Correspondence

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 Barrie Scardino Bradley is an author and scholar who has published several books on Texas architecture, including "Improbable Metropolis: Houston’s Architectural and Urban History" (2020, University of Texas Press) and "Fair Winds: The History of Kirby Corporation" (2017, Herring Press). She worked as the first architectural archivist for the City of Houston. She became executive director of the American Institute of Architects, Houston Chapter, and the Houston Architecture Foundation until...

Abstract A group of women established the Altrusa Club on April 11, 1917 in Nashville, Tennessee, as the first women's classified service club. The founders designed the organization as a "main channel through which women leaders in business and the professions can work together as an effective service force to help solve community and world problems and promote understanding among all people." This collection consists of correspondence, regular meetings and board of directors minutes, organizational...

Abstract The Beaumont Interfaith Choral Society was founded in 1963 by the choirs of First United Methodist Church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, First Christian Church, and Westminster Presbyterian Church to perform concerts of sacred choral music free of charge for the Beaumont community. During their many years of contribution to the music culture of Beaumont, members of the society have represented more than forty churches and synagogues. The collection includes business records, membership records,...

Abstract

The Beaumont branch of the Young Men's Christian Organization was formed in 1901 following the discovery of oil at Spindletop and the subsequent population boom. Throughout the 20th century, the Beaumont YMCA served as an important community center and continuously fundraised in order to open new locations and complexes. This collection consists of organizational records and historical materials related to the Beaumont chapter of the YMCA dating from the years 1903 to 1999.

Abstract The Birdwell Family Papers consists of materials related to the Birdwell family and the Birdwell Fence Company. Contained in the personal correspondence are letters written and received by Seth and Jessamine Birdwell. Other items in these papers pertain to fence company correspondence with accompanying financial receipts, statements, and printed matter. Also found in this same collection are a poem book, newspaper clippings, photographs, Beaumont High School newsletters (1919-1922) and...

Abstract The Brooks Family Papers consists of four family members. Henry C. Brooks, Dorothy G. Brooks, and their two daughters, Rebecca A. Brooks and Nancy B. Neild. Mr. Brooks for many years managed the Fashion department store in Beaumont. His wife helped to raise their two daughters, Nancy and Rebecca. Nancy has long been active in several civic organizations in Beaumont including the Junior League and the the Spindletop Chairty Horse Show. Her sister, Rebecca, was a professional model and actress...

Abstract American National Bank of Beaumont was formed on May 4, 1901. It quickly grew as a financial institution and in 1972 was merged with the name changed in 1981 to Texas Commerce Bank. This was followed in 1987 with the bank becoming an owned subsidiary of Chemical Bank Corporation of New York and in 1996 the name of the bank was changed to Chase Bank of Texas. Then in 1999 the bank was purchased and the name changed to Hibernia National Bank. And finally, in March of 2006 the bank was...

Abstract Charlene Kiker (1929-2004) was a lifelong resident of Beaumont, Texas. She worked as a secretary for over thirty years with Mobil Oil Corporation and was president of the Desk and Derrick Club of Beaumont. She had a strong interest in the arts and music and was also involved with the Beaumont Civic Opera, Beaumont Symphony Orchestra, Beaumont Music Commission, Melody Maids, Interfaith Choir, and the choir of the First United Methodist Church. The Charlene Kiker Papers consist of meeting...

Abstract

The Desk and Derrick Club was established in March 1949 as the first professional organization for women working in the oil and gas industry. The Desk and Derrick Club’s original mission was to educate and support women who were working in the energy industry. The Desk and Derrick Club produced this scrapbook in its first year of existence. The collection includes newspaper clippings of the Club's organizational meetings, and original activities

Abstract

Elmo Willard, III, was a leader of Beaumont's civil rights movement. He and his law partner, Theodore Johns, won cases for the desegregation of Beaumont's public parks and Lamar University. These papers include correspondence, legal documents, news clippings, and photographs.

Abstract The Delta Kappa Gamma Society is a professional society for women educators, founded on May 11, 1929 at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. The mission of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society is "to promote professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education." Materials consist of organizational records, administrative records, newsletters, yearbooks, rosters, programs, meetings, correspondence, photographs, by-laws, financial records, history, and programs related...

Abstract

Founded in 1872, the First Baptist Church of Beaumont, Texas, and its members, have contributed immensely to the religious, social, economic, and political life of the city. The records of the church include photographs, publications, administrative records, records of the Sunday School, and membership records.

