Saving the Icons of the Lone Star Legacy 60 Years of Making a Difference By Pamela Murtha Historical preservation efforts on a statewide, large-scale level began in earnest on June 4, 1953, with the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 44, which created the Texas State Historical Survey Committee. Eighteen governor-appointed commissioners were charged with identifying any and all properties, sites, artifacts, documents, and official records related to the “manners, customs, thought, and way of life of any period of Texas history.” There were directives to address the preservation of endangered sites, facilitate public access to historical assets, and further Texas history publication and classroom education. Despite this ambitious agenda, the legislation mandated that the TSHSC commissioners receive no pay and fulfill their duties without state appropriations. Financial assistance was to come from the private sector, so the resolution also provided for the establishment of a private, nonprofit corporation to serve as the fundraising arm of the TSHSC.
The First 25 Years The articles of incorporation for the Texas Historical Foundation were filed with the office of the Secretary of State on January 11, 1954, and the stated purpose of the organization mirrored the same directives that were defined for the TSHSC. Board members for the Foundation consisted of the same 18 Survey Committee commissioners, who in this dual capacity essentially raised the funds to support development of a cohesive, statewide preservation program. However, by 1965 this arrangement was no longer feasible, and the Foundation’s bylaws were revised to accommodate a separate and expanded board of directors, with three to six TSHSC commissioners continuing to serve on a rotating basis.
During the first five years, THF raised 100 percent of the funds that were needed by the TSHSC to implement preservation programs and activities. The Texas Historical Foundation supported the state agency’s efforts through grants solicited from other private foundations, corporate donations, and a membership base consisting of individuals serving on county historical commissions, historians, and preservation organizations. However, there were many instances when a commissioner or THF director would dig into their own pockets or reach out to a friend or associate in order to ensure that a project received the necessary funding. That spirit of generosity and commitment to furthering historical preservation in Texas that was Vo l u m e 4 2 0 1 3 |
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Left: Mary Moody Northen, scion of Galveston’s Moody family, receives an award in 1970 from TSHSC Chair Charles Woodburn; Ima Hogg, right, is seen at an early board gathering. Images courtesy of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Prints & Photographs # 1971/20-01 & 13.
exhibited by the Foundation’s original board members remains true today. In 1959, the Texas Legislature began to appropriate increasing amounts of state funds for the Survey Committee’s operations. By 1971, these finances had risen to such a level whereby consideration was given to whether the Texas Historical Foundation had outlived its intended purpose. A joint committee of representatives from both groups met and came to the conclusion that the THF remained vital to subsidizing the state’s historical programs but should begin to independently seek out and fund preservation projects. In addition, the Foundation would work to develop THF-run programs and activities that complemented those of the state agency. As the 1970s drew to a close, the THF marked its silver anniversary, having accumulated an impressive list of accomplishments. Some of those specific achievements included creating a comprehensive program to address the needs of small or rural museums; establishing two revolving funds that provided low interest, short-term loans for Texas history publications and supported preservation projects; and underwriting of the Texas Museum Directory, historical
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guides, and reports related to archeological findings. As the fundraising arm of the TSHSC and through independent endeavors, the Foundation provided financial support for numerous archeology projects and assisted in the preservation of more than 1,700 historic structures and the restoration of 1,300 others. The group also faciliated the creation of 300 regional archives and underwrote fabrication and the placement of nearly 7,000 historical markers.
Charting a New Course
A 1980 ruling by the Texas Office of the Attorney General determined that the shared arrangements between the state agency and the THF could no longer lawfully continue. Until that point, though governed by separate boards and elected officers, the THC and the THF were headquartered within the same building, shared an executive director, and jointly managed some projects and programs. By mid-1981, THF moved its offices to Austin’s Hirschfield House and hired an executive director along with support staff. Throughout the following decade, board leaders focused on transitioning the Foundation from working within a partnership that had broad-based goals and
activities to carving out an autonomous and distinctive place within the preservation community. Charting a new course for the Foundation was not without its challenges, hardships, and disappointments. Many of the programs that were administered by the THF during the first quarter century were slowly phased out as the Foundation evolved toward a two-fold mission: providing grant funding for preservation projects and promoting Texas history education. Yet, throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, the Foundation continued supporting preservation efforts in all forms, including grants, sponsorships, projects, and publications. One of the more notable funding activities during this time was the Historic Photography Project that came about following a November 1980 Winedale Seminar (a THF-sponsored twice-yearly conference for museum professionals). Discussions during this gathering centered on concerns that historical photographic collections were being lost due to indifference or a lack of knowledge of proper preservation techniques. A Historic Photography Committee, consisting of THF board members and experts in the field, developed a multi-faceted approach to address this issue. A survey of photographic collections in museums, libraries, and archival institutions statewide was completed. Richard Pearce-Moss compiled that information for publication by the THF, resulting in Photographic Collections in Texas, A Union Guide. Royalties from the sale of this volume provided grants for preservation of historic images that lasted until these funds were depleted. Additionally, a two-volume set, Historic Texas and Contemporary Texas: A Photographic Portrait, featured 500 images submitted by photographers from around the state. The Historic Photography
In 1981, THF President Joseph J. Ballard, Jr., right, presented a painting of the CarringtonCovert House to Texas Historical Commission Chairman Barney Davis, left. THF Executive Director Gregory Free, center, holds the artwork. The Foundation raised funds for period furnishings placed in three rooms of the Austin landmark during a time when the site served as headquarters for both organizations. Photo from THF archives.
