From the Feeds: State Archives Social Media Roundup

Posted on July 16, 2025 by ARIS Staff

Featuring recent selections from our “Throwback Thursday” and other posts on TSLAC’s social media platforms. No subscription required.

January 2025

black and white photo of four men dressed in overcoats and gloves and wearing or holding bowler hats. — “Hill City Quartette — H.H. Long, C.E. Hillyer, R.H. Edmonson, and William Sidney Porter, Austin, Tex, 1886.” Richard Niles Graham collection, 1964/306-2927.

According to Frank X. Tolbert, Texas chili aficionado and author of the book A Bowl of Red, the first mention of the Texas “chili queens” in fiction was in a story by William Sydney Porter. Porter, known by the pseudonym O. Henry, described San Antonio plaza scenes and the aromatic dishes in his 1904 story, “The Enchanted Kiss.” Porter lived for years in Austin and is pictured here (front left) with fellow members of the Hill City Quartet.

February 2025

sepia-toned photo of young man in military uniform — Bee Carter, Private First Class, United States Army, 1940s. June Steusoff McGuire Collection, 1981.032. Sam Houston Center.

Bee Carter was born on May 1, 1914, in Liberty, Texas. He worked for the Steusoff Pharmacy, primarily as a delivery boy, until he was drafted during World War II. Carter enlisted on July 6, 1942, and was discharged from the United States Army on October 23, 1946. Carter died in 1985 and was buried in the Houston National Cemetery.

March 2025

sepia-toned photo of a large group of women outside posing for the photo. One row of 9 women standing and a row of 6 women sitting. — Trivium Club Members, 1914. Miriam Partlow II Collection, 1981.010. Sam Houston Center.

Founded in 1902, the Trivium Club was the first federated women’s club in Liberty, Texas. Although founded as a literary club, members also focused their attention on civic affairs. Early projects included the creation of a park in downtown Liberty and the addition of shell roads in the city’s cemetery.

April 2025

sepia-toned photo of Texas State Agricultural college featuring rows of tents on the grounds. — Student’s tent colony at Texas State Agricultural College, about 1907. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/070-143.

On April 17, 1871, the Texas Legislature established the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, later known as Texas A&M University. According to our friends at the A&M archives, the “tent colony” pictured here provided living quarters for students as their population began to outnumber dormitory space in the early years of the twentieth century. The area was named “Camp Milner” during the administration of President Milner, who served from 1908-1913. New dorm facilities meant the closing of the colony in 1912. Texas A&M was the first public institution of higher education in the state. View more early images from the school in our TDA here: https://tsl.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/SO_a1be5898-68d1-4a15-8768-3c3928bba4c9/

May 2025

sepia-toned postcard of a city street in Mexico. — Calle del Cinco de Mayo, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, undated. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/070-3850.

Cinco de Mayo it’s holiday time! Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican national holiday commemorating the victory of Ignacio Zaragoza’s troops over a French invading army at Puebla in 1862. The win inspired a sense of nationalism in Mexico that would lead to the annual celebration. Zaragoza was a native Texan, born in 1829 near Goliad during Mexican rule. This postcard features an undated image of a street in Ciudad Juárez named for Cinco de Mayo. View in the TDA: https://tsl.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_78e1d22a-024f-4762-8727-f88efe342069/

June 2025

black and white photo of woman sitting in a chair on a porch. Sehe wears a dress and hat. The photo has a purple mat with Emma (Brinson) Moody 1877-1972 written underneath. — Portrait, Emma (Brinson) Moody, about 1930. Mansfield African American Oral History Project, 2024099_2_02_014. Texas Historical Commission History Programs Division records.

This photo of Emma Brinson Moody from 1930 is one of several images of members of the Moody family included in an oral history project conducted in 1995. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) oversaw the project and records, including transcripts, recordings, and digitized photographs have been added to our Texas Digital Archive (TDA). One project focused on the history of African Americans in Mansfield. The Moodys were one of the oldest African American families from the Mansfield area that oral history interviewees recalled. McClendon “Mac” Moody participated in the project. The Moodys were thought to have moved to North Texas from Galveston.

