Permission to publish material from Wagman Family photographs must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.
The Woodson Research Center use policy is that researchers assume sole responsibility for any infringement of privacy, literary rights, copyrights, or other rights arising from their use of the archival materials. In addition to any restrictions placed by donors, certain kinds of archival materials are restricted for the life of the creator plus 50 years. These materials include, but are not limited to, student grades, transcripts, and any job applications or recommendations.
Josep Wagman immigrated to America from Romania in the early 1900s with his wife Rachel and their seven children, Sam, Abe, Hester, Moses, George, Benny, and Sarah. A produce merchant by trade, Josep served in World War One, and died May 2nd, 1960.
Abe Wagman moved to Houston and married Sadie Keller. Together they had two sons: Joseph Leo Wagman and Robert (Bob) Irving Wagman, the latter of whom had one son (Gary) with his first wife, Freda before remarrying Sylvia Merritt, the donor of the materials. Together they had a son (Adam) and a daughter (Elyssa). The family joined countless others as part of Houston’s tight-knit Jewish community.
At the end of World War II, Bob served for a year in the Navy as a cook. He left college at the University of Houston to pursue an artistic career at Feather and Feather Art School, which later became the Art Institute. Bob worked at the Houston Chronicle as a commercial artist, before going on the work in advertising and open a commercial art studio in his own home. He also owned six “U-Frame-It” businesses.
A partial family tree depicting the relationships of family members shown in the collection photographs can be found in the control folder.
0.5 Linear Feet (1 box)
English
The materials are arranged by date in a single series, as follows:
Series I: Photographs
Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository