Finding Guides are tools that allow researchers to get an in-depth look at a collection before actually seeing the collection. Not all collections have finding guides, and not all finding guides are available on the website. Finding guides are created as collections are processed, with special attention given to the most used and requested collections. Here are our online finding guides available so far.
A
Aerial Surveys of East Texas Collection, 1990s. Approx. 1,211 surveys
This collection consists of aerial surveys and a flight line map of East Texas and western Louisiana dating from 1993-1994 and created for Temple-Inland. Although the surveys do not label city and place names, bodies of water, railroads, oil and gas wells, pipelines, and county lines like the 1930s Edgar Tobin surveys, they provide a record of East Texas and Louisiana geography in the mid 1990s.
American Lumberman Photograph Collection, 1903, 1907. 3 cubic feet (9 volumes, 3 boxes)
American Lumberman was a weekly trade journal created on January 1, 1899 from the merger of Northwestern Lumberman, established in 1873, and The Timberman, established in 1886. The magazine featured the Southern Pine Lumber Company, founded in 1894 in Diboll, Texas, in three issues: November 16, 1901; April 16, 1904; and January 18, 1908. This collection contains more than 300 gelatin silver prints made by American Lumberman photographers during visits to Diboll in 1903 and 1907, documenting the lumber company’s management, logging operations, lumber camps, sawmills, commissary, and social life.
Anderson, Mary Anna Crary, Big Thickett Collection, 1974-1993. .2 cubic feet (1 box)
The Mary Anna Crary Anderson Big Thicket Collection consists of clippings, the Big Thicket Association’s Petals, Pine, and Print newsletter, correspondence, Big Thicket Bulletin newspapers, pamphlets, and other newspapers documenting the activities of the Big Thicket Association primarily from 1974-1987. The collection focuses on Big Thicket expansion, conservation, environmental issues, Big Thicket history, and the early 1980s controversy over the firing of Big Thicket National Preserve museum staff.
Angelina County School Superintendent's Records, 1885-1971. 43.25 cubic feet (50 boxes, 36 volumes, 1 album)
This collection of records of the Angelina County School Superintendent's Office documents the students, teachers, school buildings, and administration of Angelina County schools from 1885-1971. Included are minute books, school census records, teacher registers, financial records, school photographs, school bonds, and student permanent record cards. The records also provide insight into the debate over state versus local control of schools.
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B
Baucum, Ed, Collection, 1913-2000. .25 cubic feet (1 box)
Ed Baucum was an engineer for the Texas South-Eastern Railroad Company from roughly 1907-1915, when he was murdered by fellow employee Monroe Smith over a work promotion. This collection contains photographs of Ed Baucum with Texas South-Eastern Railroad Company locomotives, newspaper articles relating to Baucum's death, and a letter from TSE general manager E. C. Durham praising Baucum for his engineering skills. All of these records are reproductions of originals.
Bradford, Jesse, Future Farmers of America Collection, 1950s-2001. 2 cubic feet (6 boxes)
The Jesse Bradford Future Farmers of American Collection consists of photographs, scrapbooks, clippings, programs, and FFA special edition newspapers. The collection documents Jesse Bradford's leadership in agricultural education, Diboll FFA students, and their involvement in the organization and agricultural exhibitions.
Brashears, J.C., Family Collection, 1888-1975. 2 boxes
John Clisby Brashears, born in 1859, was a farmer, school teacher, lumber worker, and elections official in Angelina County, Texas. consists of correspondence (1888-1945), poll lists and tally lists for Burke, TX Precinct No. 3 Angelina County (1917-1926), state and county tax receipts (1883-1928, 1946), poll tax receipts (1904-1928), school tax receipts (1920-1930), newspapers and clippings (1891-1975), bank receipts (1896-1910), and undated photographs, legal documents, envelopes, notepad, and a manuscript. The records document Brashears’ courtship with Mollie Clayton, early 20th century Burke residents, and daily life in Angelina County.
