Celebrating the 175th Anniversary of Texas Independence
JANUARY 2011
175th Passport
Encourages Visits
T
he Passport to Texas
History is a fun way
to keep track of your
visits to significant sites
during the 175th anniversary
of the Texas Revolution in
2010-2011. Including Goliad,
Washington-on-the-Brazos,
The Alamo, and San Jacinto,
among other venues, visitors
can pick one up at any site
and have it stamped like a
“real” passport. Each site has
a unique stamp; there’s also a
175th stamp for the cover.
The passport was
developed by the Texas
Independence Trail Region
and encourages visits to many
Revolutionary sites during this
anniversary year. Pick up
yours today and begin your
journey to Texas’ sacred sites.
Houston Subject of Rare Borglum Work
I
Plans for Conservation, Exhibition in 2011
n the
1930s,
sculptor
and engineer
Gutzon
Borglum
began work on
a sculpture of
Sam Houston
that was
modeled on
the famous
1857 image of
the Texian by
noted New
York portrait photographer
Fredericks. Created as either an
object in itself or as a model
upon which a bronze was to be
cast, the artist completed an
impressive thirty-three inch tall
paraffin wax bust of the
American statesman, politician
and soldier. Borglum, an
American artist who is famous
for designing the monumental
presidents' heads at Mount
Rushmore and the massive
carving on Stone Mountain near
Atlanta, was also known for his
public works of art
commemorating important
people and events in American
history.
The artifact was acquired by
the museum in 1939 as a gift
from historian and museum
founder
Louis Wiltz
Kemp who
was widely
regarded as
one of the
best
informed
people on
the subject
of Texas
history and
one of those
persons most
responsible
for preserving its heritage. Since
its arrival in the museum over 70
years ago, the bust has remained
in storage due to its condition
and the inherent difficulties in
displaying such a fragile work of
art. As a part of our celebration
commemorating 175 years since
the Battle of San Jacinto was
fought in 1836, the museum
would like to conserve and
stabilize this important
piece of art. Once
conserved, the bust will
be the centerpiece of an
exhibit that will focus on
the history of our
institution, the heritage
that we celebrate and the
little-known treasures
that we hold in trust for
the public.
The bust, which is mounted
on a piece of non-pressure
treated lumber that has twisted
over time, displays several major
cracks and has become brittle
over time. The plan is to
stabilize the bust, create a
custom mount to effectively
display the artifact and preserve
it for future generations. This
will involve techniques
developed specifically for this
project as a wax bust of this type
and size has not been conserved
before.
The conservation and
exhibition of this bust depicting
one of the most important
figures in Texas history done by
one of the most important
monumental sculptors of the
previous century and donated to
the museum by one of our
founders in the year that we
opened will serve as the
cornerstone for our 175
See BUST, page 3
Letter from the President
Today’s Heroes of San Jacinto
New and Renewing Members
Dear Friends,
As Texans mark the 175th anniversary of the independence of Texas from Mexico
Monument Society
Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Ballard
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Barrow
Mrs. Edward A. Blackburn, Jr.
Ms. Marion S. Hargrove
Mr. Bob Pennacchi
Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Reckling, III
Ms. Sue Trammell Whitfield
this year, plans are underway throughout the state for commemorations and special
events, some beginning this past fall. Here at San Jacinto, planning is underway for
a festive and exciting San Jacinto Festival and Battle Reenactment, which will occur
on Saturday, April 16, 2011; parking in particular may be problematic and is receiving
particular consideration. The official commemoration of the Battle will occur here on
April 21.
Museum Circle
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth E. Bentsen
The Hon. Frank W. Calhoun
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred H. Ebert, Jr.
Ms. Joan H. Lyons
Mr. and Mrs. J. Philip McCormick
Mr. and Mrs. W. Walter Negley
Mr. and Mrs. George A. Peterkin, Jr.
Mr. Karl Rove
Mr. and Mrs. Gene Van Dyke
A special exhibit is planned, and its fruition will result in lasting preservation of a
historic treasure. As noted elsewhere in this newsletter, the care of historic materials
is a vital part of the museum’s mission, and one item in particular will be the focus of
care in the next few months. By helping fund the conservation, our members have a
wonderful opportunity to preserve a unique piece of Texas history that we can pass
on to future generations. Returning your contribution in the envelope sent with this
newsletter is critical to our goal.