Bill Bailey Former THF President Bill Bailey, of Jacksonville, is one of the organization’s longest serving directors, joining the board in 1984. It was a time of low membership and a critical shortage of funds, but Bailey recalls that the members were loyal, hard-working, and committed to the group’s goals. He immediately started looking for ways to raise money and came up with the idea of conducting a sale of donated items. That event took place in Round Top and earned $20,000 for THF. The next year, the group held an auction and raised $30,000. Those funds, according to Bailey, gave the organization a financial cushion and allowed it to focus on its mission. Later, John Blocker approached Bailey asking if THF would be interested in auctioning the buildings and antiques collected by his late wife Jeanne R. Blocker to establish an endowment supporting rural preservation (see page 12). That event generated nearly $200,000 to endow the still-active Jeanne R. Blocker Memorial Fund. Bailey has spent his life restoring old homes, so THF was a natural fit for him. He admits his first years on the board were the hardest, but he never doubted that the organization would find a way to succeed. Bailey remains committed to the preservation of Texas history, in all its forms—cemeteries, churches, and buildings. —Teri E. Flack
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A Sampling of Jeanne R. Blocker Memorial Endowment Grants
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Roll Call-Camp Hearne used funding to create exhibits displaying artifacts from the former World War II prisoner of war facility. Image courtesy of Roll Call-Camp Hearne.
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Funding in 1991 to the Diocese of El Paso helped restore three different missions still in active use by the Catholic Church. Image courtesy of the Diocese of El Paso.
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The John Coffee Hays statue on the grounds of the Hays County Courthouse in San Marcos pays tribute to the legendary Texas Ranger and county namesake. Photograph by Pamela Murtha.
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THF funding assisted with the restoration of the adobe arches of the Sagrado Corazon Church in Ruidosa, built in 1914. Photographer unknown.
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A 2007 grant to the Ropesville Museum Association provided visitors and researchers access to archival materials, such as the Rothstein photos displayed in this image, related to the Ropesville Farms Project, a New Deal program. Photographer unknown.
Project also included educational seminars demonstrating proper image preservation techniques held in several locations. After the mandated separation from the THC, one of the primary goals for the THF board was building a core group of permanent endowments. The creation of these funds ref lects THF’s evolution from that of a fundraising arm to a privately supported organization with a mission of providing assistance to areas of preservation that are often overlooked or underfunded by similar organizations. In September 1981, board members, led by then-president Joseph J. Ballard, Jr., held a retreat to develop a master plan for the organization’s future. One of the objectives resulting from this session was the establishment of a private sector grant-funding resource specifically dedicated to archeology preservation. Ballard, a Fort Worth businessman, was a passionate preservationist, and after joining the THF board in 1973, he often made personal donations to fund archeology projects. He offered to contribute $100,000 in the form of stock certificates from Southland, a company founded by his father, as seed money for the proposed Archeology Bank. When Ballard passed away in 1983, memorial donations to THF in his honor were added to the endowment, which was then renamed the Joseph Ballard, Jr., Archeology Fund. Thirty years later, grant awards from this endowment have assisted with a wide range of projects such as the search for Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá; analysis of artifacts from numerous archeological sites; publications of excavation findings; and the production of an educational video on Bell County’s Gault Site. The Preservation Trust Fund came by way of a successful fundraising event in June 1980. Proceeds from the Galvez Gala, which
Members of the Texas State Historical Survey Committee who visited Castroville (c. 1955). Back, from left, Eleanor F. Bennett, Ima Hogg, Marie L. James, Ted James, Ruth C. Lawler, Amanda C. Taylor and O’Neil Ford. Front, from left, Wanda Graham Ford and Mary Russell Butler. Photo by J.T. Lawler. Provided courtesy of the Texas Historical Commission.
