The South Texas Archives, a division of the James C. Jernigan Library, at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, was established to preserve and make available to the public documents about the history and natural history of South Texas. Although the Archives were not officially created until 1982, the systematic accumulation of historical documents was started by Professor John E. Conner when he joined the history department shortly after the creation of the South Texas State Teachers College in 1925. In 1995 the Archives was merged into the James C. Jernigan Library.
The South Texas Archives is actively involved in the collection of personal papers, business and organizational records, and photographs which depict aspects of South Texas history and natural history. Some of the manuscript collections which had been inventories and are available for use by researchers include:
Local Organization Records
American Association of University Women (Kingsville Chapter). 1927-1986
Business and Professional Women's Club
Records. 1947-1980
Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Alpha Lambda and Kappa Nu Chapters
First Baptist Church of Kingsville
Kingsville Music Club. 1931-1981
Kleberg County Federation of Woman's
Clubs Records. 1948-1978
Kleberg County Red Cross Records. 1917-1930
Ladies
Society of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Engineers Records. 1913-1964
Woman's Club of Kingsville, Texas, Records. 1909-1986
Other Material
Reference Files
Return to South Texas Archives
*To find a Manuscript Collection quickly Press Ctrl + F and type a keyword of the Collection you are looking for below.*
Blucher,
Conrad M. Papers
A Nueces County Surveyor, Conrad M. Blucher left for this Archives
some of his correspondence, financial papers, legal papers, maps, books, papers and other
printed materials.
Bogusch,
Edwin R. Papers
Edwin R. Bogusch, a noted biologist, was chairman of the Texas
A&M University-Kingsville Biology Department and an internationally known Audubon
lecturer. The collection includes photos, films and field notes.
Canales,
Judge J. T. Estate Collection
Judge J. T. Canales was a leading South Texas Mexican American
political leader. He left correspondence, historical and religious articles, land
records and abstracts, over 50 maps and building plans and other materials. The
Canales family descend from original Spanish Land Grantee Don Jose Salvador DeLaGarza of
the "El Espiritu Santo" Land Grant, portions of which are still owned by the
family today.
Chandler
Family Collection. 1889-1972
The Chandler family was an early South Texas pioneering family that
included Dr. J. V. Chandler, who in addition to being a dentist was also poet laureate of
Texas (1959-1961), a musician, a world traveler and dedicated local citizen. He left
correspondence, copies of poems, newspaper clippings, photographs and dental
ledgers. Also included are materials from his wife, Helen Marie Airhart Chandler,
who was past president of the Texas Federation of Music Clubs and very involved in local
organizations.
Coalson,
George O. 1926-1995
While an undergraduate at Texas A&I, Dr. Coalson began work on
a dictionary of South Texas history. After completing his Ph.D. at the University of
Oklahoma he returned to the faculty of Texas A&I and continued his work. Almost
fifty years later he had accumulated over 25,000 note cards for that dictionary. He
left to the Archives notes, copies of articles, citations and bibliographies on varying
subjects about the history of South Texas.
Coleman,
Carrie Northway Papers. 1914-1985
Mrs. Carrie N. Coleman was a long time public school teacher and
active in Kingsville community affairs. The daughter of a prominent King Ranch
veterinarian she left a collection of correspondence, financial records, legal documents,
photographic and printed materials, sound recordings and many local and school newspapers.
Conner, John E. Papers. 1924-1963
John E. Conner was among the first faculty at the South Texas State
Teachers College that opened in Kingsville in 1925. He was chairman of the history
department, and later dean of students at Texas A&I University. He trained
students in history by having them visit historic sites and collect documents throughout
South Texas thus laying the foundation for the South Texas Archives. He left
personal papers, records of the South Texas Historical Association, and the early days of
Texas College of Arts & Industries as well as research materials from his work and
study.
Cousins, R.
B., Family Papers. 1882-1963
The Cousins' Family Papers are a collection of correspondence,
manuscripts, documents, published materials, and memorabilia related to Robert Barstow
Cousins, his wife, Dora: his sons, Ralph and R.B. Jr.: and his daughter Edith Cousins. A
few items in the collection relate to other family members. Dates of items in the
collection range from family correspondence in 1828 through newspaper clippings from the
late 1950's. The bulk of the papers are those of Robert Barstow Cousins and are most
complete for his tenure as Superintendent of Public Instruction (1904-1911) and as
President of the South Texas Teachers College (which became the Texas College of Arts
& Industry in 1929) until his death in 1932.
