Finding Aids

Guide to the

William Ransom Hogan Papers
1934-1946

.4 linear ft. (21 Folders)

Collection Number: GA21

Prepared by

Shirley R. Rodnitzky
October, 1992

The first protestant church in Texas: McMahon's Chapel located 10miles east of San Augustine, Texas. From the Willam Ransom Hogan Papers.

CITATION: William Ransom Hogan Papers, GA21, Box number, Folder number, Special Collections Division, The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.

Table of Contents

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Contents

Provenance

Literary Rights.

Container List

Subject Files

Pictorial Files

Printed Material

Biographical Sketch

William Ransom Hogan, historian, writer, and teacher, was born in Toledo, Ohio, November 23, 1908. He grew up in Texas, where he was educated and earned his undergraduate degree from Trinity University in 1929. He received the M.A. in 1932, and the Ph.D. degree in 1942 from the University of Texas. He was an instructor at Ranger Jr. College and regional historian with the National Park Service before serving as an archivist at Louisiana State University, where he became department head in 1946. Dr. Hogan spent a year at the University of Oklahoma as associate professor before returning to Louisiana as associate professor of history at Tulane University in 1947. He was appointed professor of history in 1950 and served as chair of the History Department at Tulane from 1953 to 1968. He died in September, 1971.

Dr. Hogan was founder and faculty administrative director of the archives of New Orleans Jazz, a Guggenheim fellow, and was a Captain in the United States Army during World War II. His academic specialty was United States social and cultural history. Among his publications are: The Texas Republic: A Social and Economic History, co-editor of William Johnson's Natchez: the Ante-Bellum Diary of a Free Negro, and co-author with Edwin A. Davis of Barber of Natchez & Tales from the Manchaca Hills.

Scope and Contents

William Ransom Hogan's papers are comprised of letters, histories, typescripts of transcriptions of historical documents, prints, photographs, photostatic copies and photocopies of documents and graphics, and notes dealing with research for his book, The Texas Republic, published in 1946 by the University of Oklahoma Press. Dr. Hogan's work is the first social history of the Texas Republic.

The materials are arranged as they were received in three series: subject files, pictorial files, and printed material. The subject files are arranged alphabetically and include material on pre-Texas Republic through late nineteenth-century Texas personalities, families, and towns (c.1825-1880). There are no original historical documents. The files include letters from individuals regarding originals and/or other pertinent information, 1938-1939.

The pictorial files are divided into historic sites, portraits, and places. They contain original photographs of historic homes and sites taken from 1934 to 1936, some of which, are presumed to have been photographed by Dr. Hogan. There are also prints, lithographs, photocopies, and photostatic copies of prints which illustrate historical sites, people, places, and events from about 1775 to 1856. Very few of these are dated. Letters accompany many of the pictorial items and explain historical background and origination. Hogan acquired these prints from 1945 to 1946. Some of the prints mentioned in the letters are not in the files, presumably because they were sent to the publisher. There is one printed item at the end of the collection, a profile of the history department at Tulane University, c.1965, which includes a photograph of the faculty.

Staples and clips were removed from the collection; these previously clipped materials were interleaved with acid-free, buffered, paper to retain their proximity. Photographs and prints were removed from heavy plastic folders and were placed in two mil mylar, photographic sleeves. A few fragile items were encapsulated. A count of each folder's contents in leaves or items is recorded on the front of each folder.

Provenance

The William Ransom Hogan Papers were donated to The University of Texas at Arlington, Special Collections Division, by Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins Garrett in 1974.

Literary Rights

Permission to publish any material from the William Ransom Hogan Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Division, The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.

