Charles Simons
1 linear foot
https://archives.tamuk.edu/results/1/?collection_name=Pat+&+Alfred+Gross+Collection
1890-1945 (unknown)
Alfred F. Gross came to Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville) in 1945. He had begun his teaching career in the public schools of Wilmington and Cincinnati, Ohio in 1937. He became the chairman and founder of the industrial arts department at Texas A&I University. His duties during his first year included those of assistant to A&I President Edward N. Jones. Thereafter, Gross' official duties were setting up and putting into operation a complete industrial arts department. Many of the instructional innovations used in the University's industrial arts classrooms were originated and designed by Gross.
A native of Camden, Ohio, Gross received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, a Bachelor of Science degree in education, and a Master of Arts degree in education, all from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. His areas of concentration included industrial arts and visual education. Gross also pursued doctoral studies at Columbia University in New York City and St. Andrew's in London, England. He retired in 1976 with 31 years of service to the university. He was honored by the University System of South Texas board of directors with their unanimous decision to name the university's industrial arts building after him in 1981. The USST board of directors voted during the fall of 1980 to name the Texas A&I industrial arts building, which was completed in 1970, the Alfred F. Gross Industrial Arts Building.
Alfred Gross and his wife, Patricia Barnhardt Gross, had one son named Theodore. Pat Gross worked for the Kingsville Independent School District for many years as a Middle School Instructional Supervisor and then as the Curriculum Director. She was a member of the Texas State Teachers Association and wrote "History of the Kingsville Independent School District," published by Hart Graphics in 1979. The family had a lodge in Glenwood Springs a few miles from Aspen, Colorado and spent portions of their winter skiing. After the Gross' retired they divided their time between their two homes. Alfred F. Gross died in 1985 at the age of 76.
Included in the collection are 288 photographs of the campus of Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Al and Pat's family life, travels they took on holiday and pictures of Ted Gross, their son. Documents of the Gross' professional life are included.
The photographs are arranged in the order they were received and the professional documents are place in the last folders.
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.
Al & Pat Gross Photograph Collection, A2003-009.XXXX- South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
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Gift from Brian T. Grisham on February 3, 20003
In 2018 Juan processed and digitized the photographs and papers. Lori Atkins created the finding aid and Daniel Thacker uploaded the records to the web and created the EAD document.