Learn more about African Americans in Mansfield here: https://tsl.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/SO_ec3d519e-d94a-41cf-b79a-a70b43d62f02/

From the Feeds: State Archives Social Media Roundup

Posted on January 8, 2025 by ARIS Staff

Featuring recent selections from our “Throwback Thursday” and other posts on TSLAC’s social media platforms. No subscription required.

July 2024

Ferry crossing on an unknown river, 1939. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1978023_73a. TSLAC.

#TBT from the State Archives: No bridge? No problem! Ferry crossings over Texas rivers and other waterways have been a transportation feature for centuries. Governments and communities regulated the ferries and ferrymen had certain responsibilities, such as ensuring the inclines for entry and exit were sufficiently graded. This flat wooden ferry was attached to a cable above the river and the ferryman pulled ropes through pulleys to cross to the other side. View more historical photos from the Texas Department of Public Safety online at https://bit.ly/TDA_DPS.

August 2024

Searching for flood victims on Waller Creek, Austin, Texas, undated. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/070-3119. TSLAC.

#TBT from the State Archives: On April 22, 1915, a devastating flood swept through downtown Austin destroying homes and lives. Heavy rain caused both Waller and Shoal Creeks to rise high enough to demolish surrounding structures and leave more than 1000 people without homes. An estimated 57 lives were lost. This photo captured the aftermath of the flooding along Waller Creek. The dome of the State Capitol Building is visible in the background over the trees.

September 2024

Laurent Quintle House & Store, Medina River off Highway 90, Castroville, Medina County, TX. Built about 1850. Fannie Ratchford photograph collection, 1970/101-273. TSLAC.

#OTD September 12, 1844, French baker and businessman Henri Castro established the town of Castroville on the Medina River. Castro contracted with the Republic of Texas government to attract settlers to the area in exchange for land. He brought families from Europe, notably the Alsace region of France, who built homes, shops, a mill, and other features of rural nineteenth-century living. The Laurent Quintle House and Store in Castroville was built around 1850 and photographed as part of the Historic America Buildings Survey, evidenced by the number TEX-3-62 in the bottom right corner. Find more images of architecture in Texas towns in the 1930s and 1940s in the Fannie Ratchford photograph collection online: https://tsl.access.preservica.com/tda/prints-and-photographs/#ratchford

October 2024

Old Statesman Office between Seventh and Eighth on Congress, Austin, undated. Mabel H. Brooks photograph collection, 1932/005-17. TSLAC.

#TBT Texas Archives Month continues as we recognize the importance of newspapers in the archive. This undated photo of the Statesman (now Austin American Statesman) office in Austin captures early methods of printing newspapers using ink on individual metal plates. View in the TDA: https://tsl.access.preservica.com/…/IO_2e9a3654-bf99…/

November 2024

Autumn in East Texas, undated. Texas Tourist Development Agency photographs and audiovisual material, 2012/193-A0627-5-382. TSLAC.

#TBT Admiring the changing colors of the leaves each autumn is a popular tradition across the country and is currently the perfect time for the activity in Texas. This undated image from the Texas Tourist Development Agency’s slide collection captures a lovely drive in East Texas during the fall foliage season.

December 2024

The Making of the Texas Constitution, Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974 audiovisual recordings. Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 2024/080.TSLAC.

Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974 audiovisual recordings are now online in the Texas Digital Archive (TDA). The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974 was the culmination of a three-part process to revise and simplify the 1876 Texas constitution, which had been amended 218 times. The State Archives has digitized recordings documenting the convention (convened on January 8 and closed on July 30), including original film footage and audio recordings regarding the convention, and film productions about the convention. Ultimately, the convention did not succeed in producing a new constitution for Texas. Explore the audiovisual materials online here: https://tsl.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/SO_6da8e784-45af-4282-97f9-00b37e36a362/

From the Feeds: State Archives Social Media Roundup

Posted on June 13, 2024 by ARIS Staff

Featuring recent selections from our “Throwback Thursday” and other posts on TSLAC’s social media platforms. No subscription required.

January 2024

O. Henry Museum, Christmas card. Pencil sketch, undated. Places Collection, 1/103-90, Prints and Photographs Collections. TSLAC.