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C
Carr, Jesse, "Hobbs Knight of the Road" Collection, 1954-1961. .5 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Temple Industries trucker Jesse Carr was nominated for the Hobbs Knight of the Road Award in 1958. The Hobbs Knight of the Road award was annually awarded to an unlimited number of truck drivers who had performed an exceptional act of courtesy and was subsequently nominated by a Texas Department of Public Safety officer. This collection contains correspondence, clippings, photographs, a plaque, certificates, and other items pertaining to Carr's receipt of the award.
Concerned Citizens of Diboll versus Family Affair Club Records, 1973. 1 folder
The Family Affair Club was a predominantly African American club in Diboll, Texas. This collection consists of a public hearing transcript, correspondence, and exhibits documenting the Concerned Citizens of Diboll’s effort, led by Baptist minister Larry Weaver, to prevent the club from obtaining a special use permit to legally operate and sell alcoholic beverages.
Cruthirds, Gayle, Collection, 1930-1991. 2 cubic feet
Gayle Cruthirds grew up in Diboll, Texas, and later became a seargent of the 376th Heavy Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. This collection consists of photographs, magazines, newspapers, medals, a flight log, and correspondence documenting Cruthirds’ life interests, school days, and service in World War II.
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D
Dial Family Collection, 1915-1938. 1 cubic foot (2 boxes)
The Dial Family Collection contains photographs relating to John Dial including Texas South-Eastern Railroad Company train accidents; TSE engines 5, 9, 10, and 13; Diboll students and teachers; and Temple Manufacturing Company employees. Also included is a photograph of Victoria, Fisher and Western Railroad Company engine 6. The bulk of the collection is correspondence, insurance papers, and land documents of Levy W. Stovall. These letters document Stovall's management and accounts at the Southern Pine Lumber Company logging camp Alcedo, as well as personal relationships and business.
Diboll Rotary Club Records, 1972-2005. 5 cubic feet (6 boxes)
The Rotary Club of Diboll was a community service organization serving Diboll, Texas, chartered in 1972 and disbanded in 2005. This collection contains correspondence, photographs, notes, pamphlets, newsletters, financial records, membership directories, awards, and clippings documenting the clubs many activities, programs, and meetings.
Dubose, Lola, Rockland Photograph Collection, Late 19th through Mid 20th Century. 32 digitized photographs, 1 tintype
The Rockland Photograph Collection, assembled by Lola Dubose during her research, consists of digital scans of original photographs and a tintype which document Rockland, Texas and the Aldridge area during the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. Included are images of Neches River ferries, the Aldridge pontoon river crossing, rock quarry scenes from Kyle's Quarry (The Blue Hole) and others, Rockland railroad scenes, lumberman Hal Aldridge's Rockland home, lumbermen, and members of the Ward family.
Durham Family Collection, c. 1890s - c. 1985, bulk 1940s-1960s. 2.5 cubic feet (5 boxes)
The Durham family has long been associated with Diboll, Texas, particularly in the lumber industry and the Diboll Free Press. The Durham Family Collection primarily consists of photographs focusing on Paul Durham, Jr. and wife Jimmie Beth Durham during their years at Diboll High School, their high school friends, Paul Jr.'s career at the Diboll Free Press, the Diboll Housing Authority construction projects, and numerous members of the Diboll community.
Durham, Jake, Papers, 1948-1950. 2 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Jake Durham was the personnel manager for the Southern Pine Lumber Company before becoming public relations director throughout the 1930s and 1940s. The Jake Durham Papers consist of correspondence, accident reports, minutes, job applications, compensation cost reports, and pamphlets documenting occupational safety and public relations of the Southern Pine Lumber Company and the East Texas lumber industry.
Durham, Paul, Papers, 1962-1978. 1 cubic foot (1 box)
Paul Durham was editor of the Diboll Free Press, previously called the Diboll News Bulletin and then the Angelina County Free Press, from 1952-1990. This collection contains correspondence, notes, candidate biographies, press releases, newspaper articles, and photographs relating to Texas and United States political campaigns during the 1960s and early 1970s. It also consists of various publications, some relating to East Texas schools or the lumber industry.
