News & Events

By Brock YetterThe Galveston & Texas History Center holds a vast collection within their archives, consisting of books, maps, newspapers, and letters, with each item being related to the city of Galveston and the early growth of Texas. To not be overwhelmed by all of the material, I focused my research on a singular topic, the 1st of January in…

Celebrating the President's Birthday BallFranklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) was among the greatest American Presidents. He is remembered for facing head on the challenges of the Great Depression and World War II, as well as greatly expanding the role of the federal government in the economy and foreign relations. At Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1921, Roosevelt was stricken by…

The Rosenberg Library is now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library! What does that mean? When you login to FamilySearch.org onsite at the Rosenberg you have access to restricted digital records and images that you can't access from home. Currently, Affiliate Libraries have access to about 400 million original records. Frequent FamilySearch researchers may have noticed that pesky icon of a camera…

The Galveston and Texas History Center's David B. McMichael Papers on the N.S. Savannah are featured in the latest Southwestern Archivist. Read GTHC Archivist Kevin Kinney's article about the Savannah's voyage from Galveston to Europe and back to Galveston on page 24, https://societyofsouthwestarchivists.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Newsletters/SWA2019v42no4-Nov.pdfFor more on the Savannah or other topics in maritime history, check out the Archives Catalog or contact…

George H. Henchman was a Galveston building materials dealer during the last quarter of the 19th century. He was born in Massachusetts circa 1835-36, the son of Lewis and Mary C. Henchman. Henchman was employed by Chas. W. Adams (circa 1815-1887), an early Galveston settler. Henchman enlisted in 1862 in the Texas 20th Infantry and served at the Battle of…

Meet the Author, Mackenzie FinkleaSaturday, January 4th, 10 am - 12 pm Rosenberg Library, Wortham Auditorium (1st floor)Join us for a lively discussion of Mackenzie Finklea's new book and a celebration of museums! Light refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase.

People who traveled long distances during the 19th century transported their clothes and belongings in bulky trunks. These were sturdy affairs, designed to withstand the rigors of travel and storage on railroads and aboard ships. Trunks were made of wood and covered with canvas or leather. They remained in vogue until they began to be supplanted by luggage at the…

The San Francisco Call, September 15, 1900, noted: “Most of the dead at Galveston were working people, small tradesmen, and some professional men and their families.” August F. Huebner, a blacksmith, lost loved ones in the cataclysm. He and his family lived at 3610 Avenue P. Huebner’s residence was located in Galveston Ward 7, which experienced a massive loss of…

Hurricane season isn't finished yet, folks! Hurricanes have struck during October in the past. One such hurricane swept along the entire Texas coast during the first week of October in 1837. Named the Racer's Hurricane after the British naval ship that it damaged, the hurricane battered the coast between Matamoros, Mexico, and Venice, Louisiana. Below is a letter regarding the…

1900 Storm Victims Who Lived in One BlockThe 1900 Storm systematically destroyed Galveston. Flood tides zigzagged along streets, collapsing houses and killing persons taking refuge inside them. Many residents died along certain streets, such as Avenue O. The 1900 Storm Victim Database includes neighbors who even died in the same block. The following casualties, for instance, occurred in the 170…

Reconstructing History: It's Our Responsibility How to tell the full story and why it's important Saturday, October 19th, 10 am - 12 noon Rosenberg Library, Wortham Auditorium (1st Floor)

Friday, October 18th, 10 am - 5:15 pm Rosenberg Library, Wortham Auditorium (1st Floor) Join the Galveston and Texas History Center for a Genealogy Lock-In at the Rosenberg Library! The Genealogy Network of Texas, the Central Texas Genealogical Society, and the Waco-McLennan County Library Genealogy Center will host a series of live-streamed programs featuring genealogy experts from across the U.S.Come…