Lon Tinkle
Encyclopedia
Julien Lon Tinkle was a historian
, author, book critic, and professor who specialized in the history of Texas
. Tinkle spent most of his life in Dallas, Texas
(USA), where he graduated from and later taught at Southern Methodist University
. In 1942 he became a book editor and critic for the Dallas Morning News. His first book, Thirteen Days to Glory: The Siege of the Alamo, was published in 1958. The book was well-received and was later adapted into a made-for-television movie. Tinkle won awards for this book, and a for biography that he wrote of historian J. Frank Dobie
. He is the namesake of the Texas Institute of Letters' lifetime achievement award.
on March 20, 1906 to James Ward Tinkle and Mary (née
Gardenhire) Tinkle. He attended Southern Methodist University
in Dallas, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1927 and a Master of Arts
degree in 1932. Tinkle then moved to Paris, where he studied at the Sorbonne
. After earning a degree from the Sorbonne in 1933, Tinkle spent some time doing post-graduate work at Columbia University
. On December 27, 1939 he married Maria Ofelia Garza; they had three sons.
, Southern Methodist University. He eventually became the school's E. A. Lilly Professor of Literature. In 1942 he began working as a book editor and critic for the Dallas Morning News. According to Evelyn Oppenheimer in her book A Book Lover in Texas, after Tinkle became the book editor, "book reviewing in The Dallas Morning News rose to a level of notable quality and was nationally recognized".
Tinkle's first book, Thirteen Days to Glory: The Siege of the Alamo, was published in 1958. It was only the second full-length, non-fiction book to be published about the Battle of the Alamo
, following John Myers Myers
' 1948 book, The Alamo. A.C. Greene, a book critic at a competing Dallas newspaper, listed Thirteen Days to Glory in his book The 50+ Best Books on Texas in 1998. According to Greene, Tinkle's book "gives the essence of the Alamo story without attempting to exhaust history's explanation", and "is more revealing of the minds and wills that were behind the fateful decision to stay on to death" than other, later treatments of the battle. The book won two awards in 1959, from the Texas Institute of Letters and the Sons of the Republic of Texas. In the 1980s, it was adapted into a made-for-television movie, The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory
, which historian Albert Nofi
regards as the most historically accurate of all Alamo films. In 1985, the book was reprinted by Texas A&M University Press
.
After Thirteen Days to Glory was published, Tinkle was hired as a historical advisor for John Wayne
's film about the battle, The Alamo
, which was released in 1960. Although screenwriter James Edward Grant
claimed to have done extensive historical research, according to historian Timothy Todish "there is not a single scene in The Alamo which corresponds to an historically verifiable incident", and Tinkle and fellow historical advisor J. Frank Dobie demanded that their names be removed from the credits. Tinkle was also paid $800 for allowing the title of his book to be used in the theme song for this movie.
He wrote several other books about the Battle of the Alamo, and about Dallas and Texas history, as well as two biographies of historian J. Frank Dobie. His last biography of Dobie, An American Original: The Life of J. Frank Dobie, won a 1979 prize from the Texas Institute of Letters. Tinkle was named to the Ordre des Palmes Académiques in France, and received an honorary doctorate from St. Mary's University
in San Antonio, Texas
in 1963. From 1949 until 1952, Tinkle served as president of the Texas Institute of Letters. The institute has since named its lifetime achievement award for Tinkle. He was also a member of the Philosophical Society of Texas.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, author, book critic, and professor who specialized in the history of Texas
History of Texas
European conquistadors first arrived in the region now known as Texas in 1519, finding the region populated by various Native American tribes...
. Tinkle spent most of his life in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
(USA), where he graduated from and later taught at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
. In 1942 he became a book editor and critic for the Dallas Morning News. His first book, Thirteen Days to Glory: The Siege of the Alamo, was published in 1958. The book was well-received and was later adapted into a made-for-television movie. Tinkle won awards for this book, and a for biography that he wrote of historian J. Frank Dobie
J. Frank Dobie
James Frank Dobie was an American folklorist, writer, and newspaper columnist best known for many books depicting the richness and traditions of life in rural Texas during the days of the open range...
. He is the namesake of the Texas Institute of Letters' lifetime achievement award.
Personal life and education
Tinkle was born in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
on March 20, 1906 to James Ward Tinkle and Mary (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Gardenhire) Tinkle. He attended Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in Dallas, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1927 and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in 1932. Tinkle then moved to Paris, where he studied at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. After earning a degree from the Sorbonne in 1933, Tinkle spent some time doing post-graduate work at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. On December 27, 1939 he married Maria Ofelia Garza; they had three sons.
