Books & Periodicals | Oral Interviews | Manuscripts | Trade Literature | Photographs | Architectural Drawings & Maps
The manuscript holdings tell the story of early settlement and ranching in the region documenting the petroleum and agricultural industries, the cultural and religious activities of the community and achievements of the writers and artists.
The XIT Ranch records are the largest collection in the Center, consisting of over 235 linear feet of material. Over 3,000,000 acres of land along the western Texas Panhandle were given by the State of Texas to establish the XIT Ranch in return for the building of the state capitol in 1885.
Some of the most extensive manuscript collections documenting the history of ranching include the Francklyn Land and Cattle Company, White Deer lands, the Frying Pan Ranch and the Rio Bravo. Records of the JA Ranch and the Charles Goodnight papers are also housed in the archives.
Papers from James H. and Robert Cator depict the history of early buffalo hunters and settlers north of the Canadian River, Hank Smith’s documents tell of the early settler and rancher of the South Plains, and papers from L.G. Conner portray Canyon’s founder and town promoter.
Information on writers, especially women writers, is included in the Center’s collections. Some of these represented are journalist and historian Laura V. Hamner; early 20th century social activist and journalist Phebe K. Warner; and the mystery writer D. R. Meredith.
The region’s petroleum industry is documented in the papers of such pioneers as Donald D. Harrington and S.D. “Tex” McIlroy. The impact and history of agriculture can be seen by examining the papers of Hugh G. Porterfield, an early soil conservationist, who was instrumental in promoting methods to combat the Dust Bowl conditions of the 1930s. The papers of W. H. Upchruch, county extension agent for Hartley and Randall counties, reflect the attitudes of area farmers to the federal programs of the “dirty thirties.” Government papers from state elected officials are also available.
Complementing the original artwork on exhibit in the museum, papers on Frank Reaugh of Dallas, Harold D. Bugbee of Clarendon, W. Herbert Dunton and Frank P. Sauerwein are available to researchers.
Services & Fees
As a full service archives, the Research Center collects, preserves and makes accessible the documentary history of the Panhandle-Plains region.
| For more information contact the Research Center Director - Phone: 806-651-2274 - Fax: 806-651-2250 - Email |
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