Clifton and Shirley Caldwell Clifton Caldwell, of Albany, served on the Texas Historical Commission (formerly known as the Texas State Historical Survey Committee). Caldwell was a representative from THC appointed to the THF board as a liaison. He remembers that as a time that was fraught with difficulty. He commented: The Texas State Survey Committee created the Foundation to augment the state’s preservation budget without having to rely solely on the legislature. I was against the separation of the two groups in the first place. In my opinion, the preservation movement has never been as strong since the two groups split forces. As I recall, the separation was gradual, but in the early days, there were both personnel and personal issues that got in the way. Some of the key players who I remember were Truett and Harriet Latimer and Faith Bybee. Clifton Caldwell was responsible for bringing many others in to the historic preservation movement in Texas. Along with Lee Lawrence, a past president of THF, Caldwell recruited J.P. Bryan, of Houston, who served the Foundation, the Commission, and other state history groups. Caldwell’s wife Shirley, herself an important preservationist, served on the THF board as well. She said that Bryan began Texas HERITAGE magazine, one of the Foundation’s most noteworthy contributions, and often sustained it with his own money during the early days of publication. —Gene Krane
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Rosine Wilson Rosine Wilson caught the attention of John Ben Shepperd when she chaired the Jefferson County Historical Commission in the 1960s. Shepperd, a former Texas attorney general, who led the state’s fledgling historic preservation efforts during that time, tirelessly recruited hard-working people who were passionate about preserving Texas history to serve on state boards. Later in that same decade, Wilson, of Beaumont, was appointed to the Texas Historical Survey Commission and Texas Historical Foundation boards, at a time when the organizations were “two halves of the same whole.” Wilson served as president of the Foundation from 1976-1979. At the time, historic preservation was a relatively new concept in Texas, and Wilson relished being part of the team promoting the movement. Wherever she spoke, Wilson reminded locals “how very valuable their particular history was.” Board members hoped communities would identify which sites needed preservation and then set out to do the hard work. Their biggest struggle was convincing some reluctant local officials to form county historical commissions and “get something done.” The future of preservation, according to Wilson, lies in encouraging a love of history in young people, and schools are key. “Get them early, and they will always remember and respect their past.” Wilson ought to know. The 1936 Texas Centennial, which Wilson celebrated as a schoolgirl, fostered her passion for Texas history and led to her life-long commitment to its preservation. —Teri E. Flack
celebrated the grand reopening of the newly restored Hotel Galvez, were set aside for the creation of “an endowment fund in perpetuity to benefit historic preservation in Texas.” This fund was renamed in 1987 as a tribute to the important contributions made by Houston businessman J.P. Bryan during his nearly 10-year tenure with the Foundation. In 1983, he convinced the board to transition from publishing Cornerstone, a quarterly newsletter sent to members, to producing a magazine that focused on Texas history, in addition to reporting on the work of the THF. The first issue of Texas HERITAGE was released in November 1983. Bryan, who was board president from 1983-1986, served as the editor-in-chief of the publication until his resignation in 1989. This awardw inning magazine ha s come
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to represent the lens through which THF focuses its preservation mission by often promoting the untold or little-known chapters in the state’s past. In the late 1980s, the Foundation formed a short-term alliance with the Center for Historic Preservation at Texas A&M University. That partnership produced a legacy gift that will foster rural preservation far into the future. Jeanne R. Blocker, a native of Victoria and long-time Houston resident, became a member and ardent supporter of the Texas Historical Foundation during her tenure on the Center for Historic Preservation’s advisory board. She had a personal mission to save and restore neglected and endangered properties that represented rural pioneering heritage. From 19751982, Blocker assembled a collection of 28 historic buildings in the
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Texas Historical Foundation Presidents Judge J. E. Wheat, Woodville 1954-1959 Colonel Charles Tips, Dallas 1959-1961 Dr. Rupert Richardson, Abilene 1961-1963 John Ben Shepperd, Odessa 1963-1965 Lewis Timberlake, Austin 1965-1967 F. Lee Lawrence, Tyler 1967-1968 Ballinger Mills, Galveston 1968-1969 Fred H. Moore, Austin 1969-1970 Cecil E. Burney, Corpus Christi 1970-1974 Floyd O. Schneider, San Antonio 1974-1976 Rosine Wilson, Beaumont 1976-1979 Faith Bybee, Houston 1979-1981 Joseph J. Ballard, Jr., Fort Worth 1981-1982 John Middleton, Liberty 1982-1983 J.P. Bryan, Houston 1983-1986 Joan Hataway, Beaumont 1986-1988 Bill Bailey, Jacksonville 1988-1990 Elizabeth Susser, Corpus Christi 1990-1992 John Meadows, Austin 1992-1996 Dr. R. Lee Rode, Abilene 1996-1998 Lewis Jones, Buda 1998-2000 Marshall J. Doke, Jr., Dallas 2000-2004 Kelly Rushing, Houston 2004-2008 Hal Jackson, Dallas 2008-2009 Tom Doell, Dallas 2009-2012 David D. Martinez, Corsicana 2012-present
