LILLIAN SIMMONS

Lillian Simmons, formerly Lillian Stauss, embarked on a captivating journey in the summer of 1926. As a participant in a University of Texas summer school class, she traversed northern, central, and southern Mexico by train, wielding her camera to encapsulate the vibrant essence of Mexican culture at that time. Beyond merely documenting rural life, Lillian's lens also immortalized significant historical buildings and events in urban settings. Notably, her photographs of the Religious Revolution in Mexico City on July 2 became a historical record acknowledged even by Pope Pius XI in his address to the Catholic Church. This curated selection, chosen from a remarkable collection of 137 images, illuminates a unique chapter in Lillian's life. Her photographic artistry, shaped by the depth and composition evident in her work, reflects the influence of art classes she undertook while in college. Remarkably, she shared that during that memorable summer at the University of Mexico, she received lessons from none other than the renowned Diego Rivera. The fruits of her artistic training continue to grace the walls of family members. After Lillian's passing in 2000, this collection, long forgotten since her youth, was rediscovered by family members. Stored away for decades, the images, once seen, demanded to be shared with the world. A fortuitous connection with the Instituto de Mexico, a branch of the University of Mexico in San Antonio, led to the exhibition of 40 larger prints in 2003. The reception was a celebration of Lillian's artistry and her unique perspective on a bygone era in Mexico. In addition to her Mexican sojourn, numerous photos from Lillian's travels to Cuba, her honeymoon destination, were unearthed. Together with her husband Colonel, they shared a deep appreciation for Mexican culture and architecture, a passion reflected in Colonel's architectural projects. His firm, intricately involved in the design and construction of the American Embassy in Mexico City, also left a mark on Texas with projects like The Perry Castaneda Library at UT/Austin, Alamo Stadium, Santa Rosa Hospital, and the Federal Reserve Building in San Antonio, along with Kokernot Field in Alpine. Lillian, born in San Antonio in 1904, continued her journey in Austin after Colonel's passing in 1981, where she lived until the end of her remarkable life. The rediscovery and sharing of her photographic legacy stand as a tribute to an artist whose lens captured not just moments but the soul of an era.