{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/3f4kk96d09/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Decie Jones"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/713/original/aviary_default_logo.png?1751992923","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Preferred Citation"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eJones, Decie. Interview by Christina Hardman. \u003cem\u003ePaluxysaurus jonesi\u003c/em\u003e. December 15, 2025. Paleontological Oral History Program/Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Fort Worth, Texas.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Duration"]},"value":{"en":["00:09:07"]}},{"label":{"en":["Publisher"]},"value":{"en":["Fort Worth Museum of Science and History"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Decie Jones (Interviewee)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2025-12-15 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English (primary)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eFormer land owner of the Jones Ranch site and wife to the late Bill Jones. Jones discusses the dinosaur fossil discovery on their property near the Paluxy River. Bill and Decie were honored to have the fossils preserved for educational purposes and welcomed many different groups to their property. The interview highlights the Jones' enjoyment of the experience and their desire to share the dinosaur fossils with the public for learning and teaching.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Format"]},"value":{"en":["MP4"]}},{"label":{"en":["Identifier"]},"value":{"en":["FWMSHPOHDJ001 (other)"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eFormer land owner of the Jones Ranch site and wife to the late Bill Jones. Jones discusses the dinosaur fossil discovery on their property near the Paluxy River. Bill and Decie were honored to have the fossils preserved for educational purposes and welcomed many different groups to their property. The interview highlights the Jones' enjoyment of the experience and their desire to share the dinosaur fossils with the public for learning and teaching.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"provider":[{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Fort Worth Museum of Science and History"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Fort Worth Museum of Science and History"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/713/original/aviary_default_logo.png?1751992923","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/304/660/small/data?1773424483","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - FWMSH Paleontological Oral History Program: Decie Jones"]},"duration":547.0,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/304/660/small/data?1773424483","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Goyrvivj2nQ","type":"Video","format":"video/youtube","duration":547.0,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Decie Jones [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"AVIARY TRANSSCRIPT\r\n\r\nTRANSCRIPT BEGIN","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=0.0,0.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Introduction: The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Fort Worth, Texas. An interview with Decie Jones, December 15, 2025. Paleontological Oral History Program.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=0.0,9.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: Okay, my name is Decie Jones, and I am the wife of my beloved late husband Bill Jones. We lived primarily at Paluxy and enjoyed just being out in the country.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=9.0,32.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: Can you talk about Jones Ranch?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=32.0,41.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: This was Bill's second cousin's place, and he had gone there many, many times with his dad to play on the creek and enjoy the farm area. That was kind of his second home, you might say. He had owned the place since about ‘62, but we were married in ‘75. So, then we had worked in Dallas and Houston, and we came back up to the area in ‘83.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=41.0,84.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: What was Mr. Jones like and what were his interests?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=84.0,93.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: Well, he just loved to be a pilot. All he wanted to do was push that throttle. He just loved it. He was the pilot, and I worked as a ticket agent. I was working in Memphis at the time. I'm from the Memphis, Tennessee area. Well, we started having lunch, having lunch together in the employee's cafeteria. That was our date.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=93.0,119.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: What was Mr. Jones’ special connection to teachers?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=119.0,128.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: Well his grandfather, Wallace, owned the block next to Tarleton in Stephenville. And at that time the female students did not have a dormitory so he had a big house so there was usually one girl renting a room. And I think they used little Billy as their guinea pig because they were studying to be teachers. And he remained friends with some of them for years.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=128.0,168.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: Can you talk about when you were first approached for permission to excavate on the ranch?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=168.0,176.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: Well, Dr. Wann Langston called Bill and says, “Well, I'm sorry, some of my students were trespassing, but they made a significant find and we would like to pursue it further.” And he told Bill what it was and all. And so, Bill was, of course, we must do it. So, Jeff Pittman was studying for his PhD. And he came and lived on the place at a travel trailer and dug the bones and published and received his Ph.D. from that location.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=176.0,220.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: How long were Dr. Langston and Jeff Pittman working on the excavation?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=220.0,228.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: Probably a little more than a year. But Dr. Langston always stayed interested in it.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=228.0,239.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: Can you talk about Dr. Langston?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=239.0,247.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: He was just very interesting. And my husband really enjoyed visiting with him. He would come up periodically to check on Jeff. We would see him then.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=247.0,267.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: What was it like to realize that this was a significant find with a large amount of material?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=267.0,276.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: Well, this was really my husband's bag. He really was into it because every kid loves a dinosaur. They're fascinated with dinosaurs. And he just enjoyed the camaraderie of the diggers and getting to know everyone and watching the process.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=276.0,299.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: When did SMU and the Fort Worth museum become involved in the project?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=299.0,308.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: Well, SMU called and Jim Diffily from the museum came down and visited with us and told us essentially what their plans were and all and Bill really liked it. He really wanted that out for the, for the kids, for learning, teaching process. He was very into it and wanted to be a part of getting the project done for the museum. It was a lot of fun. My husband likes to talk, and he enjoyed visiting with everyone. He just loved it, and I did, too. We made some great friends that we've stayed in contact with for all these years. Like I said, we met a lot of wonderful people, interesting people, and we had a pecan orchard in the bottom, and that was their campground.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=308.0,389.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: What were your thoughts about involving teachers in the excavation through the Lone Star Dinosaur Institute?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=389.0,399.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: It was just interesting and good and something Bill really wanted to do. He was all into putting this out for educational purposes.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=399.0,414.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: The excavation received quite a bit of press coverage. What was that like for you and your family?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=414.0,423.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: No big deal. Let's just go for it. It was just something we did. It was an experience and a very pleasant experience, something we were thankful that we could do.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=423.0,449.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: What was it like going to Austin when Paluxysaurus jonesi was named the State Dinosaur of Texas?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=449.0,458.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: Well, that was quite an honor, yes. We were down there for something, I guess that's what it was. Time has passed, a lot of time has passed.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=458.0,469.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: How has the legacy of this discovery impacted your family?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=469.0,478.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: I don't know, really how to answer that. It's...we were honored to have done it and all, and it was something that we were interested in, especially my husband. He wanted it out for the children to see and for the teachers to use as a tool. Oh, well, my next-door neighbor, when she was a sophomore in high school. She did a documentary on our dinosaur. And she came...it was for a competition, and she came in in the top 50 in the state.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=478.0,533.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Interviewer: Do you have any final thoughts about the overall experience?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=533.0,542.0"},{"id":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660/transcript/92266/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Decie Jones: We're very honored to have been able to do so.\r\n\r\nTRANSCRIPT END","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://fortworthmuseumofscienceandhistory.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3545/collection_resources/167485/file/304660#t=542.0,547.0"}]}]}]}