Family History | Oral History

Family History

OH 0132

Banker. Observations on the settlement and development of the Coastal Bend area of South Texas, 1935-72. Subdivisions and residential developments; Canoe Lake Corporation; tourism; early hotels and motels; duck hunting; Aransas National Wildlife Refuge; shrimping; shipbuilding; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway; hurricanes; views on community growth; local taxation; oil and gas industry; social activities.

OH 0829

Businessman, community leader. His experiences as a resident of Hamilton Park, Texas, 1959-90. Early work experience; service during the Korean War; positions with Lawyers Title Insurance Company; decision to buy a home in Hamilton Park, 1959; public transportation problems; flooding problems; shopping; deed restrictions; Interorganizational Council and political activities; Dad’s Club and PTA at the Hamilton Park School; desegregation and effects on Hamilton Park School; zoning problems; Civic League: church activities.

OH 1060

His recollections of the Progressive Era in Texarkana, Texas. Memories of grandparents and parents; ethnic groups; education and teachers; boarding houses and hotels; downtown businesses; his mother’s business activities; church activities.

OH 0659

Executive, Caltex Petroleum Corporation. Educational background; banking business in London; employment with Caltex and assignment with Bapco on Bahrain, 1937; Bahraini royal family; Bapco policies; World War II; post-World War II developments on Bahrain; assignment to Caltex (New York), 1957; Caltex reorganization, 1957; Caltex West Fiscal; OPEC and Third World; reentry of Socal and Texaco into European market, 1967.

OH 0793

Community leader. His experiences as a resident of Hamilton Park, Texas, 1956-89. Childhood in East Texas; decision to purchase home in Hamilton Park; social activities; Civic League; property maintenance and deed restrictions; widening of Forest Lane; widening of Schroeder Road; extension of Shepherd Road; relations with Texas Instruments; zoning problems; establishment of Crime watch program, 1986; industrial encroachment; environmental problems; Willowdell Park; Willie B. Johnson Recreation Center; real estate speculation and Homeowner’s League.

OH 0902

Realtor. Her experiences as a resident of Hamilton Park, Texas, 1975-90. Early education in McKinney, Texas; involvement in real estate; involvement with Hamilton Park School; description of housing in Hamilton Park; Pacesetter; Hamilton Park Civic League; the “Buy Out.”

OH 1244

Florists. Their life in Denton, Texas, 1910-1998 Family backgrounds; comments about the history and physical features of the Bayless-Selby house; decision to enter the flower business; evolving nature of their business; family entertainment.