unincorporated town of New Ulm, located midway between Austin and Houston. She intended to restore and furnish these structures to create a working museum dedicated to the German pioneers who settled the area in the mid-1800s. Regrettably, the preservationist passed away in October 1988; the following year, her husband John Blocker met with THF President Bill Bailey to discuss an auction of these historic properties, as well as antique furniture and other heirloom items, with proceeds going to the establishment of a THF endowment in his wife’s name. According to Bailey, who celebrates 30 years of board service in 2014, the two men sat on the back steps of one of the historic buildings and worked out the details of the arrangement. The auction was held in May 1990 and raised approximately $196,000 for the Jeanne R. Blocker Memorial Fund. Since 1991, the earnings from this endowment have supported 79 rural preservation projects, with an impressive funding total of nearly $160,000. By 2005, the Foundation had added three more permanent funds, including a Directors Endowment originally funded through a portion of annual board contributions. As a lawyer and preservationist, THF Director Marshall J. Doke, Jr., of Dallas, recognized that legal history preservation was an area in need of attention. He rallied like-minded individuals and law firms whose donations created the Texas Legal History Preservation Trust with earnings designated to projects that further the preservation of materials related to the legal history of the Republic and State of Texas. Funding from that endowment allowed for the digitization of the Laws of the Republic of Texas and for a project by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to conserve
Bill Wright Recruited by Clifton Caldwell (see page 13), Bill Wright may be the Texas Historical Foundation’s longest-serving director. He joined the board shortly after THF separated from the Texas State Historical Survey Commission. Wright recalls that those early years were a struggle to raise enough funds to meet the organization’s overhead while also soliciting donations to support preservation projects. Arguably, one of Wright’s greatest contributions to THF was his organization of the Historic Photography Project (see article on page 11). This came about because Wright, a professional photographer, along with others on the board, recognized the importance of preserving and sharing the visual records of Texas history. The idea behind the project was for THF to publish books of historic and contemporary Texas photographs as a means of visually telling the history of Texas while at the same time preserving these images for posterity. After obtaining grants from Conoco and DuPont, Wright arranged for Texas Monthly to publish the images. The project was a great success, and THF used the proceeds to fund more undertakings, including the publication of a catalog of photographic series in Texas, identifying the historic collections in institutions around the state. The Abilinean has served THF for so many years because he believes in the group’s mission and the importance of preserving the historic and archeological heritage of Texas. —Teri E. Flack
and index early Texas Supreme Court cases. The Sarah E. and Charles C. Meadows Seay Fund was the result of a grant awarded from the Meadows-Seay Foundation that was then matched by THF, with the earnings dedicated to the preservation and pro motion of L one Star histor y. In the 30 years of administering these six endowments (highlighted in boldface type), THF has provided nearly $800,000 to further preservation efforts throughout the state. The 1954 charter for the Texas Historical Foundation specified “the term for which [the organization] is to exist is 50 years.” In 1980, as the Foundation began redefining its preservation mission, the board changed that time limit to read “in perpetuity,” but the challenges and changes that followed could have threatened THF’s longevity. However, the Texas His-
torical Foundation has remained a viable, funding organization for 60 years by continually redefining its goals and mission to fit the evolving needs of the preservation community. The organization continues to f lourish thanks to the perseverance, generosity, and dedication of board members past and present, but most of all, because of members and donors who share those values. Pamela Murtha is the assistant editor of Texas HERITAGE magazine. Author’s Note: The First Quarter Century by Rosine Wilson, past president and former THF board member, and Deolece Parmelee, former director of research for the Texas Historical Commission, chronicles the shared history of the TSHSCTHF sister organizations from 1954-1979 and served as the primary resource for that time period.