Container List
Subject Files

Box GA21
Folder(s)/Description

3. Alston, Willis: Letters (1938) from Louis J. Wilson regarding research on Alston; photostatic copies and typescript transcriptions of legal and financial documents concerning Alston's estate, and transcriptions of newspaper accounts of his death, 1841-1878.
4. Austin, John: Typescript transcriptions of legal and financial documents regarding Austin's estate from Brazoria County records, Angleton, Texas, courthouse, 1831-1841.
5. Baker, Moseley: Typescript transcription of a letter from General Moseley Baker to General Sam Houston, October, 1844.
6. Clarksville, Texas:Manuscript transcriptions of letters, 1825-1845; summaries and notations re several other letters, 1831-1866. Material concerns residents and/or information about Clarksville.
7. Edwards, Monroe: Typescript abstract of book on Edwards by L. W. Kemp; typescript transcriptions of correspondence and legal documents by or concerning Edwards, 1836-1841.
8. Fannin, James W.:Typescript transcriptions of Fannin's letters, as well as legal documents regarding his estate, 1834-1843.
9. Green, Thomas Jefferson:Typescript transcriptions of letters, legal and military documents, 1830?-1839; photostat of an invitation to a July 4th Dinner and Ball, 1838. Originals located in the Thomas Jefferson Green Papers at the University of North Carolina, Southern Historical Collection, Chapel Hill. Includes letter from librarian at the University of North Carolina, 1938.
10. Ingram, Ira: Typescript transcriptions of letters from Ira Ingram, Austin and Matagorda, Texas, to Roswell Ingram (uncle), in New York State and Michigan Territory, 1830-1835. Originals located in the Ingram Papers at the University of Texas.
11. Jackson County, Texas:"Early Jackson County History" (1829-1843) by John S. Menefee (From the files of the Jackson County Clarion, Texana, Texas, May 20, 1880). Carbon typescript, 27p. and cover sheet.
12. Jefferson, Texas: "Jefferson in Retrospection with Interesting Facts" (1842-1876) by Asa E. Ramsay, n.d. Carbon typescript, 4p. with cover sheet.
13. Westervelt, Stephen M.: Typescript transcriptions of letters of Stephen Westervelt, Brazoria, Texas, October 24, 1841 to March 15, 1842. Letters describe his journey, impressions of Texas and people, experiences, and political opinions and observations, 15p. and 1p. note on envelope.
14. Willich, Theo.:Letters to Hogan (10/17/38-2/27/39) regarding family history and letter of his great grandfather, George Willich, Jr. at Galveston Bay, Texas, September 6, 1834. Includes carbon typescript transcription of great grandfather's letter (in German) which relates his experiences in Texas, 21p. Also includes photostatic copies of the first page of above letter and the envelope.

Pictorial Files
[Photographs, prints, and accompanying source letters]
Historic Sites and Buildings - Texas

15. Historic American Building Survey, Library of Congress - Homes in Anahuac, Galveston, and San Augustine. Black-and-white, 5" x 7" prints:

• General Chamber's House, Anahuac, Chambers County, negative by Harry L. Starnes, 1936.
• Powattan House, Galveston, negative by Harry L. Starnes, 1936 (erected 1834-40 by John Sydnor).
• A. H. Cartwright House, San Augustine, negative by C.C. Bulger, 1934.
• A. H. Cartwright House (detail of entrance porch), negative by C.C. Bulger, 1934.

16. Historic Sites - c.1775-1859

• Alamo, San Antonio, front south room. Photo copyright by H. L. Summerville, black-and-white print, 8" x 10", n.d.
• Horace Eggleston House, black-and-white print 5" x 7", n.d. Includes one page typescript description of Gonzales' oldest house.
• Second Capitol, Houston, Republic of Texas, photocopy of print
• (3" x 3") by C.J. Wright, October, 1859.
• Diagram of the Alamo as it was in 1836 before its fall. Taken from plot and description made January 18, 1836, by G.B. Jameson, photocopy (2).
• Plan of the ruins of the Alamo near San Antonio de Bexar, 1846, from drawing by Edward Everett, photocopy.
• Ruins of the Alamo reproduced from sketch made by Lieut. J. Edmund Blake, 1845, photocopy.
• A Reconstruction of Mission San Antonio de Valero bout 1775 by Courtesy of Miss Adina De Zavala, photocopy.

17. Historic Sites - c.1836

• Gunsmith shop of N.T. Byars at Washington. Site of the first capitol of the Republic of Texas.
• Mission San Juan Capistrano, photocopy.
• Rusk four-poster bedstead and effects. Photo of Merchants Centennial Exhibit at Nacogdoches, Texas, 1936, black-and-white, 8" x 10" print.
• Old Capitol, Houston. Photocopy (7"x 8") from Pictorial History of Texas by Thrall, p. 293, 1879 edition.
• Old Capitol, Houston. Small (3"x3") photostat of above item.
• Letter, February 18, 1946, from Marcelle L. Hamer, University of Texas, regarding above two copies.

Personalities and Places - Texas

18. Portraits - 19th Century

• Mary Austin Holley, two black-and-white photostats, 3 1/2" x 4" &
• 4 1/2" x 6".
• Letter, March 12, 1946, from Winnie Allen, University of Texas, regarding photostats.
• Sam Houston, black-and-white, 8" x 10" print.
• Mirabeau B. Lamar, black and white, 8" x 10" print.
• Letter, July 24, 1946, from A. B. Griffing, The Dallas Morning News, regarding above two prints.
• Thomas F. McKinney, black-and-white, 6" x 8" print.
• S. M. Williams, black-and-white, 6" x 8" print.
• Letter, July 24, 1946, from E. L. Wall, the News Publishing Co., Galveston regarding above two prints.
• Mirabeau B. Lamar, black-and-white, 8" x 10" print of fencing medal and portrait of Lamar framed in a pin.
• Sam Houston, lithograph, 14.5 x 11 cm. impression on 33 x 25 cm. page.
• Letter, July 27, 1946, from Dorothy Estes, San Jacinto Museum of History Association regarding above two prints.