Dodd,
Jimmy Photo Collection
Over 500 photos, taken by this pioneer Kingsville citizen, of
Kleberg County and the surrounding areas throughout the first half of the 20th
century. Photos include pictures of Riviera Beach, when it was a thriving resort
community; Kingsville as it was growing from a small tent railroad community; and the
people who helped develop those communities.
Donn Byran Postcard Collection
Don Bryan, a resident of Bishop, Texas, and an amateur historian gave permission to rephotograph the postcards from his extensive collections of memorabilia about and from the Border Service, which served on the U.S./Mexican Border following the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
Dotterweich, Frank and June. 1905-1992
Professional papers, files and publications from the career of Dr.
Frank Dotterweich who established the Natural Gas Engineering program at Texas College of
Arts & Industries in 1936. The first of a kind program, Dr. Dotterweich
published many articles that even today continue to offer foundation research.
Included are copies of most of his publications, some of which are the only copies
available. Also included are scrapbooks, clippings and papers left by his wife,
June. She was very active in local civic organizations.
Falcon Record Collection and Arnaldo Ramirez
Photographs, records, and original artwork from record album covers, of
the Falcon Recording Company. Arnaldo Ramirez started one of the first two major
recording companies dealing primarily with conjunto and later Tejano music.
Artists who published on his label included Lydia Mendoza, Freddie Fender, Beto Villa, Los
Alegres de Teran, Wally Gonzalez, Tony de la Rosa, Carlos Guzman, and many more. The
collection includes some biographical information.
Flato, Charles
Family Papers
A founding father of the city of Kingsville, a cousin of Robert J.
Kleberg, and a prominent business and civic leader, Charles Flato Jr. left to the Archives
a collection of correspondence, photographs, business records, and pamphlets about the
development of Kingsville and his involvement with the King Ranch. Many of the
photos are of activities on his ranch and some of the King Ranch.
Ford, Sue
Photo Collection
An area photographer, Sue Ford spend her professional and personal
life taking pictures throughout Nueces, Kleberg, and Kenedy Counties. Her pictures
include workers in the fields, homes and ranches in the area, and many that simply reflect
life and work in South Texas.
Grimm, Agnes
Papers
Agnes Grimm was an author and collector of area history. An
area school teacher of Texas history, she kept extensive notes, photographs and maps about
the history of South Texas and her personal effort to document it.
Guardia, Miguel Papers
Miguel Guardia was a noted Mexican literary and drama critic,
journalist, poet and essayist of national and international renown. He left his
collection of books, pamphlets, periodicals, writings, and related items primarily in
Spanish.
Hill, Lon C. Jr.
Collection
An early developer in the South Texas region he was extremely
instrumental in the growth and development of Corpus Christi and is known as the pioneer
of irrigation in South Texas. The collection includes newspaper articles, maps,
correspondence and photographs that document the unparalleled enterprises of Lon C. Hill,
Jr.
House Family
Collection
Edwin and Percy House came to Kingsville in the early days of
settlement and were officers in the Kleberg Bank. The collection includes historic
newspapers, magazines, maps, telephone directories and other documents about the history
and development of Kingsville, Kleberg County and surrounding areas of South Texas.
It includes many copies of the Kingsville Record from the period prior to the 1925
fire that destroyed most copies.
King Ranch Oral History Collection
Fifty-two separate interviews with members of the King Ranch family
were recorded on tapes by two professors of history at Texas A&M
University-Kingsville. Many of the tapes are currently having their restrictions
removed.
Koch, Theodore
F. Papers. 1906-1973
Theodore F. Koch was the Dutch Consul in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
and a land developer of Riviera and Riviera Beach in Kleberg County and other areas in
East Texas. This collection includes personal and business correspondence and
biographical materials. An addition to these materials are the Carl C. Henny Papers,
1908-1972. Henny was a sales representative/manager for the Theodore F. Koch &
Co. and relative of Mr. Koch. This collection includes correspondence, abstracts and
titles, financial records, and maps associated with the Theodore F. Koch Company
Ladd, A. R. &
Pauline Collection
This unique collection contains correspondence, photographs, and
family materials documenting the lives of some of the first settlers in the
Bishop/Driscoll area. Both Ladds were early day educators. Mr. Ladd became
superintendent of schools and a farmer.
Lasater,
Ed C. Family Papers. 1860-1968
Ed C. Lasater moved to what would become Brooks County from his
birthplace in Goliad. In 1883 he founded the town of Falfurrias while building a
large cattle ranch and dairy farm. Active in politics and the cattle industry he
worked to establish a diversified agricultural community economically centered around his
Falfurrias Creamery Company. This collection includes papers and photographs about
his work and accomplishments.