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E
Edgar Tobin Aerial Surveys of East Texas Collection, 1930s. 88 surveys
Edgar Tobin Aerial Surveys is an aerial survey and mapping company based in San Antonio, Texas. The Edgar Tobin Aerial Survey Collection depicts the East Texas landscape during the 1930s, including the locations of oil and gas wells, cities, towns, railroad lines, canals, rivers, creeks, pipelines, railroad logging spurs, and logging scars. The surveys also show towns and settlements no longer in existence (mostly connected to the lumber industry), railroad lines that have been abandoned, and how East Texas appeared prior to most modern highways and the creation of Lake Sam Rayburn.
Edwards, Elodie Miles, Collection, c. 1890s-2000. 1 cubic foot (2 boxes, 1 album)
Elodie Miles Edwards (1905-2000) was a school teacher in Diboll, Texas from 1926-1931. This collection consists of photographs, literary works, clippings, and correspondence documenting her career as a teacher in 1920s Diboll, Diboll students, community and social life, as well as her other interests such as Christianity.
Engelbrecht, Irv, Railroad Lease Papers, 1913-1970. 2 cubic feet (2 boxes)
The Irv Engelbrecht Railroad Lease Papers consists of general lease agreements, standard industrial track agreements, standard industrial ground leases, transfer contracts, and related maps and correspondence. The leases are between the Southern Pacific owned St. Louis Southwestern Railway, Texas and New Orleans Railroad, or the Houston, East and West Texas Railway and various Lufkin businesses for use of property along the right of way. The collection provides a record of many Lufkin businesses no longer in existence along with their location.
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F
Farrington, Fannie, Photograph Album and Scrapbook, c. 1900-2002. .75 cubic feet (3 boxes)
This collection contains a photograph album and scrapbook containing approximately 232 pictures of the Farrington family, the Mann family, and scenes documenting early Diboll social life. The records center on Fannie Farrington, a Southern Pine Lumber Company commissary worker who was also involved in numerous church groups, missions, and social programs that helped improved Diboll's moral atmosphere. Her husband Frank Farrington worked in the Southern Pine Lumber Company commissary from 1904-1908 and later served as Diboll's postmaster from 1908-1925.
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G
Grant, Ruth, Homer Research Collection. .75 cubic feet
Ruth Grant's Homer Research Collection consists of research materials compiled in an attempt to write a book on the city of Homer, Texas, Angelina County's 3rd county seat. The collection documents Homer's founding and beginning as county seat in 1858, accounts of the Civil War in Homer, genealogical information on Homer’s prominent families, churches, land ownership records, post offices, schools, cemeteries, and modern correspondence with descendants of Homer settlers. Also highlighted is the Scroggins and Borden family feud focused on Robert P. Scroggins and Ben W. Borden.
Gulf Coast Lumberman Photograph Collection, 1949-1963, undated. .8 cubic feet, approx. 422 images
The Gulf Coast Lumberman Photograph Collection consists of photographs and negatives depicting a promotional and public relations theme of the Temple Lumber Company, Texas Lumber Manufacturers’ Association, and related organizations and interests. Included are images of Arthur Temple, Jr., L. D. Gilbert, Latané Temple, and Clyde Thompson and other notable individuals involved with the East Texas lumber business. The bulk of the photographs were created by Gulf Coast Lumberman for issues in 1953, 1954, and 1960.
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway Company Time Table No. 141, 1939. .01 cubic feet (1 folder)
This collection consists of a Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway employee time table providing a schedule of freight and passenger trains throughout the railway’s Gulf Division in East Texas. The time table also provides special rules and regulations for the Gulf Division, state laws governing railroad employees, the names of company surgeons of the G. C. & S. F. Hospital Association and company watch inspectors, and a map of all Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway lines.