Kay Bailey Hutchison was a welcome guest at the November 2010 Special
Evening With Texas History. Guests enjoyed chamber music performed by students
Independence Society
from San Jacinto College while tasting gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and then enjoyed an
Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Allen, III
Mr. Thomas G. Binig
Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Davis, III
The Honorable Gene Green
Dr. and Mrs. Carlos R. Hamilton, Jr.
Ms. Olive M. Jenney
Mr. and Mrs. Milton H. West, Jr.
excellent meal. A highlight of the evening was the display of the Fiesta gown and
regalia; if you were not able to attend this special evening, you will have the
opportunity to view the gown, and the associated exhibit of festive clothing, through
February. Many thanks to the sponsors who made this event successful.
Family Freedom Society
Mrs. W. Buck Arnold
Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Blades
Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Blakely, III
Mr. Robert L. Cargill, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. John L. DeVault
Dr. and Mrs. C. William Doubleday
Mrs. Virginia Elkins
Mr. and Mrs. William S. Haddock, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Kelley, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kiatta
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Lipscomb
Mr. and Mrs. Tom F. Marsh
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Marston
Mr. and Mrs. Hilmar G. Moore
Mr. and Mrs. M. Peter Morris
Mr. and Mrs. Chad H. Muir
Mr. Patrick Oles, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Wright
Larry Spasic
President, San Jacinto Museum of History
San Jacinto Not First Battle for
Some Veterans
S
everal of the soldiers at San Jacinto had fighting experience in other
wars. Although four San Jacinto Veterans are known as living during
the American Revolution, three of the four were infants, and the
fourth was a young teen, not noted as involved in that conflict. Sam
Houston’s service in the War of 1812 is well known; like Houston, at least
three other San Jacinto soldiers experienced the War of 1812 in the military.
Born in Logan County, Kentucky in 1799, Benjamin Fort Smith was the son
of a Revolutionary War soldier who fought in the battle of King's Mountain.
Smith recruited a company of volunteer cavalry in Kentucky for the War of
1812, served as a major, and was wounded in the battle of Tallushatchie in
1813, part of the Creek War in Alabama; also present was David Crockett.
Smith also fought under Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans.
William P. Smith, born in 1795, enrolled on October 3, 1814 as a sergeant
in Captain John Hutchins Company, Second Regiment of Tennessee mounted
Volunteer Gunmen. He served from September 28, 1814 to March 28, 1815.
A doctor, W. P. Smith was with the portion of the army at Harrisburg on
April 21, 1836.
Known as the "Old Indian Fighter", Edward Burleson
served as a private in the War of 1812 in his father's
company. He later served as a militia officer in Missouri
and Tennessee before moving to Texas in 1830. In 1832
Burleson was elected lieutenant colonel of the militia of
Austin Municipality. On November 24, 1835, Burleson
became general of the volunteer army, replacing Austin,
serving as commander in chief of the volunteer army
until it disbanded on December 20, 1835. He was elected
colonel of the First Regiment of Volunteers, and as such,
accepted the surrender of Mexican General Juan N.
Almonte at San Jacinto.
JANUARY 2011
SAN JACINTO NEWS
2
BUST, continued from page 1
Special Evening With
celebrations in 2011.
To that end, we
are asking our
members and friends
to demonstrate their
commitment to
preserving cultural
and historic artifacts
and help us conserve
and display this
important piece of
Untreated lumber forms the “backbone” of the bust.
art. We will be
updating the membership on the
speaks to our mission which directs that
progress of this project in our
we “collect and preserve significant
newsletters and online on Facebook.
historical materials that relate to the early
Finally allowing this sculpture to be
history and culture of Texas.”
displayed to the public and the art world
is an extremely important task that
Texas History
Sponsors
Apache Corporation
Mr. and Mrs. James C. Flores
John P. McGovern Foundation
Mr. Alfred Davis IV
Mr. Obie O’Brien
Port of Houston Authority
Mr. and Mrs. Risher Randall
Office Systems of Texas
San Jacinto Descendants, Inc.
Vopak North America Inc.
