Preserving the Renowned American Philosopher’s Multi-layered Writings for Teaching and Research
THE JOHN J. MCDERMOTT PAPERS
The John J. McDermott Papers are a significant addition to the Briscoe Center’s collections related to American intellectual history. Beloved by generations of his students and respected as a prominent philosopher, Professor McDermott’s influence will live on through his papers which will enlighten, inspire, and stimulate new ideas in future generations.
Public access to Professor McDermott’s personal and professional papers is essential to preserving his legacy. The McDermott Papers consist of some 500 boxes of archival material, his published works, and a selection of books containing his marginalia from his vast 35,000-volume library. At the time of donation, there was no existing inventory or finding aid for the material.
It was Professor McDermott’s wish that his life’s work would be accessible to students and other scholars to study, assimilate, and use to build new knowledge. Thanks to the generosity of Patricia McDermott and an anonymous donor, the John J. McDermott Papers Project will organize, catalog, and produce an online inventory to the material. The project will also digitize a sampling of material for access via the Briscoe Center’s Digital Collections.
Gifts in memory of Professor McDermott will be used to support expanded digital access to the collection.
Naming opportunities are available to endow travel awards to help students and scholars who seek to use the McDermott Papers in the Briscoe Center’s reading room. Contact Lisa Avra, Chief Development Officer, at l.avra@austin.utexas.edu to learn more.
SHANNON KEITH COSTELLO
McDermott Papers Project Archivist
Appointed as the John J. McDermott Papers Project Archivist in Fall of 2022, Shannon Keith Costello is a certified archivist holding a M.S. in Information Studies from The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Information. Shannon has served as the Briscoe Center’s Morley Safer Papers Project Archivist, the ExxonMobil Archivist for the American Energy Industry Collections, the Frances “Sissy” Farenthold Papers Project Archivist, and Digitization Projects Coordinator. Before joining the Briscoe Center, Shannon held positions at The University of Texas at San Antonio and the Texas Legislative Reference Library.
Two graduate student interns will be appointed in Spring of 2023 to assist Shannon with archival processing of the McDermott Papers.
