Genealogy

Abstract John Thomas ("Tom") Arrington grew up in Fayette County, West Virginia. While attending high school he met his future wife, Sandra Ray Beck. The couple soon dated and then in 1960 married. Tom Arrington went on to graduate with a chemistry degree from West Virginia University. In 1967, the Arrington family moved to Beaumont, Texas, where Tom assumed a position as chemist with the Goodyear Chemical Plant and then later with the Valspar Paint Plant. The family papers consist of photographs,...

Abstract Clyde Vincent was a lifelong resident of Port Neches, Texas, who did extensive research on the cultural and historic heritage of the Acadian people of East Texas. He founded an organization called Les Arcadians du Texas which sponsored a choral group, tours to France and Canada, and the restoration of an authentic Acadian house. He also compiled genealogical information and engaged in efforts to preserve the Cajun language and culture. This collection includes genealogical records,...

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Father Patrick Turner was a local Catholic pastor who served at several churches in Jefferson County, Texas. Churches he served at include: St. Anthony, St. Charles, St. Mary, St. Helen, and St. Louis Catholic Church. The collection itself contains ancestry records, census records, and photographs.

Abstract The Gilbert family, long-time business and civic leaders of Southeast Texas, played a prominent role in the development of Beaumont from the city's modern economic beginnings in the middle of the nineteenth century through to the middle of the twentieth century. Their many business interests, based primarily on oil, cattle, rice, and lumber involved every major economic venture in the region for more than a century. They were also leaders in the banking community and in the development of...

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Gwendolyn Wingate wrote extensively on the history of Beaumont and the history of immigrants who settled in Southeast Texas. This collection holds her research papers, personal and historical photographs, and correspondence. The topics of agriculture and genealogy are especially well covered.

Abstract Halvor Ingebret Ostebee was a pioneer Beaumont, Texas, photographer who, during the Spindletop oil boom, was best known for the first action-picture of the Lucas gusher, the city's landmark oil well that was discovered in 1901. He opened his first portable photography gallery, called Beach Studio, in Beaumont, in 1897. The city's elite flocked to have pictures taken on birthdays and other anniversaries, and particularly weddings. His photographs of the history-making event at Spindletop were...

Abstract J. Glenn Cummings is a resident of Beaumont, Texas who has researched, written, and published historical works on the subjects of scouting and World War II. His book on World War II naval aviator Harry Brinkley Bass, "Trailing a Texas Eagle," was extensively researched and published in 2010. Cummings also served as scoutmaster of Beaumont Troop 65 Boy Scouts of America for nearly thirty years. The collection consists of research notebooks, interviews, presentations, military records,...

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The Jacqueline Barnes Papers is a small artificial collection consisting of historical Barnes family deeds and oil leases in the Houston and Refugio county region, vital records of Laura Lee Conrad Barnes, pet medical records, Brittany dog breeding records, and photographs of dog shows. These materials were found among a donation of geneaology and history books from Jacqueline Barnes in 2020.

Abstract Janice Zahn was born in 1936 to Henry and Myrtle Zahn, who were the owners of the South Park Jewlery Store. She was a student at South Park High School and graduated in 1954. Afterwards, she went on to attend Lamar Tech and graduated in 1958. While in school, she was a junior member of the American Red Cross. She also attended Washington Boulevard Christian Church. Her interests included geneology, which is reflected in this collection. There are also included: programs, invitations,...

Abstract Joan and Norman Lowrey were both Southeast Texas natives. Joan was a descendant of the French family, one of the earliest families to settle in Beaumont, and her husband Norman served in the National Guard and the Army in World War II and the Korean War, respectively. After graduating from Beaumont High School in 1944, he attended Lamar University and afterwards worked there as Coordinator of Adult Education until his retirement. Their collection features mixed material related to Beaumont...

Abstract Morris Cloninger graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and taught English at both Conroe and South Park High Schools. Concetta (nee Mazzagatti) Cloninger became interested in theatre while a student at South Park High School and then attended Lamar Junior College, where she studied under Irene Arnett. She later won a scholarship and did post graduate work at the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theater Arts in Pasadena, California. Upon leaving California, Concetta took the stage...

Abstract Pierre Ferdinand Patureau (1800-1860) was born in LaRoche, France. He married Anne Rose Machet (1801-1843) in 1820. The couple immigrated to Louisiana with their four children in 1840. One of their grandchildren, Marie Victorine Patureau (1873-1937), married William Cropper (1870-1918) in 1892 and began to collect traces of her family's history. Marie and William moved at some point in the early 1900s from Louisana to Beaumont, Texas. This collection consists of genealogy, correspondence,...

Abstract The Keith family were long-established residents of Beaumont and had been engaged in the lumber industry for several generations. These papers consist of business and legal records, correspondence, newspaper clippings, oil leases, deeds, scrapbooks and other assorted memorabilia related to the Keith and Doucette families as well as Sallye's personal involvement with the YWCA. A few documents of interest in this collection include a relatively large collection of historical photographs...

Abstract The Scottish Society of Southeast Texas is a community organization honoring Scottish heritage and culture in the southeast Texas region. The Society holds regular meetings, develops programs, and hosts an annual "Burns Dinner" featuring aspects of Scottish culture including traditional poems and songs. In the 1990s, a "tartan committee" was established to create a colleciton of clan tartans. Ms. Dorothy Callaway designed and constructed two tartan books featuring samples of tartan patterns,...

Abstract Theodric E. "Ted" Moor, Jr. (1932-2015) was an insurance agent in Beaumont, Texas who spent his career expanding the insurance business which was co-founded by his father, Theodric E. Moor, Sr. He later purchased the Amarillo Gold Sox baseball team and relocated them to Beaumont in 1982, changing the name to the Golden Gators. This collection consists of Ted Moor, Jr.'s genealogical and historical research. He kept notebooks of his research, with materials including pedigree charts,...

Abstract This collection consists of materials belonging to W. Smythe Shepherd, a Beaumont native and business man. Smythe Shepherd was heavily involved in the family business, "Shepherd Laundry". Additionally, he was also active in several local organizations such as: The Sons of the Republic of Texas, Rotary Club, and Texas Gulf Historical Society.This collection contains papers related to Shepherd's involvement with these organizations, as well as business records, photographs, and personal...

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This collection holds papers from six generations of the Winter family, beginning with Ann Clarke, born in 1779. Over the course of these generations, the family moved from North Carolina, to Alabama, to Louisiana, to Missouri, and finally to Texas.