#OTD January 19, 1934, The home of William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), who became known as the short story writer O. Henry, was donated to the City of Austin. Porter resided with his wife and young daughter in the home, originally located at 308 East Fourth Street, from 1893-1895. In Austin, Porter worked as a draftsman at the General Land Office and later as a teller at the First National Bank of Austin, where he was accused of embezzlement and eventually spent several years in federal prison. Upon his release, he relocated to New York and his writing career flourished. The cottage was constructed in the 1880s and has undergone several renovation projects to preserve the museum. Visitors may view a desk once used by the writer, along with other furnishings and memorabilia. The museum is now located on 409 East Fifth Street.

February 2024

Black and white photo of street scene with dirt road and two main buildings from the 1880s. The first building is wood with a sloping roof that extends over the sidewalk in front. Several people are leaning on posts on the sidewalk. A sign reads "bakery." A cow walks along in front of the building toward the two-story brick structure with the name "Georgetown Pharmacy" painted on the side. — Street scene showing bakery and Georgetown Pharmacy. Places collection, 1/103-482. Prints and photographs collection. TSLAC.

A cow ambles down the street in front of the town bakery and pharmacy in 1880s Georgetown. Explore historic images of Texas buildings, street scenes, homes, panoramic views, and some other states and countries in the Places Collection on the Texas Digital Archive. https://tsl.access.preservica.com/tda/prints-and-photographs/#places.

March 2024

Black and white photo of two men dressed in cowboy attire riding horses and circling a calf. They are cattle roping. In the background, cows are visible behind a wire fence.] — Cowboys roping calf, undated. Groups, 1/104-114. Prints and photographs collection. TSLAC.

March means it’s time for the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the largest of its kind in the world. Rodeos showcase skills that evolved from the chores of working cowboys during the early years of the cattle industry, such as cattle roping. This photo captures two cowboys in action as they circle a calf.

April 2024

black and white photo from about 1900 with scene of a stone bridge over a low creek. In the foreground, several young girls are standing on rocks. A dirt path up the right bank of the creek leads to a white, two-story mansion. — Bridge on Barton Creek, undated, Austin. Mabel H. Brooks photograph collection, 1932/005-207. TSLAC.

#OTD April 11, 1840, William Barton (1782-1840) passed away. Barton settled in Texas in 1828 and relocated to what would become the Austin area in 1837. Barton and his family lived on property near the springs, creek, and rolling hills that were all later named after him. This photo of a bridge over Barton Creek was taken in about 1900. The Rabb Mansion is visible in the background. The children are not identified. Barton Creek and Barton Springs are centerpieces of recreational activity in modern-day Austin. See more images from Austin between 1860-1920 in the Mabel H. Brooks Photograph collection online here:
https://tsl.access.preservica.com/tda/prints-and-photographs/#brooks

May 2024

Cover for sheet music with the title written across the top half of page, Texas State Capitol Grand Waltz, composed by Leonora Rives, author of New Administration March and Respectfully dedicated to Governor L.S. Ross. Centered on the page is and etching of the Texas State Capitol building with figures in pairs and other configurations walking about the grounds. Horse-drawn carriages also appear on the grounds. Under the sketch reads Texas State Capitol and published by Thos. Goggan & Bro. Galveston, Thos. Goggan & Bros San Antonio, Copyright 1888 by Thos. Goggan & Bro. Price 60 cents — Texas State Capitol Waltz, by Leonora Rives, 1888. Sheet Music Collection, #10. TSLAC.

#OTD May 16, 1888 was “dedication day” for the new State Capitol building in Austin. The day began with a parade that marched up Congress Avenue toward the capitol where Texas dignitaries gave speeches. The entire week of May 14 – May 19 was filled with celebratory events, including a ball held on Friday, May 18. Composer Leonora Rives dedicated to Texas Governor L.S. Ross her new piece of music, the Texas State Capitol Grand Waltz, created for the ball. The sheet music was a popular souvenir item that sold for sixty cents. View the entire composition on our website here: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/lobbyexhibits/alacarte-sounds

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