Photographs

Abstract

The Abescoe Club was a social club for Bethlehem Shipyard employees and was created to promote social activities for employees of the company. The collection includes the “Abescoe News” newsletters from 1949 – 1958 (only partially inclusive) as well as approximately 400 photographs of club activities.

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 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 Chamber of Commerce was organized on January 22, 1903, at a meeting attended by at least 165 people shortly after the Lucas Oil gusher was discovered in 1901. The subsequent activity at the Spindletop Hill oil field brought increased population and interest to the city, necessitating a chamber of commerce. The Chamber has been instrumental in the promotion and development of Beaumont and its industry, including the Port of Beaumont and the deep water (Neches River) shipping...

Abstract

Founded in 1880, the Beaumont Enterprise newspaper has served its local community for over one hundred and thirty years. This collection contains newspaper clippings and photographs from the paper, organized by subject. The bulk of the materials were created in the 1970's and 1980's.

Abstract Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) originated in 1883 with Beaumont High School. By 1948, the district had absorbed French High School and established a high school for black students, Charlton-Pollard High School. In 1983, the original Beaumont ISD board voted to dissolve the district and officially merged with South Park ISD in 1984, forming the current Beaumont Independent School District. This collection is an artificial collection of community materials that consists of...

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 Claire Rhorman is a resident of Beaumont, Texas. Her family moved from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, to Port Arthur, Texas, when she was about three months old. She attended Port Arthur schools and continued living in the area into adulthood. Many of the photographs in this collection reflect family events and locations in and around Port Arthur. Her grandfather, Carlos Castille, inherited land in St. Martin Parish which had been in his family for about 200 years. A number of the early...

Abstract Cleveland Nisby was a prominent civic leader and activist in the Beaumont, Texas area. While employed by the Magnolia Refinery, Mr. Nisby worked to get union representation for Black workers and to eliminate dual lines of promotion for Black and White workers. In the 1960’s he made numerous appearances before local elected officials to encourage the hiring of Black clerical and professional employees. His efforts led to the hiring of the first Black employee hired for a clerical position in...

Abstract This small collection includes fifty-six photographs of Dodge trucks sold by the Jackson Motor Company in Beaumont, Texas, with logos of local area businesses painted on them. Some of the businesses displayed on the trucks are for bakeries, coffee companies, feed companies, the fire department, florists, funeral homes, furniture companies, grocery stores, hardware stores, ice companies, lumber companies, newspaper companies, office suppliers, oil companies, plumbers, and tobacco companies...

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,...

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

Emmett A. Fletcher was a Beaumont businessman and elected official. He was elected as mayor of Beaumont in 1906 and served two terms over 12 years. He was involved in the creation of Beaumont's infrastructure, business, and city development. This is a small collection consisting of photographs, newspaper clippings, funeral remarks, and licenses for steamboat inspection and operation belonging to Emmett A. Fletcher.

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 This collection consists of approximately 994 photographs from the Fire Museum of Texas, which opened in 1984 in Beaumont, documenting firefighting in Southeast Texas from 1856 to 1993, with heavy emphasis on the first half of the twentieth century. The Fire Department of Beaumont was established in 1881 and images in this collection cover many aspects of the department including firefighters, firehouses, and fire engines; fires and local buildings damaged by fire; fire prevention...

Abstract

Founded in 1894, the First Christian Church is a congregation for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination. The records of the church include directories, committee minutes, papers on church doctrine, photographs, facility records, worship bulletins, records of Camp Wildurr, records of its Sunday School classes, treasurer's reports, and special anniversary and dedication programs.

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 Frank Cleveland Weber (1882-1965) was born in Beaumont, Texas, where he lived for the majority of his life. As a teen, young Frank Weber took a job at J.J. Nathan's dry goods store. He worked with J.J. Nathan for twenty-seven years, becoming manager and growing the business into the largest store in Beaumont. The store's successs brought Frank Weber into the "entrepenuerial class" of Beaumont, which prospered even more after the Spindeltop oil discovery of 1901. This collection consists of...

Abstract

The Beaumont Iron Works Company was founded in 1910. During World War II it manufactured military equipment for the U.S. Army and Navy. Gene Bird Gilliom worked as James Baldwin's private secretery during his time as manager of Beaumont Iron Works, where she collected photographs of the company's plant, newspaper clippings, telegrams from Washington, D.C., and a copy of Baldwin's resignation speech.

Abstract

This collection consists of photographs acquired from multiple donors over an extended period of time. The donations began around 1950 and continued through to 2000. The photographs include such topics as agriculture, businesses, well-known residences and landmarks, street scenes, aerial views, and people in Beaumont and nearby locations as far back as 1835 and as recent as 2000.

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 Herman Fiedler was the personal chauffeur of Mrs. Frances Ann Lutcher of Orange, Texas. The Lutcher family owned vast tracts of timber in and around the Orange area and ran the Lutcher Moore Lumber Company. As prominent citizens of Orange, the Lutcher family owned two Pierce-Arrow touring automobiles and traveled extensively on sight-seeing trips throughout the United States, Canada, and western Europe. Many of these early road trips were documented in photographs by Mr....