Lobrecht,
Al Papers
This collection includes extensive notes and a manuscript detailing
the history of Premont, Texas. Mr. Lobrecht further left nine hours of his memories
on tape.
The Luman Henry Lord Correspondence includes .5 cubic feet of letters written by Union Civil War soldier, Luman Henry Lord to his family in Connecticut while he was stationed in Louisiana during the Civil War, 1862-1865. Also included are photos of family members taken before and after the Civil War.
Manning,
J. R. Papers
Dr. J. R. Manning was elected Head of the Department of
Business Administration at the South Texas State Teachers College in 1925. Throughout his
forty-four year career, from 1925 to 1969, Dr. Manning directed the growth and direction
of the Business Administration Department and was actively involved with several business
related student fraternities and clubs. Upon his retirement in 1969 the University named
the building that housed the Business Administration Department since 1925 in his honor,
Manning Hall. And he went on to become Kingsville's mayor for three terms. Dr. J. R.
Manning was given the status of Professor Emeritus in 1982 and he was the last surviving
member of the original faculty of the South Texas State Teachers College (now Texas
A&M University-Kingsville). His papers show his academic acheivements and his
dedication to the Business Administration Department and the University.
McNeil,
Norman L. Collection. 1903-1971
Norman "Brownie" McNeil was a folklorist, scholar and
educator who worked to collect the ballads and literature of the Mexican people in South
Texas. The collection includes correspondence, biographical materials, literary
productions, newspaper clippings, photographs, printed materials and sound recordings of corridos,
ballads and folk songs of Texas and Mexico. It also includes articles and
manuscripts on curanderos and folk medicine in South Texas. <oclc>
Meek, Walter W.
Jr. Papers. 1845-1981
Walter Meek Jr. was a railroad engineer, auditor of Duval County,
and close friend of George B. Parr (Duke of Duval County). The collection includes
personal papers relating to early settlement of Duval County, Texas, the construction of
the railroad in the west and Mexico, World War II, and Duval County politics. Also
included is a diary and correspondence kept by Walter Meek Sr. during the early days of
his arrival in this area. There is extensive correspondence between Meek Sr. and his
future wife who remained in Ohio during the early years of their courtship.
Northway,
J. K. Papers
J. K. Northway was a long time veterinarian with the King Ranch at
the beginning of the 20th Century. Included in the collection he left for the
Archives are correspondence, literary production, photographs, and printed and oversized
materials of this early day King Ranch veterinarian and his activities.
Olan E. Kruse came to Texas College of Arts in Industries as an undergraduate and received a Bachelor of Arts in Physics in 1942. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he earned advanced degrees in Physics, taught at Stephen F. Austin College and ultimately returned to Texas A&I as chairman of the Physics Department where he supervised the design and construction of Hill Hall, the Physics Building, served as chairman of the ad hoc committee which established the Faculty Senate and was the founding president of the campus Faculty Senate.
Paul Park Brown, Sr. Collection
Suzana Brown, granddaughter of Paul Brown, Sr. donated his small collection of letters and notebooks as a classroom assignment. Included are photographs, notebooks /journals kept while Mr. Brown served in the military during World War II, correspondence during the War and correspondence as he attempted to have a reunion of his fellow soldiers.
Graves Peeler, who is credited with saving the Longhorn from extinction, has left a collection of oral history tapes by and about himself. Also included are his large film and photograph collection of his hunting trips and exploration of the West.
Pugh, Thelma (Lindholm) Family Papers
Documents, photos and maps detailing the history of Live Oak County, where J. Frank Dobie was born and raised. This collection includes information about agriculture, churches, Civil War participants and slavery in the communities of Oakville, Three Rivers, Lagarto, George West, Dinero, and Gussettville. There is information about the local post office, Indians, Law Enforcement [including the Texas Rangers], newspapers, schools, transportation and utilities.
"Quarters" Collection
Thirty-six separate oral history interviews, video tapes, slides, photographs and written histories documenting the history of the Black Community of Kingsville are included in this collection. Complementing this collection are a three volume manuscript by Dan Eggleston on the Quarters and documents left by Hosea Bush about the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, a Black union of railroad workers.
Rangel, Irma Legislative Papers
Legislative papers of state representative Rangel who has served as the representative from this area since 1978 are deposited in the South Texas Archives. She was the first Mexican American woman elected to the state legislature.
