27. Texas and local history

Correspondence, contracts, credit reports, and leases in this collection document the business of Houston, Texas based Merchants & Planters Oil Company, particularly during the last period of its existence, 1930 through 1941. This company was owned by William Marsh Rice and associated with Rice Institute after Mr. Rice's death.

Judge Harris 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.

The collection consists of correspondence, college materials, pamphlets and programs, materials related to the construction of Sewall residence and the Sewall's Japan trip. The dates for this collection range from 1847 to 1959 with the bulk of the material ranging from 1935 to 1948.

Pamphlets and documents documenting the history of Texas railroad lines such as Houston & Texas Central Railroad Co., Texas & Pacific Railway Co., Texas & New Orleans Railroad Co., Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway Co.

Architectural drawings and related records for residential architecture projects by Wylie Vale, Jr.

This collection includes a scrapbook created by Helen Wong Hom during her time in San Antonio during World War II, associated with the FAB-100 officers and friends. Helen Wong Hom appears to have been associated with the first group of the U.S. Foreign Affairs Bureau's group of 100 Chinese officers who later became known as the FAB-100. Many of these officers served as interpreters, translators, and trained others in aviation and radio mechanics.

This collection offers a glimpse into early Houston through cartes de viste-photographs of mid-19th century Houstonians, letters, documents, books and diary and journal, as well as the research conducted on many early families.