19. Portraits - 19th Century

• Letter, August 1, 1946, from J. S. Ibbotson, Rosenberg Library, regarding photographs.
• Letter, August 3, 1946, from Dorothy Estes, San Jacinto Museum of History Association, regarding photographs.
• Sam Houston, photo of portrait at the San Jacinto Museum by Elwood M. Payne, Houston, black-and-white, 8" x 10" print.
• Sam Houston, photo by Elwood M. Payne, Houston, of lithograph made from a daguerreotype by B.P. Paige, Washington, D.C., engraved by, J.C. Battre, New York, black-and-white, 8" x 10" print.
• Sam Houston, photo by Elwood M. Payne, Houston, of lithograph by F. Davignon, New York, from an 1852 daguerreotype by Bartlett & Fuller, Hartford, Conn., black-and-white, 8" x 10" print.
• The Illustrated London News (June 15, 1844), depicting portrait of "General Houston, President of Texas," and "Texas: Church of Alamo, San Antonio de Bexar," black-and-white, 8" x 10" print (upper left corner section missing).
• "Houston Dictating Orders to Adjutant Hockley," engraved by Bross, 9" x 6" photostatic copy.
• The Illustrated London News (June 25, 1842), with engraving, "Texan Mounted Militia," and text, black-and-white, 8" x 10" print.
• Unidentified (perhaps Sam Houston), photostatic copy of black-and-white photograph by W. J. Oliphant, 4" x 6".
• Letter, October 19, 1945, from E. L. Wall, The News Publishing Co., regarding Galveston photo.
• Galveston, before 1850, photograph of pen and ink sketch, 5" x 7".

20. San Augustine and Vicinity

• Blount Home, San Augustine, three views, black-and-white, 3.5" x 6" prints, July, 1935 (3 prints).
• Cartwright Home, built 1830's, San Augustine, two views, black-and-white, 3.5" x 6" prints, July, 1935 (2 prints).
• Garrett Home, San Augustine, three views, black-and-white, 3.5" x 6", July, 1935 (3 prints).

21. San Augustine and Vicinity

• James Gaines Home near Pendleton's Crossing, black-and-white, 3.5" x 6" print, July, 1935.
• Grove in front of J. Pickney Henderson home, black-and-white, 3.5" x 6" print, July, 1935.
• James Gaines Home near Pendleton's Crossing, black-and-white, 3.5" x 6" print, July, 1935.
• McMahon's Chapel, east of San Augustine, first protestant church in Texas, black-and-white, 3.5" x 6" print, July, 1935.
• Mission Hill near San Augustine, black-and-white,3.5" x 6" print, July, 1935.
• Orton Estate, San Augustine, built c.1835, black-and-white, 3.5" x 6" print, July, 1935.
• Pendleton's Crossing on the Sabine, two views, black-and-white, 3.5" x 6" prints, July, 1935 (2 prints).
• Sublett Home, San Augustine, Civil War period, three views, black-and-white prints, July, 1935 (3 prints).

22. San Augustine and Vicinity

• Concord Baptist Church site historic marker, southeast Texas, black-and-white, 4.5" x 5.5" print, n.d.
• Concord Baptist Church, "present church," black-and-white, 4.5" x 5.5" print, c.1935.
• East Texas log cabin, black-and-white, 4" x 6" print, n.d.
• Log cabin, not identified, black-and-white, 4" x 6" print, n.d.
• Uncle Font Simmons of Hardin County, woodsman and hunter, black-and-white, 4.5" x 6" print, n.d.

23. San Jacinto Museum of History Association

• Letter, February 25, 1946, from Dorothy Estes,regarding photos and research.
• Diorama by staff of second capitol at Austin, built 1856, black-and-white print, 8" x 10".
• Diorama by staff of steamboat house, Huntsville, black-and-white print, 8" x 10".
• Diorama by staff of structure at Washington on the Brazos where Declaration of Independence was signed, 1836, black-and-white print, 8" x 10".
• Display case containing miniature oxen and chuckwagon made by Sam Houston, black-and-white, 8" x 10" print.

Printed Material

24. Article:"Profile of a Department: History," by Edison B. Allen. Survey of the History Department at Tulane University, with group photograph, c.1965, 3p.

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