Texas Heritage Society

Discover - Understand - Preserve

   

   Texas Heritage Society    

 

 

Texas Heritage Society


TEXAS HERITAGE SOCIETY     

Tour of Texas History No. 4: "REMEMBER GOLIAD!"

February 6, 2010  

 Presidio La Bahia - Goliad

Old Photograph of the Presidio La Bahia Years before Restoration

Photo courtesy of Joe and Lynn Keith

 

Texas Heritage Society First Vice President, Hewitt Clark, has announced the intinerary for the Tour of Texas History #4.  Mark your calenders and keep this date open.

 

Hotel rooms are available at the Antler's Inn in Goliad, Texas (1013 US Hwy 59 S.).  Telephone 361-645-8215.  Double rooms are $58.  Here is the revised tour schedule. 

 

Saturday, February 6, 2010: 

  

12:00 Noon--Meet at the Hanging Tree Restaurant in Goliad, Texas (144 N. Courthouse Square) for lunch and to discuss plans.

 

1:00 p.m., Walking tour of the historic plaza area with guide Benny Martinez.

 

2:00 p.m., Travel to General Zaragoza's home for lecture about Cinco de Mayo.

 

3:00 p.m.,  Presidio La Bahia--Special lecture by the Director  of the Presidio La Bahia about the 1813 Mcgee-Gutierrez Expedition including details about the "bloodiest day in Texas history;" the bloody arm flag and Capt. Dimmit's Declaration of Independence in 1835; and the massacre of 400 Texas soldiers under command of Col. Fannin in 1836. The lecture will be followed by a tour of the Presido. 

  

6:00 pm, Dinner at the Hanging Tree Restaurant and a talk about the Cart War and Violence in Goliad from 1850-1870 by Mr. Starr, author and local historian. 

  

Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010:

 

8:00 a.m.,  Breakfast, to be announced

 

9:00 a.m., Tour and lecture at the Mission.

 

10:00 a.m., Mass at the Mission for those wishing to participate.

 

11:00 a.m., Travel ten miles to the Coleto Creek battle site for a lecture by Benny Martinez and relatives.

 

For reservations and further information please contact:

  

Hewitt Clarke 

281-367-2709

Rebelwriter@pdq.net  

 

 


East Montgomery County Historical Society Meeting

 

February 9, 2010

 

The February 9th meeting of the East Montgomery County Historical Society will focus on Civil War stories. Many early settlers of East County fought in the Civil War. East County, known to many as the “Wildwoods” was an undeveloped area offering the chance to begin again after the devastation of the war years and the upheaval of reconstruction.   

 

I believe my ancestor, John Wesley Johnson, chose to move his family from the more populated side of the county to this deep wooded area to avoid having to sign amnesty papers.  Purposely or accidentally there is no listing of this branch of the Johnson family, and many other Montgomery County families, on the 1870 census. By 1880, after Texas was again readmitted to the Union in 1870 and the Amnesty Act of 1872 granted voting rights to all former Confederates, time had eased the pain of memories and the family was again enumerated on the National Census.  

 

Historic events, such as the Civil War, are more than just dry information in dusty history books.  These events are made up of the stories of individuals and families.  Often times we find these individuals and families in our Family Trees and the knowledge of the history of the day can give us a deeper understanding of the lives of our ancestors.    

 

Three things about The East Montgomery County Historical Society:

1. They have monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of the month.

2. Time is 6:30 p.m.

3. Place: at the R.B. Tullis Library in New Caney.
 

Submitted by Barbara Hamilton


Texas Heritage Society - March 2010 Meeting

Texas Historian James P. Bevill and The Paper Republic -

The Struggle for Money, Credit and Independence in the Republic of Texas

The Paper Republic by James P. Bevill

 

The March meeting of the Texas Heritage Society is scheduled for March 18, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.  The meeting will be held at 18 West Shaker Court in The Woodlands.  See map here.  The March meeting will feature Texas historian James P. Bevill.  Mr. Bevill is the author of the fabulous new Texas history book The Paper Republic which was published in November of 2009 by Bright Sky Press.  Texas Heritage Society President, Kameron Searle, has reviewed Bevill's book and writes that "The Paper Republic is destined to become a classic on the history of the Republic of Texas." 