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H
Hannah, John Jr. Collection, 1966-2004. 46.4 cubic feet
This collection comprises some 46.4 cubic feet of correspondence, political campaign materials, souvenir photographs, scrapbooks of news clippings, books, and awards and memorabilia. The bulk of the material relates to specific times in the life of John Hannah Jr., documenting his career as Texas State Representative, 1966-1972, District Attorney, 1972-1977, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Texas, 1977-1981, his unsuccessful campaign for election as Attorney General for the state of Texas, 1982, his years as Secretary of State for Texas, 1991-1994, as United States District judge, 1994-2001, and as Chief Judge, United States Court for the Eastern District of Texas, 2001 until his death. In terms of bulk, the largest groups of material are the awards and memorabilia, the book collection, and the scrapbooks.
Houston Oil Company of Texas Recruise of Timberlands, 1910 (maps).. 6 vols.
The Houston Oil Company of Texas Recruise Timberlands Volumes document the determination of the gross and net product volume and value (timber quality) for timber tracts owned by Houston Oil Company of Texas during the 1910s. These volumes depict timber tracts in Texas counties: Angelina, Jasper, Jefferson, Hardin, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, and Tyler; and Louisiana’s Calcasieu Parish. The information includes acreage, soil description, topography, pine production, merchantable pine statistics such as total feet and tree measurements, statistics for hardwoods such as ties and feet values, and hand drawn maps depicting the layout of the virgin pine forests.
Houston, East & West Texas Railway Company Payroll Book, 1921. 1 vol
The Houston, East & West Texas Railway Company was chartered on March 11, 1875, to build a narrow gauge railroad between Houston and Texarkana and to connect Houston with Corpus Christi and Laredo through Victoria and Goliad. At the state boundary the 191-mile HE&WT connected with the affiliated forty-mile Shreveport and Houston Railway Company, and the two railroads formed a through line between Houston and Shreveport, Louisiana. This collection consists of a single payroll volume documenting wages paid to railroad employees and attorneys of the Houston East & West Texas Railway and the Houston & Shreveport Railroad Company for January 1921.
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L
Lawrence, Burtis, Collection, 1918-1919. .25 cubic feet (1 box)
Burtis Lawrence (1892-1918) of Lufkin, Texas was a private in the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. This collection consists of photographs and correspondence documenting his military service and death in the Stobhill Military Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland.
Lufkin Rotary Club Records, 1931-1997. 12.5 cubic feet
The Lufkin Rotary Club was chartered on January 18, 1934 by a group of Lufkin business men interested in providing social services to improve the community of Lufkin and Angelina County. This collection includes minutes, financial records, maps, publications, directories, conference materials, Rotary Ann records, correspondence, clippings, photographs, and artifacts documenting the club's service activities.
Lufkin-Conroe Telephone Exchange Records, c. 1899-1980s. 2 cubic feet (2 boxes)
The Lufkin-Conroe Telephone Exchange began in 1898 and provided telephone service to the Lufkin, Conroe, and Alto areas of East Texas. This collection contains appraisals and inventories, time books and payroll records, telephone industry and organizational newsletters, bond revenue record books, correspondence, and date nails documenting company employees and business activities. It provides additional records of women workers in the telephone industry.
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M
Mann Family Collection, c. 1907-1920. .25 cubic feet (1 box)
Dr. D. A. Mann was a doctor in Diboll, Texas from roughly 1906-1917. This collection contains Mann family photographs focusing on D. A. Mann, his wife Alma Sturrock Mann, and children Bertha, Eunice, Eddith, and Mary.
McCall, Ina, Retirement Scrapbook, 1914-1955 (bulk 1955). .5 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Ina Eret McCall, daughter of Daniel Bynum McCall, served as postmistress of Burke from September 21, 1914 to August 31, 1955. This collection consists of a scrapbook compiled and gifted to McCall by Nobie Cambell, containing letters concerning her retirement and career as postmistress and her impact on Burke, Texas.
McDonald, Archie P., Political Campaign Materials Collection, c. 1952-2002. 4.5 cubic feet (7 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Dr. Archie P. McDonald is a professor of history and community liaison at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas. In the early 1950s he began collecting political campaign materials. This collection includes posters, bumper stickers, pins, ties, t-shirts, brochures, buttons, mugs, and other materials from presidential, congressional, state, and local campaigns from circa 1952-2002.
