urn:taro:houpub.00037 Dr. George Ebey Collection: An Inventory of his Records at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
500 McKinney St. Julia Ideson Building, 2nd Floor Houston, Tx 77002 832-393-1665
Text converted by SPI Content Sciences Inc., June 2003. Finding aid written in English. January 19, 2006Proofread by Andrew Hempe. Sept. 28, 2005 Edited with XMetaL 3 by Susan Lindberg, according to instructions in TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions Descriptive Summary Ebey, George, 1907- Dr. George Ebey Collection 1936-1971 1951-1955Materials are in English. MSS 0070 3 1inear ft.; 4 document boxes, 1 photograph box, 1 medium flat box; approximately 1038 items. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library Historical Note

This collection covers post-World War II issues including McCarthyism, the <emph render="doublequote">Red Scare,</emph> and <emph render="doublequote">Un-American activities.</emph> It also includes extensive information on the Minute Women, an organization of women against communism in politics and for the teaching of American heritage in schools. The Minute Women's organization spread throughout the U.S. and acquired a large membership in Texas.

Biographical Note

Marie Christensen Ebey (with her husband, R. M. Ebey) gave birth to George Ebey in San Jose, California on June 1, 1907. George graduated valedictorian from San Jose High School in 1924. He continued his education at San Jose State College, where he received a Junior College Certificate in 1927. Between 1922 and 1929 George Ebey worked for several businesses: Southern Pacific Railroad, Richmond Chemical Company, Aetna Life Insurance Company, and Standard Oil Company of California. After 1927, Ebey attended Stanford University. He earned his BA Degree in 1929. He continued his advanced education in 1931 when he enrolled at Stanford University a second time. George Ebey gained his Master's Degree in 1932.

He taught English and Dramatics, and was the Football coach at the Kamehameha School, Honolulu, Hawaii from September 1932 until June 1937. Dr. George Ebey married Leonor Campo at Honolulu, Hawaii on August 12, 1933. Afterward he attended Columbia University, Stanford University, and finally gained his Doctor's Degree in Education from the Teacher's College, Columbia University, New York City in 1940.

Dr. George Ebey was commissioned to serve as a Lieutenant in the US Army Air Force on July 25, 1942. He was granted the Award of the Legion of Merit on June 8, 1946 for his service as a member of Staff Planning Officers.

After his discharge, Dr. Ebey lectured for Stanford University during the Spring and Summer Term of 1946. In September 1946 he worked as a Professor of Secondary Education at the Chico State College, Chico, California, until 1948. He eventually gained a position as Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Portland, Oregon from 1948 to 1952. Thereafter he was employed as Deputy Superintendent of Schools for the Houston Independent School District (HISD), Houston, Texas.

Shortly after his arrival in Houston, accusations of Un-American activities were lobbed at Dr. Ebey. The HISD School Board conducted a hearing and decided to fire him in 1953.

 Scope and Contents

This collection consists of Dr. George Ebey's personal and professional correspondence, research, publications, speeches, news articles, and other items. These documents span the time before his employment at HISD, his struggle with HISD for his job, and the after-effects of the hearing and decision. This collection also includes the investigation of Roger O'Leary into the secretive underground organization of women <emph render="doublequote">against Un-American Activities</emph> - the Minute Women.

 Access Restrictions

None.

 Use Restrictions

None.

 Preferred Citation

Dr. George Ebey Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library

 Acquisition Information

Donated by Texas Gulf Coast Historical Association, 1977

 Processing Information

Processed by Martha Grace Cromeens, May 2002

 Index Terms Subjects Anti-communist movements--Texas--Houston School elections--Texas--Houston School superintendents--Texas--Houston Organizations Houston Independent School District Minute Women of the U.S.A., Inc. Houston Chapter Other Names Ebey, George, 1907- O'Leary, Roger Arrangement Series 1 Pre-HISD employment and accusations Series 2 Communist Accusations Series 3 General Research Company Report Series 4 Correspondence regarding accusations during and after the investigation Series 5 Newspaper articles Series 6 Board proceedings and decision Series 7 Correspondence after decision Series 8 Newspaper articles after decision Series 9 Materials authored by Ebey Series 10 Minute Women Series 11 Roger O'Leary Series 12 Citizens Advisory Conference on Education Series 13 Communist attacks and issues Series 14 HISD School Board Series 15 The AVC Bulletin Series 16 Photographs Detailed Description 1. Pre-HISD employment and accusations

This series includes a recommendation to award the Legion of Merit and information regarding the American Veterans Committee. It consists of the HISD job offer and subsequent correspondence as well as speeches given by Ebey.

 1 1 Miscellaneous, 1946-1952. 3 items 1 2 Houston job offer (HISD) and correspondence, 1952-1953. 28 items 1 3 Speeches, 1946-1952. 9 items 2. Communist Accusations

The second series consists of accusatory letters as well as general correspondence. The correspondence ranges from business directly related to the accusations to letters of recommendation and support.