Find out about events surrounding the 175th
anniversary of Texas Independence online at
http://txindependence175.org/
Care of collections is a priority of the San Jacinto Museum of History, and the museum can use your
help to conserve one of its treasures, the wax bust of Sam Houston by Gutzon Borglum. Please
consider making a gift to help restore this Texas Treasure, and make possible its exhibition during
the 175 celebration.
Donors at the $100 level or above will receive a guided tour of the exhibit (once the bust is installed) led by the museum
curator, and will be listed as contributors in the exhibit and in the San Jacinto News.
___ $25
___ $50
___ $100
___ $500
___ $1000
___ $5000
___ Other ___________
At the $100 level or above, I would like the following name listed in the exhibit:____________________________________________
This gift is made
___ In honor of:
___ In memory of:
___ Neither ____________________________________________________________
Name
Notification of the gift should be sent to: ___ Me
___ The recipient at _______________________________________________
Address or e-mail
___ My employer will match my gift ___________________________________ _________________________________________
Name
_______________________________________________
Employer
_____ My check is enclosed for $_______________
Name
_____ Charge $________________ to:
_______________________________________________
Address
___ Visa
_______________________________________________
City, State, Zip
___ MasterCard
___ American Express
_______________________________________________________
Card No.
_______________________________________________
Daytime Phone
Verification Code
_______________________________________________________
Address
_______________________________________________
___ Discover
Expiration Date
___ Same address as to the left
E-mail Address
To charge your gift, call 281.479.2421 or mail to: San Jacinto Museum of History, One Monument Circle, La Porte, Texas 77571-9585
JANUARY 2011
SAN JACINTO NEWS
3
Festive Attire at Forefront in Lobby
San Jacinto
Museum of History
Board of Trustees 2010
Robert B. Hixon, Chair
Hon. Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr.
Nancy T. Burch
Hon. Frank W. Calhoun
Tom M. Davis, Jr.
Dr. J. Frank de la Teja
James B. Earthman, III
Dorothy Knox Howe Houghton
Susan Booth Keeton
Ann H. Kelsey
Mike Lamb
Douglas McLeod
Chad Muir
Urban O’Brien
Risher Randall
James A. Reeder, Jr.
Arthur Seeligson
Hon. Mark White
CONTACT INFORMATION:
San Jacinto Museum
of History Association
One Monument Circle
La Porte (Houston), TX 77571-9585
Phone: 281/479-2421
Fax: 281/479-2428
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.sanjacinto-museum.org
The San Jacinto Museum of History
A
longside the
magnificent
display of
Alice Trueheart
Johnson's 2009 Fiesta
Texas gown, seen in
the April 2010 issue of
the San Jacinto News,
the lobby of the
museum currently has
on display three cases
that contain a wide
range of accessories
This pair of white satin slippers with “Baby Louis” style heels was worn by Edna Bierbower at her
used by our Texian
wedding to frank Forrest Fleming on November 3, 1909. The shoes were purchased at the
Houston department store Krupp & Tuffly.
ancestors that were
fine wool shawls. Some of these items were used
designed to help them to dress to impress.
th
Hundreds of buttons, from 18 century silver and to dress up for special occasions—like the small
enamel show pieces set with semi-precious stones black cape decorated with thousands of glass jet
to early 20th century brass and bakelite examples, beads weighing over ten pounds that was worn by
are displayed alongside bejeweled brooches and
Mrs. Henry Champagne to attend the opera in
cuff links, fancy dress slippers and delicate silk and New Orleans in the 1870s. They were also used
to accent an outfit, as demonstrated by the
Gifts to the Museum
peacock feather fan that was owned by Katherine
The Brown Foundation
Jenkins, the granddaughter of Lorenzo and Emily
The Hamill Foundation
West De Zavala. We invite you to come out now
The Dow Chemical Corporation
through January 31 to see this display of
The Strake Foundation
sumptuous accessories. Ms. Johnson’s gown will
The Gordon A. Cain Foundation
be on view through February.
Vivian L. Smith Foundation
Association was chartered in 1938 to preserve
and revisualize the early history of Texas.
SAN JACINTO NEWS
© 2011 San Jacinto Museum of History
San Jacinto Museum of History
Association
One Monument Circle
La Porte, TX 77571-9585
Return Service Requested
JANUARY 2011
4