Minton, Robert E., Papers, 1920-1949, bulk 1925-1930. 4 cubic feet (4 boxes)
Robert E. Minton was an Angelina County lawyer and general counsel for the Southern Pine Lumber Company of Diboll, Texas, later called Temple Industries. This collection contains legal case files concerning East Texas timber rights and land ownership involving Temple Lumber Company, Southern Pine Lumber Company, Houston Oil Company, Knox Lumber Company, Kirby Lumber Company, and others.
Munz, Mary, Collection, c. 1900-2003. 3.25 cubic feet (5 boxes)
Born on August 4, 1923, Mary Munz was the daughter of Georgie Temple and Harry Munz, and granddaughter of T. L. L. Temple. This collection contains a variety of personal items of Munz and the Temple family, as well as records relating to Munz's care.
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N
Nacogdoches & Southeastern Railroad Company (Russell Tedder Collection), 1907-1954. 22 folders
Russell Tedder, the first full time general manager of the Sabine River and Northern Railroad from 1969-1976, collected various records of southern short-line railroads for personal research and interest. The Nacogdoches and Southeastern Railroad Company was chartered in 1905 to serve logging operations of the Hayward Lumber Company, and later the Frost-Johnson Lumber Company after 1910. This collection consists of reports and correspondence encompassing a brief and incomplete snapshot of the company's dealings with the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the volume of forest products shipped along its rails in its cars during these years. Several photocopied secondary sources are also included.
Nelson, Edwin, Collection, c. 1926-1990s. 2.5 cubic feet (5 boxes)
Edwin Nelson grew up in Diboll, Texas and worked at the Temple-White Company handle factory. His collection consists of clippings, writings, reminiscences, publications, and artifacts that he created, collected, and compiled which document Diboll and Angelina County’s history, concentrating on community and industry.
Nineteenth Century Land Documents, 1835-1979 (bulk 19th century). 14 items
The Nineteenth Century Land Documents show a history of land ownership pertaining to lands once owned by Temple-Inland in East Texas and Georgia. Included are a State of Texas Land Patent signed by Sam Houston, an 1846 Republic of Texas Land Grant signed by Anson Jones, a series of documents (mostly in Spanish) regarding the transfer of the Candido Sanchez League in Trinity County, Texas (1835), and 1846 Georgia Land Grants signed by the Georgia governor George W. Crawford.
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P
Pickett, C. A. "Neal," Papers, 1930-1986. 3 cubic feet (7 boxes)
The C. A. "Neal" Pickett Papers consist of correspondence, photographs, speeches, reports, clippings, newsletters, and other papers documenting his tenure as mayor of Houston and involvement in the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Federal Housing Administration in Houston, Rotary, Methodist Church, and Deep East Texas Development Council.
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R
Ramsey Family Collection, 1936-1981, bulk 1957-1961. 3 cubic feet (7 boxes)
Robert Ramsey, Sr. was the principal of Diboll High School between 1947 and 1974, in addition to serving as a teacher at the Blair School and a small school in Shelby County. His son, Robert Ramsey, Jr. was a Diboll High School student and athlete who lettered in baseball, basketball, and football. This collection primarily documents Robert Ramsey, Jr.’s high school athletic career, and also contains records documenting Robert Ramsey, Sr.’s career as a teacher and principal.
Ryan and Weeks Family Genealogy. .5 cubic feet
The Ryan and Weeks Family Genealogy collection consists of genealogical research compiled by Franklin and Norma Weeks. Other records include speeches and written histories on numerous Angelina County cemeteries, histories of old sawmill towns Emporia and Hoshall, and a volume of compiled abstracts of title showing the history of the land where Ryan Chapel Methodist Church is located. Also documented is folklore at Stephen F. Austin State University and early Texas history.
