Jasper County
Scope and Contents
Judge Masterson’s papers relate almost exclusively to his legal practice and real estate dealings after he moved from Brazoria County, Texas, to Houston, dating from 1860-1942, bulk 1880-1920. He dealt primarily with land litigation and investments in Harris and surrounding counties, including Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, and Jefferson Counties. Other investments for which there are records in these papers include coal mines in West Texas, local railroads, sugar crops, cattle and ranching. Business cycles and the style of land and oil deals of the day are presented very well in the correspondence. Family correspondence also reveals Masterson’s willingness to employ his own numerous nephews and generally to help people in his employ. The papers dating from Judge Masterson’s death in July 1900 were created or maintained by Masterson’s son Neill.
Dates
- Creation: 1860-1942, bulk 1880-1920
- Creation: Majority of material found within
Conditions Governing Access
Stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.
Access Restrictions
This material is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 187.5 Linear Feet (282 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA
713-348-2586
woodson@rice.edu