In researching the money and the economy of the Republic of Texas, Bevill has added a whole knew dimension to our understanding of the overall history of the Republic of Texas.  James Bevill's 352 page book is also one of the most beautiful Texas history books we has ever seen.  James Bevill has agreed to bring copies of The Paper Republic to sell and will be glad to sign copies of this amazing new book.  James Bevill is a very interesting speaker and has many interesting historical anecdotes about the early history of Texas that he has discovered over his years of research.  Come to this meeting and we can assure you that you will learn some things about the Republic of Texas you never knew before. 

James P. Bevill graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University  of Houston - Clear Lake.  He is a First Vice President - Investments in the River Oaks office of UBS Financial Services in Houston, Texas.  Mr. Bevill is also a past President of the Texas Numismatic Association and an authority on the currency issued by the Republic of Texas.  Because of his extensive historical research into the history of the Republic of Texas, Mr. Bevill was recently elected an Honorary Member of The Sons of the Republic of Texas.


Texas Heritage Society President Helps Montgomery County

Get National Endowment for the Humanities Grant

Juanita Stanley to Kameron Searle

 

Montgomery County, Texas was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $6,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to assist in preserving the Montgomery County District Clerk's records prior to 1900.  This grant will be used to prevent further loss and injury to those documents.  This award was accepted by the Montgomery County Commissioners Court at their meeting on December 21, 2009. 

Texas Heritage Society President, Kameron Searle, has been recognized for his assistance in the award of this grant to Montgomery County.  Ms. Juanita Stanley, Grants Administrator with the Montgomery County Department of Infrastructure in a letter to Searle dated December 21, 2009, wrote, "I wish to express my personal gratitude for the eloquent letter you wrote in your support of our grant request.  I truly feel that we might not have been successful without  that letter.  Your ability to "speak historian" to the review committee was crucial to securing the grant.  I further am of the opinion that your persuasive words led the National  Endowment for the Humanities to give our grant the special designation as a "We the People" award."

National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman, James Leach, in his letter to Ms. Juanita Stanley described the "We the People" initiative as follows: "The goal of the "We the People" initiative is to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture through the support of projects that explore significant events and themes in our nation's history and culture and that advance knowledge of the priciples that define America."

The motto and goals of the Texas Heritage Society are to "Discover, Understand and Preserve" the history of Texas.  Our hats are off to THS President, Kameron Searle, for his efforts to preserve the history of Montgomery County, Texas contained within the records of the Montgomery County District Clerk's Office.  Click here to see both Juanita Stanley's letter and the letter from the National Endowments for the Humanities.

Submitted by Melinda R. Cagle


Texas Heritage Society -   December Meeting

2009 Texas Heritage Society Christmas party

Photos courtesy of Pat Spackey

The December meeting of the Texas Heritage Society was held on December 10, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.  See THS 2009 Christmas Party invitation here.  The meeting was held at 18 West Shaker Court in the Woodlands.  The December meeting was a Christmas party and our speaker was First Vice President and Civil War historian, Hewitt Clark, who spoke about "Texas Secession." 

2009 THS Christmas Party

We also reviewed two very successful Texas Heritage Society events that occurred since our last meeting: 1) Tour of Texas History #3 - "The Mier Expedition" and 2) the Anson Jones Texas Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony.  Pat Spackey was kind enough to bring the original House Resolution No. 1123 - Montgomery County - "Birthplace of Texas Flag" that she was recently given by the City of Shenandoah, Texas.

THS Meeting

A special meeting of the members was held to discuss and make amendments to our Certificate of Formation - Nonprofit Corporation as part of the 501(c)(3) tax exemption application process.

For more photos of the 2009 Texas Heritage Society December Meeting and Christmas party, click here.

Submitted by Melinda Cagle and Kameron Searle

 




         

Anson Jones:  January 20, 1798 - January 9, 1858

Last President of Texas:  December 9, 1844 - February 19, 1846

At least, I have the approbation of my own conscience, a reward in itself above all price,  and repose upon the assured belief that history and posterity will do me no wrong.

Anson Jones, Valedictory, February 19, 1846

 

Click Here for Page 1 of Photos

Click Here for Page 2 of Photos

of the

Anson Jones Marker Dedication Ceremony

November 21, 2009

Anson Jones Texas Historical Marker 

Photo Courtesy of Pat Spackey

Some of the members of the Texas Heritage Society, the Harris County Historical Commission, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Sons of the Republic of Texas who were present at the Anson Jones marker dedication ceremony. 

The Texas Heritage Society sponsored its first Texas State Historical marker dedication ceremony with the marker granted by the Texas Historical Commission for Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas.   The Anson Jones Texas Historical marker dedication ceremony was a huge success.  More than 110 people attended the dedication ceremony on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at   Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Avenue, Houston, Texas. 

Anson Jones Marker Planning Committee:

Melinda R. Cagle, Texas Heritage Society

Brenda Horton, Texas Heritage Society

David Martin, Texas Heritage Society

Carole Lynn O'Neal, Texas Heritage Society

Kameron Kent Searle, Texas Heritage Society

Marisa Searle, Texas Heritage Society

Pat Spackey, Texas Heritage Society

Carolyn Terrell, Texas Heritage Society

Bernice Mistrot, Harris County Historical Commission

Debra Blacklock-Sloan, Harris County Historical Commission

Loy Anderson, Glenwood Cemetery

Bonnie Ambrus, Glenwood Cemetery

 

patrick Van Pelt and Vernon Burke Unveil Anson Jones Marker     

Photo Courtesy of Pat Spackey

The Texas State Historical marker for Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas, was unveiled by Patrick Van Pelt, Chairman of the Harris County Historical Commission and W. Vernon Burke, Jr., Past Grand Master of Masons in Texas. 

 

Anson Jones Historical Marker 

Photo Courtesy of Pat Spackey

Text of Anson JonesTexas Historical Marker.

Special thanks to Texas Heritage Society Editor, Melinda Reeves Cagle, for the spectacular job she did on the Anson Jones marker dedication ceremony printed programs.  We have already received a number of compliments from people who have been attending historical marker dedication ceremonies for years who advise us that it is one of the finest programs that they have ever seen.  Click here to see and print the 12 page p  rogram:

Anson Jones Program PDF file.

Anson Jones Marker Program 

The Anson Jones Texas Historical marker Ceremony was sponsored by the Texas Heritage Society and the Harris County Historical Commission.

The pledges to the United Sates flag and the Texas flag were led by William Haddock, Past President of the San Jacinto Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas and Vice-President General of the San Jacinto Descendants.  The Invocation was led by Francita Ulmer of the San Jacinto Descendants. 

Houston Mayor Bill White appeared and gave an inspiring speech concerning the importance of preserving the early history of Texas.

The State of Texas does not pay for Texas State Historical markers.  The $1,500 dollars for the casting of the Anson Jones marker was paid to the Texas Historical Commission by the San Jacinto Descendants.  The San Jacinto Descendants were represented at the dedication ceremony by President General Nan White Morris who spoke about Anson Jones' important roles in the Battle of San Jacinto and the early Republic of Texas.

Anson Jones married Mary Smith McCrory in 1840.  She was later elected the first President of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.  Eron Brimberry Tynes, President of the San Jacinto Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, spoke about Mary Smith McCrory Jones and the early history of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas under Mary Jones' leadership.

As Anson Jones helped found Masonry in Texas, Texas Masons also took a major role in this ceremony.  Jones was the first Worshipful Master of a regularly formed Masonic lodge in Texas.  Anson Jones was also the first Grand Master of Masons in Texas when the Grand Lodge of Texas was founded in Houston, Texas. 

Past Grand Master of Masons in Texas, W. Vernon Burke, Jr., spoke about Anson Jones and Masonry in Texas at the dedication ceremony.  He also spoke about the contributions of the Masons in the early history of Texas.  Many Masons from around Texas attended the ceremony wearing their Masonic aprons.  Prior to the dedication ceremony, W. Vernon Burke, Jr. opened a Representation of the Grand Lodge of Texas at Holland Lodge #1 located at 4911 Montrose, Houston, Texas. 

In 1837, Anson Jones was a charter member of the Philosophical Society of Texas.  The Philosophical Society of Texas was represented at the dedication ceremony by Dr. Jon Fleming who read the preamble of the charter of the Philosophical Society of Texas written by Anson Jones and Mirabeau B. Lamar in 1837.  Both of these gentlemen would later be  elected Presidents of the Republic of Texas.  The charter members of the Philosophical Society of Texas were some of the most influential citizens of the Republic of Texas.

Carlos R., Hamilton, Jr., M. D., Past President of the Harris County Medical Society, spoke about Anson Jones' role as surgeon following the Battle of San Jacinto, his many contributions to development of medicine in early Texas and the Anson Jones, M. D. Awards presented annually by the Texas Medical Association.

Anson Jones' home has been preserved at Barrington Living History Farm at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park. Curator Pam Skaggs appeared and spoke about Barrington Living History Farm.  She provided the history of Anson Jones' Barrington plantation, the Anson Jones home and their ongoing efforts to preserve the home and history of the Last President of Texas.

Glenwood Cemetery historian, Joanne Seale Wilson, spoke about the three different burial sites of Anson Jones and the early history of Glenwood Cemetery.

Texas Army Black Powder Rifle Salute  

Photo Courtesy of Pat Spackey

Colonel John Martin, the executive officer of the Texas Army, led the members of the Texas Army at the Anson Jones marker dedication ceremony.  The Texas Army in period attire fired three black powder rifle salutes following the unveiling of the Anson Jones marker.  The Texas Army also be provided an exceptional color guard at the beginning and at the end of the ceremony.

Debra Blacklock-Sloan, Chair of the Marker Mentorship Committee of the Harris County Historical Commission presented the many proclamations honoring Anson Jones from the Governor, the City of Houston and the Harris County Commissioners.  

Anson Jones was the last President of the Republic of Texas.  He was an early doctor in the Brazoria Municipality when Texas was still part of Mexico.  Anson Jones was the surgeon of the Second Regiment at San Jacinto and he fought in the Battle of San Jacinto as a private on April 21, 1836 and treated the wounded at Lorenzo de Zavala's house following the battle. 

Anson Jones was a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas.  Later, Sam Houston appointed him the Minister Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Texas to the United States.  Following his return from Washington, he found that he had been elected to the Senate.   He    was later appointed the Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas.   Anson Jones was elected the last President of the Republic of Texas and is known as the "Architect of Annexation" because his activities and diplomatic strategies led to Texas being annexed by the United States.  Following annexation, Jones retired to his plantation, Barrington, where he wrote the detailed history of his role in the annexation of Texas.

Jones is the only President of a nation buried in Houston and Harris County, Texas.   The Texas Heritage Society was proud to sponsor the Anson Jones Texas Historical marker dedication ceremony.  Pictures from the ceremony will be posted on this site in the next few days. Special thanks to Loy Anderson, Bonnie Ambrus, Dick Ambrus and the whole staff of Glenwood Cemetery for the all your help and wonderful hospitality in making the Anson Jones marker dedication ceremony such a huge success.

Financial Contributors Anson Jones Marker Ceremony:

Dr. and Mrs. Carrol Dean Cagle

Mrs. Steve Horton

Mrs. Jerry  O'Neal

Mr. and Mrs. Kameron Kent Searle

Mr. and Mrs. Ted  Spackey

Mrs. Carolyn Terrell

The Texas Heritage Society, Inc. 

 

Publicity and Proclamations:

The Woodlands Lifestyles and Homes Magazine - December 2009

THS and Anson Jones Marker in Ultimate Conroe

THS and Anson Jones Marker in Ultimate Woodlands

THS and Anson Jones Marker in The Woodlands Villager

THS and Anson Jones in The Potpourri

Houston Chronicle - Bayou City History Blog

Texas Army Newsletter - December 2009

Anson Jones Letter of United States Senator John Cornyn

Anson Jones Proclamation of Governor Rick Perry

Anson Jones Proclamation of State Representative Garnet F. Coleman 

 

Click here to see the gravesite of Anson Jones in Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Planning - Anson Jones Marker Dedication 

Representatives of the Texas Heritage Society, Harris County Historical Commission and Glenwood Cemetery met on October 19, 2009 to plan the Anson Jones Texas Historical Marker dedication ceremony scheduled for November 21, 2009.  Pictured, front row, left to right: Brenda Horton, Melinda Cagle, Kameron Searle.  Back row, left to right:  Debra Blacklock-Sloan, Bernice Mistrot, Loy Anderson, Pat Spackey and Bonnie Ambrus.

 

Map to Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas 


View Larger Map

 

TOUR OF TEXAS HISTORY #3 - "Mier Expedition" - October 30 & 31, 2009

Site of the Battle of Mier 1842 

Photograph courtesy of David L. Martin

THE TEXAS HERITAGE SOCIETY  

 

presents 

 

The Mier Expedition 

 

Click here to see some of the photographs taken this weekend, October 30 - November 1, 2009,  at  Mier and Guerrero Viejo.

 

The Texas Heritage Society is taking a trip to Ciudad Mier, Estado de Tamaulipas, Mexico to learn firsthand about the Mier Expedition and the Black Bean Episode.  This is a rare slice of Texas history that no other historical group in the State of Texas has ever undertaken before.

 

On Friday October 30, 2009, we drive to La Borde House Hotel at Rio Grande City on the Mexican border.   Dinner at Che's restaurant at the La Borde House hotel that night.

   

Early Saturday morning, October 31, 2009, guided by Jesus (Chuy) Correa, President of the Chamber of Commerce at nearby Roma, we will cross the border at Rio Grande City and have breakfast at Ciudad Camargo  We will travel to Attorney Antonio Guerra's office, who has many photos of the fight on the walls, for a splendid account in English of the battle at Mier.  If time permits, perhaps he will also tell us a little bit about Fidel Castro's activities in Mier. This was arranged by Chuy Correa with the Mayor of Ciudad Mier  We will visit the museum in Mier, near buildings with bullet holes from the battle, that is usually closed on Saturdays.  Lunch in a local Mier restaurant. 

 

We will cross the border back to the US at Roma  and visit the historical museum and old plaza where the movie Viva Zapata was filmed.   Drive to Rio Grande City and take a city trolley ride to Robert E. Lee's home and museum and the replica of the Grotto of Lourdes, and other places.   Dinner at La Borde House. 

   

Sunday morning, November 1, 2009,  travel to  Guerrero Viejo (Old Guerrero) and visit the old city that rose from the water of Lake Falcon when the water level dropped. Escorted by Chuy Correa.   Return to Houston from Lake Falcon or stay another day and visit some more sites.

       

Everyone must have a passport.  

     

La Borde House is an historical old hotel where Lady Bird Johnson used to stay. According to the Rio Grande City web page, La Borde House is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Rooms are $69 and $80 for the seven regular hotel rooms at La Borde.  

   

These seven rooms are all reserved by our group. There are two other smaller rooms with baths they call apartments for $57 a night. Don't know much about them.  

 

Rio Grand City also has a Holiday Inn

   

For further information contact.     

 

Hewitt Clarke 

281-367-2709

 

 

Resolution Texas Flag

 

Pictured L to R: Linda Woods (Heritage Trails Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Director of Shenandoah Convention and Visitor's Bureau); Wes Stephens (Shenandoah City Councilman); Pat Spackey (Vice Regent Heritage Trails Chapter Daughters of the the American Revolution and descendant of Texas patriot, Dr. Charles B. Stewart); William Dickson (Shenandoah Hospitality Coordinator) and Randy Woods (Publisher of the The Peoples Scene).

The "Birthplace of the Texas Flag" - House Resolution 1123 "Original" Document

Presented to C. B. Stewart Descendant

   Shenandoah City Councilman, Wes Stephens, presented Pat Spackey, Vice Regent of the the Heritage Trails Chapter of The Daughters of the of the Armerican Revolution with an ORIGINAL copy of the The State of Texas House of Representatives Resolution No. 1123 during a recent DAR meeting held at the Shenandoh, Texas City Hall facilities.  With the help of Representative, Bob Eissler, Stephens secured the original document from Austin and announced to those in attendance at the meeting that the Shenandoah Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Shenandoah felt that this document would be deeply appreciated by a descendant of Dr. Charles B. Stewart - who designed the Texas Flag!

"I am tryly overwhelmed and thank the City of Shenndoah from the very bottom of my heart!," said Spackey.  "Our family is so proud to be descendants of Dr. Charles B. Stewart and because resolution #1123 officially commemorates Montgomery County as the "Birthplace of the Texas Flag," it is so special to our family.  To have an "original "copy in my family is absolutely incredible!"

   Because of her heritage, membership in history and patriotic organizations in the area have been a special blessing to the Spackey family.  In addition to serving as Vice Regent of the Heritge Trails Chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution, Pat is President of the the Judge Nathaniel Hart Davis Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; and serves as an officer of the Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Soceity and the newly organized Texas Heritage Society.  She is a "Friend " of the Charles B. Stewart Library, the Montgomery Historical Society, The Lake Conroe Rotary Club's Memory Park, the Heritage Musuem of Montgomery County and the Nart Hart Davis Museum in Montgomery.

Spackey presents programs on Texas History and the Texas Flag, while protraying "Mrs. Charles B. Stewart" in costume.

House Resolution No. 1123 was adopted by the Texas House of Representatives on May 30, 1997. Click here to see a complete transcription of House Resolution No. 1123.

 

Texas Heritge Society Publicity

Be sure and look for the September, 2009 editon of The Woodlands Lifestyles and Homes magazine The Woodlands Lifestyles and Homes has published several history articles written by the Texas Heritage Society Editor, Melinda Cagle, for the past several months.  These articles are located in the "Back When..." history section of the magazine.  The September 2009 edition has an article about the organizational meeting of the Texas Heritage Society written by THS Editor, Melinda Cagle, and includes a photograph taken by THS Publicity Chair, Pat Spackey.  Click here to see the September 2009 article. 


OUR PURPOSE

The Texas Heritage Society, Inc. is based in The Woodlands, Texas. Its purpose is to discover, preserve, and promote the history and genealogy of Texas, particularly of South and Southeast Texas and to broaden historical knowledge among the general public through programs, projects, and publications, bringing together professionals, independent scholars, writers, educators and researchers. THS, Inc. will launch the publication, Journal of Texas Heritage, in January 2010.         

JOIN US

Dues for the Texas Heritage Society, Inc. are $25/year (Jan-Dec) and may be paid by check or money order to our treasurer: Mrs. Carole Lynn O'Neal, 71 East Kentwick Place, Conroe, Texas  77384. Dues include day trips and a subscription to the Journal of Texas Heritage along with an annual Tour-of-Texas Study Guide.

MEETINGS

THS, inc. holds general meetings quarterly in March, June, September and December and conducts quarterly day trips to various historical sites in Texas in May, August, November and January. These events may also include trips to research centers and archives around the state. THS members provide funding for scholarships and awards, they work through the Texas Historical Commission to establish historical markers, support and conduct cemetery preservation, publish the history and genealogy of Texas and support the East Montgomery County Museum and Archives. We welcome all with common interests to join us. photo image courtesy of East Montgomery County Historical Society, Inc. 

PROJECTS

Among the numerous projects that this new organization has embraced is to explore and write the histories of long-forgotten Texas sites like Esperanza and Rusk, now only ghost towns in East Texas. The identification of historic sites for the purposes of study and to obtain Texas Historical Commission markers is one of its primary goals. THS, Inc. maintains a web page at TexasHistoryPage.com, along with a discussion log that encourages the exploration of Texas history and genealogy through dialogue. Projected is the publication of monographs, pamphlets and other works about the history and genealogy of Texas, particularly Southeast Texas.

EAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

The Texas Heritage Society, Inc. engages in activities and services for the support, development and promotion of the East Montgomery County Museum and Archives, located at New Caney, Texas. Seeing itself as ambassador for the museum, it seeks to strengthen awareness of the museum as an important resource for the study of Southeast Texas history.

STUDY GROUPS

Tour-of-Texas Day Trips
Hewitt Clarke, Coordinator

Day trips to historical sites in Texas are scheduled for the months of May, August, November and February and will follow the course of early Texas settlement and the Texas Revolution.  Our next tour is in August:
 

August 8, 2009 — Tour of Texas History # 2

Stopping first at Washington-on-the-Brazos near Navasota, Texas, the group will hear a private lecture presented in Independence Hall, the site where Texas declared its independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. William B. Travis’ “victory or death” letter will be read. A replica of the original building marks the location where representatives met to sign the formal declaration of independence and where the government of the Republic of Texas was established.

The group then will travel to Chappell Hill to the Masonic Cemetery where a toast will be made to Col William B. Travis at the gravesite of his son. There will be a picnic lunch at a former old store in town after which will be a guided tour of the town of Chappell Hill.

The group will leave at 8 a.m. from First Baptist Church of The Woodlands. Bring a sack lunch and drinks; we will stop at a designated park for lunch, returning to The Woodlands by 4 p.m. Bring a hat and wear comfortable walking shoes.

PRIZES, SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS

The Texas Heritage Society, Inc. recognizes various areas of historical and genealogical work with funding and special achievement recognition.

THS BOOK STORE

A resource for hard-to-find books about Texans and Texas.

NOTES ABOUT THE WEB SITE

The Texas Heritage Society, Inc. strongly encourages input from all of its members. We hope all members will contribute their many talents to this site. Please email your ideas and suggestions to the webmaster Kameron Searle at ksearle1@pdq.net . We strongly encourage members to submit articles relating to Texas history and genealogy to this web site as well as to the Journal.   The Texas Heritage Society also encourges scholars of Texas history everywhere to submit Texas history articles for publication in the Journal and on the web site. See Contact Us for more information about submitting an article.

Texas Heritage Society Officers 2009-2011

President — Kameron K. Searle, J.D.
First Vice President (Programs) — Hewitt Clark
Second Vice President (Membership) — Carolyn Terrell
Third Vice President (Publicity) — Pat Ellen Spackey
Recording Secretary — Ruben J. Borjas, Jr.
Treasurer — Carole Lynn O'Neal
Editor — Melinda R. Cagle

Directors at Large —

Carrol D. Cagle, M.D.
Barbara Hamilton
Brenda Horton
Cliff May

Texas Heritge Society