Francis Norman Wagner Papers
Scope and Content Note
These papers date from 1927 to 1983 and include brochures and manuscripts, but the bulk of the collection is composed of newspaper clippings on the history and folklore of Texas and Southwest Louisiana dating from the 1960's-1970's. The papers are arranged by broad category, with individual subjects within categories listed alphabetically. Papers related to Mr. Wagner's involvement with the Rotary Club of Port Arthur are also included.
Dates
- Creation: 1927-1983
Creator
- Wagner, Francis Norman, 1910-1986 (Person)
Language of Materials
Materials are in English.
Access Restrictions
Some restrictions may apply.
Copyright
The Tyrrell Historical Library does not hold copyright for most of its collections. The researcher must secure permission to publish. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the Tyrrell Historical Library. The researcher assumes full responsibility for complying with copyright, literary property rights, and libel laws.
Biographical Note
Francis Norman Wagner was born in 1910 at Nederland, Texas, to Conrad Daniel Wagner and Clara Block.
He graduated from Nederland High School in 1929. He attended South Park Junior College, the forefunner of Lamar University. Wagner continued his education at the University of Missouri at Columbia, where he graduated with a degree in journalism in 1933.
After graduation he worked for trade papers in Kansas City, Chicago, and Cincinnati.
During the Second World War he served in the Air Force in the Pacific Theatre. After the war he joined the family business, Price and Company, in Port Arthur. It was a wholesale candy and tobacco business.
He was the author of Legend of Big Plantation, which was published in 1970. It is a fictionalized account of his family's experiences during the Civil War near present-day Port Neches, Texas.
Mr. Wagner wrote Rush Into the Dawn, which was published in 29 installments in the Beaumont Enterprise. It was based on his father's experiences as a rice farmer. He also penned Prairie Boy, about his experiences growing up in Southeast Texas.
Wagner was active in the Rotary Club of Port Arthur and wrote a history of the club, which was published in 1982.
Mr. Wagner died on September 25, 1986.
Extent
16 Cubic Feet (16 cubic feet in 40 boxes)
Abstract
Francis Norman Wagner, born in 1910, lived in Nederland and Port Arthur most of his life. He wrote two books about life in Southeast Texas, and so amassed a large collection of newspaper clippings on topics related to the area. These clippings, and some other personal files related to his involvement in the Rotary Club, are collected here.
Organization of Collection
This collection is organized into two series and 20 subseries.
- Papers on History and Folklore
- Personal Papers
Acquisition Information
Donated by Connie Berry, 2006.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Processing Information
Processed by Tyrrell Historical Library staff.
Inventory prepared, 2007 February.
Finding aid revised and encoded, 2012 December.
Subject
- Wagner, Francis Norman, 1910-1986 (Person)
- Rotary Club (Port Arthur, Tex.) (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
- Chambers County, Texas
- Galveston County, Texas
- Hardin County, Texas
- Houston (Tex.)
- Jasper County (Tex.)
- Jefferson County (Tex.)
Topical
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Francis Norman Wagner Papers, 1927-1983
- Author
- Tyrrell Historical Library Staff
- Date
- 2012 December 20
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Tyrrell Historical Library Archives Repository
