John E. Conner, William Conner
18.5 linear feet, 376 photographs; 46 books
A1980-021; A1981-008; A1982-023; A1983-030; 1983-046; A1984-050; A1985-013; A1985-060; A1987-015; A1987-027; A1987-029; A1990-015; A1995-031; A1995-035
1890-1945 (unknown)
John Edwin Conner, 1883-1989, the son of Harriet (Williamson) and William Trustan Conner, was born on November 21, 1883 at Field Creek, Llano County, Texas. The family moved to Pontotoc, Mason County where his father ran a general store and farmed and his mother was postmistress at Pontotoc. John Conner began school in Pontotoc in 1890, farmed and did a variety of other jobs, including setting type. In May 1904 John Conner graduated from high school first in a class of two. While in school, Conner became acquainted with the superintendent of the high school, E.C. Broyles, great-grandfather of the William Broyles who later edited Texas Monthly. Broyles taught Conner to write clearly and persuasively and spoke of history, sharpening Conner's interest. Conner taught at several one-room schools. In 1911 he graduated from Southwest Texas Normal and married Fannie Johnson on August 27, 1911; they had three children. During the 1911-12 school year he was principal of the high school at Ozona, and in the fall of 1913 he became superintendent of schools at Sanderson. In the fall of 1919 Conner left Sanderson to become superintendent at Marfa. Beginning in 1917 he taught in several summer sessions and teacher's institutes at Sul Ross Normal in Alpine. He became acquainted with Robert Bartow Cousins, who had been appointed president of the new college to be built in Kingsville, and in 1923 Cousins offered Conner a job there. Conner entered the University of Texas in June 1923. In May 1924 he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and in August of that year was granted an A.B. degree in American history. His M.A. was granted in 1927. The family moved to Kingsville on June 1, 1925, and South Texas State Teachers College (later Texas A&M University-Kingsville) opened on June 7 of that year. The school lacked students and Conner became a spokesman for South Texas Teachers College, recruiting students. Robert J. Kleberg and J. K. Northway of the King Ranch had pushed strongly for the college to be located in Kingsville and were disappointed that graduates of the college were not going to be useful to the ranch's plans. Northway in particular began to push for a change in the purpose of the college so he could get more technical help from its graduates. In 1929 the school became the Texas College of Arts and Industries, and Conner became dean of the college. For the next ten years Conner taught classes, promoted the college and was the driving force in the development of the institution's museum. Conner's vision began to fail and he was on leave from the college from 1942 to 1945. During that time he served as the historian at the quartermaster depot at San Houston. He completed his first published book, The Centennial Record of the San Antonio Service Forces Depot (1845–1945) in 1945. He retired from the university in May 1954, whereupon he served as the director of the school's museum until 1964. He also began to write a history of Texas, intended for public school children. Your Texas and Mine appeared in 1961 and was followed by The Flags of Texas in 1964. In 1976 the museum collection was moved to its current location and renamed the John E. Conner Museum. On his 100th birthday Conner was honored with a encomium from the governor, which was printed in the Congressional Record. Conner continued to write until his death on September 1, 1989.
The collection consist of John Conner’s personal and professional materials along with items from his son, William. The bulk of the materials are family correspondence and genealogy, notes John Conner used for writing his book “Flags over Texas” and other publications. Materials from his time teaching at Texas A&I University are also included.
Series I: Personal Materials Sub-Series A: Correspondence Sub-Series B: Conner Family Documents/Genealogy Sub-Series C: Kleberg County Historical Commission Sub-Series D: Chamber of Commerce Materials Sub-Series E: Clubs/Organizations Sub-Series F: Kingsville Election Materials Series II: Texas A&I Materials Sub-Series A: Papers and Speeches Sub-Series B: Research - Parr and Glasscock Sub-Series C: Research – South Texas Sub-Series D: Research – Case Files Sub-Series E: Research - Texas Flags Sub-Series F: Research - Texas Sub-Series G: South Texas Historical Association Sub-Series H: University President Information Sub-Series I: Administrative/Class Materials Sub-Series J: Correspondence Series III: Publications/Manuscripts Sub-Series A: Harlow Publishing Sub-Series B: Brochures/Pamphlets/Booklets Sub-Series C: Newspaper Clippings Sub-Series D: Literary Production/Manuscripts Sub-Series E: Journals/Magazines Sub-Series F: Books Series IV: Photographs
South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Open for Research
Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.
Conner Family Collection, A1980-021; A1981-008; A1982-023; A1983-030; 1983-046; A1984-050; A1985-013; A1985-060; A1987-015; A1987-027; A1987-029; A1990-015; A1995-031- South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
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A1980-021 -- Gift of William Conner A1981-008 -- Gift of William Conner A1982-023 – Gift of John E. Conner A1982-023.AD1 – Gift of William Conner A1983-030 – Gift of John E. Conner A1983-046 – Gift of William Conner A1984-050 – Gift of William Conner A1985-013 -- Gift of William Conner A1985-060 -- Gift of William Conner A1987-015 -- Gift of William Conner A1987-027 -- Gift of William Conner A1987-029 -- Gift of William Conner A1990-015 -- Gift of William Conner A1990-015.AD1 -- Gift of William Conner A1995-031 -- Gift of William Conner A1995-035 -- Gift of William Conner
Matthew Tallant updated the collection in 2019. Daniel Thacker encoded the EAD in 2019.