Edward Hoyenski, 56, who had worked for more than 35 years at the UNT Libraries and the Texas Fashion Collection, died Oct. 25 in Denton. He graduated from Plano East High School and continued his education at UNT, earning a bachelor’s degree in art history in 1990 and a graduate degree in library science in 1997. 

He began work at the UNT Libraries as a student in the mid ’80s and then was hired full-time, starting his career in circulation (known today as Access Services) and moving to the Rare Book Room (part of today’s Special Collections). As a curator and cataloger, he worked with the Texana holdings and earned a 2011 State Society Silver Service Medal from the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution. A longtime member of the Miniature Book Society, he added to the libraries’ holdings while sharing his love of miniature books with visitors and students. 

From 2011 to 2016, he was “on loan” to UNT’s Texas Fashion Collection, where he initiated the collection digitization project, managed volunteers and served a critical role in moving the collection’s more than 15,000 artifacts into a new building. He then returned to Special Collections and retired in 2023. 

Throughout his career he also taught graduate courses on rare books and special collections and was a tireless, relentless researcher. He loved Imperial Russia and Fabergé and maintained his own extensive collection of Wedgwood, which he was known to share at afternoon teas.

He will be remembered for his singular personality, his passion for his work and how he inspired others as he brought the past to life. Donations to honor his memory may be directed to UNT Special Collections.