Career
After completing his post-graduate work, Tinkle accepted a position as an instructor at his alma materAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Southern Methodist University. He eventually became the school's E. A. Lilly Professor of Literature. In 1942 he began working as a book editor and critic for the Dallas Morning News. According to Evelyn Oppenheimer in her book A Book Lover in Texas, after Tinkle became the book editor, "book reviewing in The Dallas Morning News rose to a level of notable quality and was nationally recognized".
Tinkle's first book, Thirteen Days to Glory: The Siege of the Alamo, was published in 1958. It was only the second full-length, non-fiction book to be published about the Battle of the Alamo
Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...
, following John Myers Myers
John Myers Myers
John Myers Myers was an American writer, best known for his literary fantasy novel Silverlock.-Life:Myers was born in Northport, Long Island on January 11, 1906 to John Caldwell Myers and Alice MacCorry Myers and grew up in various places in New York, including New Paltz and NYC. He knew from the...
' 1948 book, The Alamo. A.C. Greene, a book critic at a competing Dallas newspaper, listed Thirteen Days to Glory in his book The 50+ Best Books on Texas in 1998. According to Greene, Tinkle's book "gives the essence of the Alamo story without attempting to exhaust history's explanation", and "is more revealing of the minds and wills that were behind the fateful decision to stay on to death" than other, later treatments of the battle. The book won two awards in 1959, from the Texas Institute of Letters and the Sons of the Republic of Texas. In the 1980s, it was adapted into a made-for-television movie, The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory
The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory
The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory is a made-for-TV film starring Brian Keith as Davy Crockett, James Arness as James Bowie, Alec Baldwin as Col. Travis, Raul Julia as Santa Anna, and a single scene cameo by Lorne Greene as Sam Houston...
, which historian Albert Nofi
Albert Nofi
Albert A. Nofi , is an American military historian, defense analyst, and designer of board and computer wargaming systems.A native of Brooklyn, he attended New York City public schools, graduating from the Boys' High School in 1961...
regards as the most historically accurate of all Alamo films. In 1985, the book was reprinted by Texas A&M University Press
Texas A&M University Press
Texas A&M University Press is a scholarly publishing house associated with Texas A&M University. It was founded in 1974 and is located in College Station, Texas, in the United States.-Overview:...
.
After Thirteen Days to Glory was published, Tinkle was hired as a historical advisor for John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
's film about the battle, The Alamo
The Alamo (1960 film)
The Alamo is a 1960 American historical epic released by United Artists. The film was directed by John Wayne, who also starred as Davy Crockett. The cast also includes Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as William B...
, which was released in 1960. Although screenwriter James Edward Grant
James Edward Grant
James Edward Grant was an American short story writer and screenwriter who contributed to more than fifty films between 1935 and 1971....
claimed to have done extensive historical research, according to historian Timothy Todish "there is not a single scene in The Alamo which corresponds to an historically verifiable incident", and Tinkle and fellow historical advisor J. Frank Dobie demanded that their names be removed from the credits. Tinkle was also paid $800 for allowing the title of his book to be used in the theme song for this movie.
He wrote several other books about the Battle of the Alamo, and about Dallas and Texas history, as well as two biographies of historian J. Frank Dobie. His last biography of Dobie, An American Original: The Life of J. Frank Dobie, won a 1979 prize from the Texas Institute of Letters. Tinkle was named to the Ordre des Palmes Académiques in France, and received an honorary doctorate from St. Mary's University
St. Mary's University, Texas
St. Mary's University is a Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution located on northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. St. Mary’s is a nationally recognized master’s level school ranked among the top colleges in the west for best value and academic reputation by U.S. News...
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in 1963. From 1949 until 1952, Tinkle served as president of the Texas Institute of Letters. The institute has since named its lifetime achievement award for Tinkle. He was also a member of the Philosophical Society of Texas.
As author
- Thirteen Days to Glory: The Siege of the Alamo (1958)
- The Story of Oklahoma (1962)
- The Valiant Few; Crisis at the Alamo (1964)
- Miracle in Mexico: The Story of Juan Diego (1965)
- The Key to Dallas (1965)
- J. Frank DobieJ. Frank DobieJames Frank Dobie was an American folklorist, writer, and newspaper columnist best known for many books depicting the richness and traditions of life in rural Texas during the days of the open range...
: The Makings of an Ample Mind (1968) - Mr. De: A Biography of Everette Lee DeGolyerEverette Lee DeGolyerEverette Lee DeGolyer . was a prominent oilman, geophysicist and philanthropist in Dallas...
(1970) - An American Original: The Life of J. Frank Dobie (1978)
As editor
- The Cowboy Reader (1969), with Allen Maxwell
- Treson Nobel: An Anthology of French Nobel Prize-Winners (1963), with Wynn Rickey