Fayette Heritage Museum & Archives
La Grange, Texas
Celebrating Fayette County's History
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We appreciate your interest in the Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives! Keep reading to learn about upcoming events in the Museum and Archives.
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Upcoming Events
The Texas Liberators
Saturday, September 21st, 10 a.m., Library Meeting Room
In conjunction with the extensive traveling exhibit created by the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission (THGC), we are hosting a special program with Cheyanne Perkins, THGC program coordinator as guest speaker.
Genealogy Workshop Live-Streamed from Waco and Elsewhere
Friday, October 18th, 10 a.m. - 8:30.p.m. upstairs in the Museum and Archives
This will be the fourth year we have joined this event planned by the Waco Public Library. Topics will include genealogy for beginners, dating photographs, using Familysearch.org, probate records, military research, GEDmatch, finding ancestors in Mexico,and technology-enabled collaborations for genealogists, all viewed on our new 70" touchscreen monitor.
Kunze Up Front! Book Signing
Saturday, November 9th, details to follow
Warda native Otto Kunze will be here to sign his new book about his experiences during World War II.
Current Exhibits
The Texas Liberator Project: Witness to the Holocaust
This traveling exhibit of 47 panels, which has previously been on display at the State Capitol and major Texas cities, begins with conditions leading up to World War II and ends with the stories of 19 Texans who liberated the concentration camps as the war ended. Special program on September 21. Exhibit ends October 19.
The Photography of Louis Melcher
More than 150 of Melcher's photographs of Fayette and Wharton Counties from the 1890s through 1920 show his talent for capturing everyday life in crisp images that are both beautiful and instructive.
Crayon Portraits
See examples from our large collection of portraits enhanced with conte crayons and charcoal.
Local Business Calendars
The hall gallery displays advertising calendars that date from 1928 to 1977, including one of the La Grange High School Band's community birthday calendars.
Recently on Facebook
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We've just determined that this photo of the 1913 flood in La Grange marked the easternmost edge of the flooding. For only a few months, the La Grange Hotel occupied this building at the northeast corner of Franklin and Travis Streets. The building came down in 1973, after having served more recently as Dr. Fitzpatrick's chiropractic clinic.
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This crayon portrait in our collection has now been identified as Capt. R. H. Phelps, who moved to La Grange after having lost his right leg during the seige at Vicksburg.
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 This master plan for the Randolph School in La Grange was a recent gift to the Museum and Archives.
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 We're excited to have received Julia Kreische's 1881 scrapbook.
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The photographer Arthur Nichol's family is shown here having fun with his photography props. His son is holding the apparatus to hold children's heads still and Arthur Nichols is opening the camera shutter with the cable running from his hand. The usual family would never bring their children to a photo session with mussed hair or pigtails and they certainly would not wear their everyday clothes and scuffed shoes or pose in their heavy coats. Additionally, no attempt was made to disguise Mrs. Nichols' pregnancy, hide the handkerchief in Arthur's pocket, or to pick up the hat left on the floor. It's even unusual for someone to have their legs crossed. Notice three versions of chairs used as props and the patterned scarf that would be thrown across a small table, among other things. Even the painted curtain has two separate scenes painted on it. We're excited to add this unusual photo to our collections
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Recent Gifts
This 1851 document signed by Jesse Burnam pertains to his guardianship of William Towsend's children (Burnam's grandchildren). It's one of two documents now in our Archives in which he is hiring out Townsend's slave named Jordan to support the children. Other items recently donated include:
- Randolph School blueprints
- Travis Street Methodist Church pageant photo
- Muenzler family and Willow Springs photographs
- The Alamo and Beyond: a collector's journey by Phil Collins
- Baer family and Waldeck/Walhalla area photographs
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Facebook
Like our page at www.facebook.com/FPLMA to see our "In the Archives" posts every Tuesday and our "Flashback Friday" posts every Friday.
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