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S
Singletary, Grady, Collection, 1834-2001. .25 cubic feet (1 box)
Grady Singletary was a cattleman, pilot, photographer, and railroad enthusiast interested in the history of Cherokee County, Texas. This collection consists of photographs, correspondence, research notes, maps, and a soil survey concerning Cherokee County, particularly the Southern Pine Lumber Company logging camp Fastrill, Southern Pine logging railroads, the Texas State Railroad, and Rusk Penitentiary.
Southern Pacific Lines Employee Timetables Collection, 1926-1930. .01 cubic feet (2 folders)
This collection consists of two Southern Pacific Lines employee time tables showing freight and passenger train schedules for railroad lines in Texas and Louisiana. They also show rating of engines in freight service, special instructions to employees, interlocking whistle codes, company surgeons, division officials, and a map of the divisions. One is time table number 4 for the Beaumont Division, dated April 4, 1926; and the other is time table number 1 for the Beaumont Division and Terminals Division, September 7, 1930.
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T
Temple Associates Box Factory Records, 1944-1956. 2.5 cubic feet (6 boxes)
Temple Associates Box Factory operated in Diboll, Texas from 1951 to roughly 1959, manufacturing ammunition boxes from 1951-1953 for the Korean War. The company employed a large number of women. This collection contains correspondence, financial records, blueprints, specifications and provisions, vouchers, and tax records documenting the company’s box production and employees.
Temple Estate Papers, 1879-1952. 3.25 cubic feet (7 boxes)
Thomas Lewis Latané (T. L. L.) Temple, born in Virginia in 1859, founded the Southern Pine Lumber Company and Texas South-Eastern Railroad in 1894 and 1900 respectively, and was one of the most successful lumbermen in East Texas. Upon his death in 1935, his will established a trust to provide financial assistance to former employees who had been injured and their families. This collection contains correspondence, legal agreements and instruments, estate valuation statements, real estate records, income tax records, and canceled checks documenting the administration of Temple’s estate and the establishment of his trust.
Temple Family Book Collection, 1806-1912. 2.5 cubic feet
The Temple family, through Thomas Lewis Latané Temple, has had a profound impact on Diboll, Texas and the East Texas lumber industry. This collection contains 19th and early 20th century books owned by early members of the Temple and Lewis families, reflecting their careers as ministers, doctors, and students, as well as revealing their personal interests.
Temple Foundation Records, 1955-1971, bulk 1955-1962. 2 boxes
Records of the Temple Foundation, which was formed by members of the Temple family and Southern Pine Lumber Company officials in order to provide charitable assistance to members of the community and former workers that fell through the cracks of early pension plans. The collection consists of case files containing correspondence, history forms, and notes pertaining to individuals who received financial assistance from the foundation.
Temple Lumber Company Retail Scrapbooks, 1914-1964. 1.5 cubic feet (3 boxes)
The Temple Lumber Company Scrapbooks consist of three scrapbooks of photographs and clippings documenting the activities, employees, and subdivision development of the company’s retail lumber yards throughout Texas. The company served as the "retail division" of the Southern Pine Lumber Company. The collection documents both the Temple Lumber Company and successor Great Texas Lumber Company.
Temple, Arthur, Jr., Business Papers, 1943-2006. 383 cubic feet (381 boxes, 9 artifacts, 2 oversize boxes, 2 oversize folder
383 cubic feet of the Arthur Temple, Jr. (1920-2006) Papers, dating from 1943-2006. The bulk of the content is characterized as correspondence. Though everything within this correspondence series is not strictly "correspondence" it is apparent from it's original order that these were office files containing documents received by Arthur Temple's office, meant for his notice, or documents that were produced by Arthur Temple’s office to be sent to others. The term correspondence is used to encompass all documents received in his office and filed alphabetically by subject. Other series include Financial Documents, Paid Bills, and Reports spanning roughly the same time period.
Temple, Arthur, Sr. Letters, 1939-1951. approx. 750 letters.
Arthur Temple (1894-1951) was the manager and head figure of the Southern Pine Lumber Company, Temple Lumber Company, and other Temple family lumber interests from 1935-1951. This is a collection of correspondence copied to his son and successor Arthur Temple, Jr., with the intention to educate him on the daily issues involved in the operation of the family lumber business. The collection was compiled by Temple, Jr. and documents daily operations and management of company sawmills in Diboll and Pineland, company policies, politics, East Texas roads, forest management, and personal business.
