Miscellanea & Ephemera

Weed House 4th Street: from Victorian Gothic to Colonial Revival to parking lot.

April 24, 2022 ·

The residence of Valentine O. Weed (300 E. 4th Street), location of the murder of Mary Ramey. Earliest photo circa 1900, later re-modeled in the colonial revival style circa 1940, and finally demolished, as a parking lot 1997. PICH 00103 Austin History Center. PICH 02612 Austin History Center. 300 East 4th Street. 1997. I took the photo of the location in 1997. For some reason I thought I… Read more.

Theft of Governor’s Pants – March Mischief – Police Calls

March 17, 2016 ·

"Officer Sendry reports that someone entered Gov. Ireland's room last night and stole a pair of pants and one dollar in the pockets." -- 17 MAR 1885. Austin Police Calls. Gov. John Ireland The above incident is the perfect metaphor for Austin in the spring of 1885 -- a time when it was possible for someone to sneak into the Governor's Mansion, enter his bedroom and steal his pants away in the middle of the night, never… Read more.

6th Annual Save Texas History Symposium: In the Shadow of the Dome: Austin by Day & Night

November 11, 2015 ·

The sixth Annual Save Texas History Symposium will take a look at the history of Austin in a whole new light. In the Shadow of the Dome: Austin by Day & Night will examine diverse aspects of Austin’s history, including the Texas Supreme Court, the destruction of one Capitol Building and the construction of another, and the impact on the city of notable hotelier, George W. Littlefield. It will also delve into some of the less celebrated aspects of Austin’s… Read more.

Finding Eula – Oakwood Cemetery

February 28, 2015 ·

I've often been asked if I know where Eula Phillips is buried and my answer has always been that I don’t know the exact location, just that she was buried in an unmarked grave in the oldest section of Oakwood Cemetery known as the Old Grounds. And that raises the question, why doesn't her grave have a marker or headstone or why isn't there some indication of where she is buried? I guess it’s puzzling how the last resting place… Read more.

The Hancock Inquest – Graphic Details – Suspicions – Nightmares

November 20, 2014 ·

The Hancock Inquest is a fascinating document filled with peculiar details, opinions and suspicions about the murder of Susan Hancock that were never published.  I thought it would be worthwhile to transcribe the handwritten document in full in order to facilitate its examination and consideration. The testimony of witnesses including Dr. William Burt, Dr. R. S. Graves, William Scaggs, Theodore Clark, Moses Hancock, Hester Campbell, David Hagy, A. M. Persinger, Jack Williams, Belle Williams and Caroline Mason, was taken on… Read more.

Discovering History at the Travis County Archives

September 22, 2014 ·

Materials in Travis County Archives Collection. The mission of the Travis County Archives is to serve the government and the community of Travis County by documenting, preserving, and making available its records and history. The Travis County Archives documents the functions and activities of the Travis County government, supports the conduct of the government by preserving and providing access to essential county records, and maintains the history of the county and its community through the preservation… Read more.

History Detectives Special Investigations

July 7, 2014 ·

Last year I had the pleasure of working with the staff from PBS's History Detectives for the upcoming History Detectives Special Investigations: Texas Servant Girl Murders.  The cast and crew came to Austin last summer; they did a number of interviews and on location videos and I got to chat with the esteemed Tukufu Zuberi, who was very enthusiastic and a lot of fun to work with.  I'm looking forward to seeing what they discovered!  Tuesday, July 15, 9pm /… Read more.

Robinson Residence. Scene of West Austin Crime Spree. May 1, 1885

August 7, 2012 ·

The Robinson ResidenceCourtesy DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, Ag2008.0005.   Many people must have been aroused between one and two o'clock by a rapid discharge of fire arms on Rio Grande street, near its intersection with Pecan.  This time it was at the residence of Mr. J. H. Robinson.  Some outhouses occupied by colored women were visited, window panes broken in, and the inmates frightened nearly to death.  Their screams aroused the family.  Mr.… Read more.