Article Archive

December

1

Rancher accidentally shot on train
(1901)

Missouri Pacific enters Texas
(1880)

Cartoonist's career begins
(1905)

D. and A. Oppenheimer closes
(1988)

2

"Angel of San Antonio" weds longtime love
(1880)

Lucy Pickens's face appears on Confederate $100 bills
(1862)

Founder of Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence dies
(1975)

From Peck to Tomball to "Oil Town U.S.A."
(1907)

3

Baylor University dedicates Armstrong Browning Library
(1951)

West Texas townsite company sells more than 200 lots despite sandstorm
(1924)

Outlaw meets his match
(1884)

Dallas Morning News buys out rival paper
(1885)

4

Texans appeal to San Antonio merchants as "Cart War" nears its end
(1857)

"Walking George" Beto dies
(1991)

Matador Ranch sold
(1882)

Carl G. Cromwell, ignoring orders, brings in world's deepest oil well
(1928)

5

Texans assault Mexican garrison at Béxar
(1835)

"Dusky Deamon" Bill Pickett born in Travis County
(1870)

Spanish priests launch "peace offensive"
(1791)

Philosophical Society of Texas founded in Houston
(1837)

6

U.S. government okays the building of the Port Isabel lighthouse
(1851)

Jefferson Davis dies
(1889)

Leadbelly dies
(1949)

San Antonio hosts two observing expeditions for transit of Venus
(1882)

7

Texas native Doris Miller shoots back at Japanese attackers
(1941)

Noah Smithwick banished from Texas as "a bad citizen"
(1830)

West Texas Historical and Scientific Society organized
(1925)

Dallas museum trustees issue statement in "red art" controversy
(1955)

8

Southwestern colleges form athletic conference
(1914)

Texarkana established
(1873)

Mission church begins remarkable run
(1755)

Bee County comes into being
(1857)

9

Juan de Ugalde is born in Spain
(1729)

Founder of Negro National League dies
(1930)

Martín de Alarcón appointed governor of Texas
(1716)

10

The New York and Texas Land Company begins operation
(1879)

Lamar inaugurated as president of the Texas Republic
(1838)

Early female land promoter and diplomat goes down with the ship
(1878)

Dan Blocker born
(1928)

11

Black farmers form union
(1886)

Lipan chief captured and brought to Bexar
(1737)

Future Broadway star born in Weatherford
(1913)

Diplomat of the Republic arrives in Mexico
(1839)

12

Fiery preacher denounces professor
(1930)

Toonerville Trolley opens for business
(1910)

Red Rovers leave for Texas
(1835)

13

Spanish mapping expedition heads for Texas
(1777)

Moore leads sortie of Texas Navy
(1841)

Texas Workers' Compensation Act passed
(1989)

Award-winning Texas author commits suicide
(1956)

14

League formed to help Mexican-American children
(1934)

Leonard Brothers opens in Fort Worth
(1918)

Founder of Negro Fine Arts School dies
(1978)

Republic licenses doctors
(1837)

15

Wealthiest signer of Declaration of Independence arrives in Texas
(1834)

Elite cavalry regiment enters Texas
(1855)

John Woodward appointed Texas consul general to New York
(1836)

Railroad runs excursion train to lure settlers
(1887)

16

Republic of Fredonia stillborn in Nacogdoches
(1826)

Texas Railroad, Navigation, and Banking Company chartered
(1836)

Sul Ross takes command of Confederate cavalry brigade
(1863)

Future Texas governor born in Georgia
(1861)

17

"John Henry Faulk Show" debuts on WCBS
(1951)

J. J. Schott opens Galveston pharmacy
(1867)

Mexican governor born in San Antonio
(1778)

18

Texas Rangers "rescue" Cynthia Ann Parker
(1860)

Conjunto legend dies
(1984)

Bad Hand diagnosed as insane
(1883)

Pioneer Hertz brothers arrive in Nacogdoches
(1829)

19

San Antonio presents grievances to Mexican state legislature
(1832)

Rival Lubbock County towns consolidate
(1890)

Albany jail reopens as a museum
(1980)

Somervell expedition disbands
(1842)

20

Congress approves the Post Office Department of the Republic of Texas
(1836)

Duval County Democratic leader shot, opening door for Parr dynasty
(1907)

Garrison at Goliad declares independence
(1835)

Driskill Hotel opens in Austin
(1886)

21

Governor Wood takes office
(1847)

Legislature establishes Frontier Regiment
(1861)

Legislature passes act to encourage transcontinental railroad through Texas
(1853)

Political boss Jim Wells dies
(1923)

22

First Texas-German church services held in Houston
(1839)

General Land Office established
(1836)

National Wildflower Research Center opens on Lady Bird's birthday
(1982)

Escaped POW William Dyess resumes flying and dies in plane crash
(1943)

23

"Santa Claus" robs bank but muffs getaway
(1927)

Scott and White becomes nonprofit hospital foundation
(1949)

Black militia company organizes in Nueces County
(1879)

Bob Lemmons, "the most original mustanger," dies
(1947)

24

The railroad comes to Texas
(1852)

Early community incorporated
(1838)

Spanish captain's arrival triggers construction of Presidio del Norte
(1759)

Museum benefactors Kay and Vera Fuller Kimbell marry
(1910)

25

First Communion service for Texas Episcopalians
(1838)

Kit Carson signs Sawtooth Mountain
(1839)

Houston and Texas Central reaches Austin
(1871)

Mexican raiders attack Luke Brite's ranch
(1917)

26

First commercial buffalo hunt in Texas
(1874)

Pro-Union Tejanos lynch secessionist judge
(1862)

Independence Heights is independent no longer
(1929)

Future Eagle Pass civic leader born in Hungary
(1885)

27

Texas Masons hold first meeting
(1835)

Stephen F. Austin dies
(1836)

Eli Whiteley wins the Medal of Honor in France
(1944)

Austin incorporates--the first such act with public health provisions
(1839)

28

Death of blues king Freddie King
(1976)

Oldest Jewish house of worship in Texas chartered
(1859)

Poet-horticulturist "Fruit Tree" Ramsey dies
(1932)

First oil well in Ector County signals development of Odessa
(1926)

29

U.S. Congress approves annexation of Texas
(1845)

Cartoonist publishes last regular work
(1972)

Texas Folklore Society founded in Dallas
(1909)

Painter Frank Reaugh born in Illinois
(1860)

30

Jury acquits traveling salesman of murder
(1880)

Historian Gambrell dies
(1982)

Mayor of San Antonio indicted for misapplication of funds
(1938)

Anson Jones throws Duff Green out of Texas
(1844)

31

Armadillo World Headquarters closes its doors for good
(1980)

Bluebonnet Bowl wilts as old year fades
(1987)

Birder's paradise established
(1937)

Official Spanish census records 247 male and 167 female mulattoes
(1792)

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