is far more interesting – and far more inspiring. Dobie was a courageous champion of human rights, a visionary environmentalist, and his writing has been enthusiastically mined by many notable authors. I found that Dobie represents so many of the best elements of Texas. He was a free-range spirit and his groundbreaking life and work continue to influence our culture in many ways.”

Steven is a past president of the Texas Institute of Letters, a literary honor society founded in 1936. Curator at the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Marcos, Davis has developed and curated over 30 exhibitions at the Wittliff. His previous book includes Dallas 1963, winner of the PEN Center Literary Award for Research Nonfiction.

The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information.