Abstract

This collection consists of administrative records, correspondence, photographs, film, and scrapbooks related to the corporate history of First City Bank, whose origins can be traced through First National Bank of Beaumont, Gulf National Bank, Texas National Bank, Security State Bank, and First Security National Bank.

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...

Abstract Gordon F. Baxter was born on December 25, 1923, in Port Arthur, Texas. He resided in Beaumont from 1959 until his death on June 11, 2005. During his professional career he was a writer, radio broadcaster, and a airplane pilot. He was well-known for his independent spirit and proved to be a colorful figure in his profession. These papers include personal papers and correspondence, artifacts, scrapbooks, publications, slides, and photographic negatives related to his personal life and...

Abstract

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 This collection contains many photographs taken by Harry P. Jirou, who was a Beaumont area amateur photographer. The photographs document many early scenes of Beaumont, his personal interest in the Boy Scouts as a scout master, views of well-known landmarks in and around Beaumont, and early technological feats that took place in Beaumont. The photographs span a time period from 1888 through to the 1930's. The collection also includes memorabilia and correspondence, as well as newspaper...

Abstract

Herbert Roedenbeck (1881-1975) in the given course of time will suffice as one of the last legendary pioneers of this century; his achievements in agriculture and land development proved to be an integral part of the present demographic status of Southeast Texas. The greater portion of this collection consists of correspondence during the conclusive years from 1932 to 1970 while he was active in the oil leasing business.

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,...

Abstract

The Jackson Broocks Osborne Papers are a series of papers primarily related to Osborne's grandfather, John H. Broocks, and step-father, William Seale. The Broocks' papers include correspondence regarding his business ventures, papers from his legal practice, and his own personal writings. While the Seale's papers consist of correspondence and deeds, and financial ledgers from his sister's pharmacy, R. Seale & Co. Drugs.

Abstract

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 Judge J.D. Campbell was born in Chappell Hill, Texas, during the Civil War. During his time in Beaumont he worked as an appointed corporation court judge, with a private firm, as the elected city attorney, and as the justice of the 60th District Court. This collection is comprised largely of Judge J. D. Campbell’s business and personal papers and other items related to the activities of him and his family. These take the form of artifacts, correspondence, manuscripts, newspapers and...

Abstract The Jefferson Amusement Company was founded in 1917 by Sol Gordon and Joe Clemmons. The Company's headquarters was located in Beaumont where some of the most elegant movie theaters were located including the famous Jefferson Theater which opened in 1927. This collection focuses on the maintenance of the Beaumont theaters, especially the Liberty and Jefferson theaters, film release schedules, contracts and financial correspondence, income ledgers, booking schedules, construction blue prints...

Abstract The Jefferson Theatre was designed by architect Emile Weil in 1927, orignially for the Jefferson Amusement Company. The theatre closed in 1972, but reopened after an extensive restoration in 2003. This collection consists of materials originally collected by the Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society. The majority of the collection is comprised of deeds, oil leases, financial records, and correspondence related to the estates of Lena Mayer and Sol E. Gordon and their relatives. The...

Abstract

John H. Walker (1909-2001) was born in Beaumont, Texas, and held a deep interest in Beaumont history. This interest culminated in the publication of his book, Beaumont: A Pictorial History.

Abstract Joseph Bryan Morris (1892-1982) was born in Hamilton, Texas and moved to Beaumont in 1917 after graduating from the University of Texas. He worked as a lawyer in Beaumont, most notably as an attorney for the Beaumont and South Park School Districts, as well as the Port of Beaumont and South Park Junior College (precursor to Lamar College of Technology, and later, Lamar University). The Joseph Bryan Morris Papers consist primarily of legal documentation, litigation, oil and gas leases,...

Abstract Juanita Hughes Phelps (1918-2005) became an active resident of Beaumont for forty-seven years. She served as head of the Artist Series, president of the Magnolia District and State Federation of Woman's Clubs, and was involved with the Beaumont Opera and Beaumont Woman's Club. The collection largely consists of materials related to the organizations Juanita H. Phelps was involved with. Programs, reports, clippings, correspondence, events, rosters, scrapbooks, and other administrative records...

Abstract

Lena Triplett Milam (1884-1984) had a profound impact on the development of the musical arts in Beaumont. This collection spans Lena Milam's professional life and the period of her retirement. Newspaper clippings highlight important periods in her life, such as the formation of the Music Study Club and the start of Music Week. Correspondence mainly includes letters of appreciation from admirers. Program guides offer a concise look at music events in Beaumont.