Samuel A. Millar
332 photographs
A1987-017
1890-1945 (unknown)
Sam A. Miller was the photographer of these images. He was a friend of Dr. J.K. Northway, the King Ranch veterinarian. Stationed at Harlingen Air Force Base in the 1940s, Millar was introduced to Dr. Northway by his brother-in-law, Dr. Homing. Later he and his wife moved to Port Arthur, Texas where they lived the remainder of their lives.
All 332 photographs are black and white, primarily taken by Sam A. Millar, a friend of Dr. J.K. Northway, the King Ranch veterinarian, mostly on the Norias Division of the King Ranch. Millar writes, "When I was stationed at Harlingen my brother-in-law Dr. Homing suggested I meet Dr. Northway. From 1943-1945 I took hundreds of pictures but attrition took its toll so I put the remainder in the album to hold on to them. Dr. Northway liked for me to drive him on his rounds and I spent a lot of time on the Ranch.” Comments written by Sam Millar are copied from the scrapbook, identifying each horse and adding information of interest to the image. King Ranch, located in South Texas between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, comprises 825,000 acres, making it one of the largest ranches in the world. King Ranch was founded in 1853 by a river pilot, Captain Richard King and Gideon L. Lewis. The ranch is not one contiguous plot of land but four separate plots called divisions. The four divisions are the Santa Gertrudis, the Laureles, the Encino and the Norias. Back in its day, King Ranch epitomized the romance and adventure of the cowboy and Texas ranching. Begun primarily as a cattle and horse ranch, today King Ranch has diversified into various agribusinesses, luxury retail products and recreational hunting. King Ranch's quarter horse and thoroughbred programs date back to Richard King and his son-in-law, Robert Kleberg, Sr., who tamed the Mustangs of the Wild Horse Desert, improving their genetic traits over time. In 1934 King Ranch purchased Chicaro, a thoroughbred quarter horse to add his genetic qualities to the ranch's quarter horse line. He was crossed with thoroughbred mares bought in 1935. Dr. Northway and Robert Kleberg, Jr. experimented with crossing American and European strains and line breeding. In 1915 Robert J. Kleberg Jr. bought Old Sorrel, a colt, who became the foundation sire that made King Ranch famous as a breeder of champion quarter horses. Whimpy, a grandson of Old Sorrel, won the champion 1941 Fort Worth Stock Show. Both of these horses are pictured in this collection.
All 332 photographs are numbered in sequential order, and described by the photographer, Sam A. Millar.
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.
SAm A. Millar Collection, A1987-017.XXXX, South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Need assistance with citing our materials? Contact us or visit our research help page!
1987-017 – Gift of Sam A. Millar
Jimmie R. Picquet processed the photographs. Lori Atkins scanned the photographs and created the Finding Aid in 2015.