Rees, Floyd Elton and Jewell Griffith Collection
Floyd Rees was a professional railroad man and an avid amateur historian who traveled throughout the country seeking books on the history of Texas in the Civil War and on the development of the railroad in the West. He collected well over 1200 books and pamphlets, some rare, on his research topic. He further photographed the development of the railroad industry in South Texas including the changing railroad cars, and the depots along the South Texas railroad routes.
South Texas Oral HIstory and Folklore Collection
Over 500 audiotapes of people living in South Texas, relating to the development of the area are included in this collection. Several of the tapes are in Spanish. Those interviewed tell about life and living in small rural areas of Texas.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Archives. 1925-present
University records, photographs, promotional materials, new releases, annuals, student catalogs and other materials documenting the history of this University are in this collection. Texas A&M University-Kingsville was the first, and is now the oldest college in the area.
Torres, Ben Newspaper Collection. 1943-1961
Las Notas de Kingsville, a Spanish language newspaper published in Kingsville, Texas from 1943 through 1961, was donated by Mr. Torres who was a respected member of the Mexican American community, and former school board member. The newspaper includes the activities of the Mexican American community and a great deal of the literary works written by members of this community.
Virgil Kowalik retired from Texas A&M University in 2000 following a 40 year career at the school as it changed its name from Texas College of Arts and Industries, to Texas A&I University and finally Texas A&M University-Kingsville. As a member of the math department he was instrumental in the creation and development of the Faculty Senate and served on the Athletic Committee and several accrediting committees for Self Study and Southern Association. He maintained records of his committee work.
Financial records, legal documents, personal papers, correspondence, trade catalogs pertaining to the Wade Family and Wade Ranch of Nueces County, Texas (now Lake Corpus Christi), are included in this collection.
Walter Meek Jr. was a railroad engineer, auditor of Duval County, and close friend of George B. Parr (Duke of Duval County). The collection includes personal papers relating to early settlement of Duval County, Texas, the construction of the railroad in the west and Mexico, World War II, and Duval County politics. Also included is a diary and correspondence kept by Walter Meek Sr. during the early days of his arrival in this area. There is extensive correspondence between Meek Sr. and his future wife who remained in Ohio during the early years of their courtship.
Wilkinson, W. L. Papers. 1919-1949
This Kleberg County Extension Agent left his personal records covering the period from 1925 through 1949 of his activities in Kenedy County from 1936-1949, and Jackson County from 1919-1925. Materials include correspondence, annual reports, photographs and newspaper clippings that reveal the agricultural endeavors going on in these counties.
Wolf, Bruno Jr. Family Collection
The descendents of Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon, father of Nueces County’s first settler, his namesake and a captain who explored much of South Texas and Northern Mexico, have preserved and guarded Spanish colonial documents for almost 300 years. Each generation has added genealogical data and some photos.
American Association of University
Women (Kingsville Chapter). 1927-1986
Correspondence, minutes, reports, yearbooks, programs.
Business and Professional Women's
Club Records. 1947-1980
Correspondence and treasurer's records from the Kingsville branch.
Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Alpha Lambda and Kappa Nu
Chapters
Minutes, scrapbooks, and correspondence.
Kingsville Music Club. 1931-1981
Fifty yearbooks.
Kleberg County Federation of
Woman's Clubs Records. 1948-1978
Consists of correspondence and minutes.
Kleberg County Red Cross Records.
1917-1930
Correspondence.
Ladies
Society of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Engineers Records.
1913-1964
Minutes of meetings.
Woman's Club of Kingsville,
Texas, Records. 1909-1986
Correspondence, minutes, programs and scrapbooks.
In addition to the manuscript and oral history collections, the South Texas Archives maintains a Reference File, a Map collection (which includes architectural drawings and blueprints), a postcard collection, additional photographs, local organizational records, and numerous National Register and Archaeological Site Reports for the area. A Texana Book Collection is also housed at the Archives.
The South Texas Archives is also a Regional Historical Resources Depository (RHRD) for the Texas State Library System. Official records of cities, counties, school districts, and other local agencies; district and appeals courts from eleven surrounding counties are preserved at this Archives. In addition, probate, marriage, deed records, surveyors' records and tax rolls are included in the microfilm holdings that are available through Inter-Library Loan.
Reference
Files
The Reference Files contain materials used to provide brief,
preliminary information on subjects that are important, common or specific to the South
Texas area. The materials are arranged by subject and may include; newspaper
clippings and magazine articles, brochures, pamphlets, booklets, correspondence, maps,
postcards, reports, programs, government documents and various other types of materials.
An alphabetical list of these subjects is provided online.
Return to the South Texas Archives homepage
Send
email to the University Archivist: Sandra L. Rexroat