 1 4 Communist accusations, 1952-1953. 3 items 1 5 Correspondence, 1952-1953. 53 items 1 6 Letters of recommendation, 1952-1953. 53 items 1 7 General correspondence on attack, 1952-1953. 48 items 1 8 Correspondence with Paul A. Rehmus, Superintendent of Portland Schools, 1952-1953. 14 items 1 9 Correspondence with Columbia University, 1952-1953. 10 items 3. General Research Company Report

This series contains a two-volume report amassed for the hearing regarding accusations against Dr. Ebey involving Communist activities. The report was a collection of background information.

 1 10 General Research Company Report, Volume 1, 1953. 1 item 1 11 General Research Company Report, Volume 2, 1953. 1 item 4. Correspondence regarding accusations during and after the investigation

Series 4 is comprised of correspondence, newspaper clippings, and press releases. The bulk of this series occurred during and after the investigation reported above.

 2 1 Correspondence regarding report, 1953. 11 items 2 2 General correspondence, 1952-1953. 6 items 2 3 Newspaper clippings and correspondence, 1952-1953. 50 items 2 4 Publications, <emph render="doublequote">Letters to the Editor</emph>, editorials, and correspondence regarding clippings, 1936, 1953. 14 items 2 5 Press release and correspondence, 1953. 13 items 5. Newspaper articles

These newspaper articles report directly on the Ebey controversy before the hearing and decision.

 2 6 Newspaper clippings, May 12, 1953-July 25, 1953. 127 items 2 7 Newspaper clippings and corresponding correspondence, July 26, 1953-August 1953. 36 items 6. Board proceedings and decision

This series includes Dr. Ebey's statement to the HISD Board of Education, others' statements to the board in support of Dr. Ebey, and the board's final decision.

 2 8 Board proceedings and decision, 1953. 6 items 7. Correspondence after decision

Series 7 contains telegraphs and personal responses regarding the HISD Board of Education's decision.

 2 9 Telegraphs after board action, July 1953. 12 items 2 10 Correspondence (supportive) after board action, 1953. 81 items 2 11 Correspondence (general) after decision, 1953-1954. 16 items 8. Newspaper articles after decision 2 12 Newspaper clippings, 1954. 4 items 2 13 Newspaper clippings, 1955. 2 items 9. Materials authored by Ebey

The materials included in this series include magazine and journal articles, speeches given, letters, and responses.

 3 1 Materials authored by Ebey, 1945-1953. 27 items 10. Minute Women

This series involves all information published and gathered about the <emph render="doublequote">Minute Women</emph> - a secretive organization of women against <emph render="doublequote">un-American activities</emph>. These documents include work by Roger O'Leary, correspondence and the Minute Women newsletters and pamphlets.

 3 2 Minute Women - articles and miscellaneous, 1944-1953. 61 items 3 3 Minute Women (from O'Leary's papers), 1951-1953. 32 items 3 4 Minute Women of the USA, Inc. Newsletters, 1951-1954. 13 items 11. Roger O'Leary

These folders contain Mr. O'Leary's correspondence, works, and personal information.

 3 5 O'Leary Correspondence, 1953-1954. 19 items 3 6 Material on O'Leary, 1953-1954. 14 items 3 7 Brown Award Committee Letter (rough drafts) by O'Leary, 1954. 27 items 3 8 The Nation magazine, January 9, 1954, featuring article by O'Leary. 1 item 12. Citizens Advisory Conference on Education 3 9 Citizens Advisory Conference on Education, 1952. 1 item 13. Communist attacks and issues 3 10 Doctors for Freedom, 1952-1953. 2 items 3 11 Attack on Dr. Clement, 1952. 2 items 3 12 Speeches and papers, 1953-1954. 3 items 3 13 Miscellaneous, 1953. 4 items 3 14 <emph render="doublequote">A Study of Factors Related to Educational Unrest in a large School System,</emph> 1954. 1 item 3 15 Hearing - Committee on Un-American Activities, 1953. 1 item 3 16 Right Wing Literature/McCarthyism, 1951-1954. 40 items 14. HISD School Board 4 1 HISD School Board (general), 1948-1971. 30 items 4 2 HISD School Board election, 1951-1952. 28 items 4 3 HISD meeting, December 12, 1949. 1 item 4 4 <emph render="doublequote">A Handbook of Facts about the Houston Independent School District,</emph> 1951. 1 item 4 5 HISD School Board articles, 1951-1954. 46 items 4 6 School election - miscellaneous, 1951-1953. 40 items 4 7 <emph render="doublequote">Land Population Growth</emph> report, 1951. 1 item 15. The AVC Bulletin

This series is held in a flat box, and contains 38 issues of The AVC Bulletin, published by the American Veterans Committee, of which Ebey was a member. 1946-1947. 38 items

 16. Photographs 6 Photographs MSS 0070.1-4 MSS 0070.1 Box 1, Folder 1 MSS 0070.2-3 Box 1, Folder 2 MSS 0070.4 Box 2, Folder 8