Texas

Lola Cheatham, a long-time San Marcos resident talks about the growth of San Marcos and what Texas State used to be like. She recalls growing up and attending school in Caldwell County, going to college at Texas College in Tyler, and working for SWTSU for sixteen years. She shares her experiences and duties during her employment at the University Staff Lounge in Flowers Hall. Ms. Cheatham discusses university figures such as Emmie Craddock, John Flowers, LBJ, and Dana Smith, the university's first enrolled African-American student.

Margaret Carney reminisces about her life in Chilton and Waco during WWI and WWII. She reflects on her work in the USO as a hostess and director of the service club at North Camp Hood and South Camp Hood where she was paid to sing, dance, and play piano for the soldiers. Along with recalling certain popular songs, dances, and momentous events like V-E Day and V-J Day, she discusses the camps' soldiers and German POWs.

Robert Barton describes his early life and education in the Buda and Kyle areas, specifically recalling how his cattle-driving family came to settle in Texas, attending Buda High School, and graduating from Southwest Texas State Teachers College after serving in the military during the Korean War. He discusses buying, running, and selling the Kyle News newspaper, as well as operating the Colloquium Bookstore. He speaks about the changes San Marcos and Texas politics have gone through over time, including his work with the Hays County Democratic Party. He shares his thoughts about LBJ and discusses his own run for the Texas Legislature.

Dr. Bain describes how the medical field and opportunities for female doctors have changed over the span of her career, especially in Austin, TX. Dr. Bain briefly discusses growing up in Centerville, attending college at the Texas State College for Women, and going to medical school at the University Medical Branch in Galveston. Beyond talking about being a woman in medical school, Dr. Bain shares her experiences working at Brackenridge Hospital and starting her private practice in Austin. She later recalls her participation in a number of medical societies, including the Travis County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association, as well as the state of healthcare and insurance in the United States.

John Matthew (J.M.) Cape II (1924-2013), grandson of early San Marcos settler John Matthew Cape, was born in his family home on the banks of the San Marcos River. He joined the family cotton business, working for 43 years as a cottonseed broker. Cape discusses growing up in San Marcos, his family’s business, the history of cotton in Texas including farms, mills, and gins, the current state of cotton oil production, and some of the changes he’s witnessed in the city and the surrounding areas.

Materials include one complete and one incomplete draft of House Bill 696 of the 26th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature (1899). The summary of the proposed bill reads: "An act to provide for establishing, governing, and maintaining a State normal school at San Marcos as to be known as the 'Southwest Texas Normal School.'" A subsequent version of this text became SB260, the legislation that officially authorized the creation of the institution now known as Texas State University.

A group of laws compiled by C.E. Evans regarding the establishment and maintenance of the teachers colleges in the State of Texas.

Prepared for the City of Johnson City with assistance from the National Park Service and the Public History Program/History Department Southwest Texas State University.

Jody Payne (left) posing with Devall Hick (2nd from left), Kenny Smith (right), and an unknown woman (2nd from right) on the stage of an unidentified venue