Temple, Buddy, Legislative Records. 33 cubic feet (32 boxes)
Arthur "Buddy" Temple III, son of lumber businessman Arthur Temple, Jr. and Mary McQuiston, represented District 6 in the Texas State House of Representatives from 1973-1980. The Buddy Temple Legislative Records consists of general correspondence, constituent correspondence, clippings, audio and video tapes, photographs and slides, campaign memorabilia, plaques and artifacts, legislative journals, legislative bills, subject files, publications, campaign finance records, and information on House members. These records document Temple's service as a state representative.
Temple, Buddy, Railroad Commission Records. 6.5 cubic feet (8 boxes)
Arthur "Buddy" Temple III served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1973-1980, served on the Railroad Commission of Texas from 1981-1986, and was a Democratic candidate for governor in 1982. This collection documents his campaign for Railroad Commission of Texas, his tenure on the commission, and his gubernatorial campaign against Mark White in the Democratic primaries.
Temple, Josephine Bond, Papers, 1890s-1950s. 2 cubic feet
Josephine Bond Temple was born in Texarkana, Arkansas on December 21, 1918, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Bond. She met Thomas Lewis Latané Temple III, who went by Latané, in 1938 and they married February 17, 1939. This collection primarily consists of correspondence from Latané Temple to his wife during his service in World War II, as well as photographs of members of the Bond family and letters from their children.
Temple, Latane, Papers, 1803-1984. 36 cubic feet
Latané Temple, born Thomas Lewis Latané Temple III in Houston, Texas, was an East Texas businessman who was employed by the Temple Cotton Oil Company, Southern Pine Lumber Company, and eventually was general manager of the Great Texas Lumber Company. This collection contains correspondence, business records, photographs, poems, journals, books, genealogy materials, military artifacts, newspapers, awards, editorials, newspaper columns, comics, and political material documenting Temple’s education, military career, business activities, and personal interests.
Temple, Lottie Wimp, Papers, 1930s-1995. 14 cubic feet (15 boxes)
Lottie Wimp Temple was the personal secretary and wife of Arthur Temple, Jr., a successful East Texas businessman in the lumber industry and other interests. This collection consists of correspondence, annual reports, and political materials documenting Lottie Temple’s work for the Diboll Insurance Agency, her involvement in Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 presidential campaign, and her management of Arthur Temple’s business interests and activities, and her interaction with members of the Diboll community.
Texas South-Eastern Railroad Company Photographs and Records, 1911-2002. 1.5 cubic feet (3 boxes)
The Texas South-Eastern Railroad Company was founded by T. L. L. Temple in 1900 in Diboll, Texas to serve Temple's East Texas lumber operations. From 1900-1996, it was primarily used to transport forest products to and from the Diboll mill, connecting to the mainline St. Louis & Southwestern Railway in Lufkin. This collection consists of photographs depicting TSE's locomotives, freight cars, employees, constructing track of the Lufkin Z&OO zoo railroad, and transporting Engine 22 to the Texas State Railroad, as well as business papers providing histories of TSE's locomotives, the Pineywoods Special, and records from the company’s last year hauling freight from Diboll to Lufkin.
Texas South-Eastern Railroad Company Records, 1902-1991. 67 cubic feet (49 boxes, 6 oversize boxes, 112 volumes)
The Texas-Southeastern Railroad Company, incorporated on September 22, 1900 and chartered on October 9, 1900, was a short line railroad connecting Diboll, Texas with Lufkin, Texas. It was founded by T. L. L. Temple of the Southern Pine Lumber Company, and was primarily used by the company to transport forest products to and from the Diboll mill, connecting to the mainline St. Louis & Southwestern Railway in Lufkin. Today (in 2010) the railroad is fully owned by Temple-Inland, Inc., it no longer maintains track to Lufkin, and it primarily provides switching services for various industrial plants at Diboll, connecting with the Union Pacific. This collection contains legal documents, contracts, financial records, timebooks, minutes, printed material, freight correspondence, profile maps, retirement plans, and annual reports filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission, State Tax Board, and Railroad Commission of Texas. It also contains similar records of the Lufkin, Hemphill & Gulf Railway Company and Southern Pine Lumber Company due to their relationships with the TSE.
Texas State Railroad Board of Managers Audit Papers, 1921-1952. .25 cubic feet
This small collection of papers was assembled early in 1952 when Southern Pine Lumber Company considered purchasing the Texas State Railroad, which was then leased by the Texas & New Orleans Railroad Company (T&NO). At the heart of the collection is a twenty-nine page audit report for the years 1943-1950. The report begins by reviewing an earlier audit of the years 1921 to 1943 and provides a three page narrative history of the railroad’s construction and operation to 1950. Interestingly, the audit questions T&NO’s reported operational losses during the lease years. Also included in the papers is an itemized list of additions and retirements to track facilities made by T&NO between 1921 and 1951.
Thompson, Clyde Papers, 1934-1978. 92 cubic feet
Papers of Clyde Thompson, 61 year employee of the Temple Companies. He started work for Southern Pine Lumber Company in 1916 as a stenographer, then later gained responsibilities as the years passed. He held the titles of Purchasing Agent, Superintendent of Logging Operations, Vice President of the Forestry Division, and Director. He retired as Vice President and Director of Temple-Eastex in 1976. This collection consists of correspondence, employee compensation claims, financial records, payrolls, clippings, publications, reports, and logging records documenting Thompson’s career and logging operations in East Texas and Louisiana.
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Webber Family Collection, 1897-1990. 6 cubic feet (12 boxes, 6 albums)
The Webber Family Collection consists of nineteenth and twentieth century correspondence, photographs, travel souvenirs and memorabilia, and military records documenting the personal and professional lives of George Webber, his wife Gertrude Temple Webber, and their son W. Temple Webber. George Webber served in the Spanish-American War before marrying Gertrude Temple, daughter of East Texas lumberman Thomas L. L. Temple, and practicing law in Texarkana, Arkansas. Their son W. Temple Webber was employed by Southern Pine Lumber Company in Diboll, Texas, being instrumental in the company’s growth into the Temple-Eastex corporation.
Webber, W. Temple, Sr., Papers, 1950-1974. 16.25 cubic feet (17 boxes)
W. Temple Webber (1904-1983) was a manager and executive in the Temple family East Texas lumber businesses, including service on the board of directors for Time, Inc. This collection consists of correspondence, reports, and business papers documenting Webber’s activities in the East Texas lumber industry.
Weeks, Franklin, Ryan Chapel Scrapbook, 1885-1986. 1 scrapbook
On November 1, 1986, Franklin Weeks and his wife Norma Ryan Weeks gave a program entitled "Ryan Chapel as a Public School" as part of the Ryan Chapel United Methodist Church Sesquicentennial program. This scrapbook commemorates the program, containing photographs and texts documenting Ryan Chapel Methodist Church as a public school, the Weeks family, Ryan family, early Angelina County school history, and Franklin Weeks' retirement party.
Weston, Robert, Papers, 1965. 2 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Robert Weston was hired by Temple Industries in 1963 as the vice president of marketing. The Robert Weston Papers contain correspondence, clippings, price lists, advertisements, marketing surveys, and reports documenting Temple Industries products and marketing activities in 1965.
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Z
Zeagler, Lee, Papers, 1951-1970, bulk 1967-1970. 4 cubic feet (4 boxes)
Lee Zeagler was the Temple Industries projects coordinator from 1966-1970, and oversaw the planning and preparation for a stud and fiberboard plant in Cordova, Alabama and a plywood plant in Carthage, Texas. This collection consists of correspondence, plant studies, timber contracts, feasibility reports, letter contracts, equipment brochures, equipment proposals, timber cruise reports, maps, and architectural drawings documenting Temple Industries’ attempts to expand operations into Alabama and northeast Texas.
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