Dr. George Ebey Collection MSS.0070


Descriptive Summary
	Creator	Ebey, George, 1907-
	Title:	Dr. George Ebey Collection
	Dates:	Bulk, 1951-1955
	Dates:	1936-1971, 1951-1955
	Identification:	MSS.0070
	Quantity:	3.0 Linear feet, 4 document boxes, 1 photograph box, 1 medium flat box; approximately 1038 items.
	Language:	Materials are in English.
	Repository:	Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library

Historical Note

This collection covers post-World War II issues including McCarthyism, the "Red Scare," and "Un-American activities." 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 and earned his Master's Degree in 1932.

Ebey 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 earned his Doctorate 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 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 against Un-American Activities, the Minute Women.


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

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

None.

Use Restrictions

None.


Index Terms

		Ebey, George, 1907-
		Houston Independent School District
		Minute Women of the U.S.A., Inc. Houston Chapter
		O'Leary, Roger
		Anti-communist movements--Texas--Houston
		Education--Texas--Houston
		Houston Independant School District (HISD)
		School elections--Texas--Houston
		School superintendents--Texas--Houston
		Schools—Texas—Houston

Administrative Information

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

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Pre-HISD employment and accusations

Scope and Contents note

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.

Box

Folder

Miscellaneous, 1946-1952.
3 items

Houston job offer (HISD) and correspondence, 1952-1953.
28 items

Speeches, 1946-1952.
9 items

2. Communist Accusations

Scope and Contents note

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.

Box

Folder

Communist accusations, 1952-1953.
3 items

Correspondence, 1952-1953.
53 items

Letters of recommendation, 1952-1953.
53 items

General correspondence on attack, 1952-1953.
48 items

Correspondence with Paul A. Rehmus, Superintendent of Portland Schools, 1952-1953.
14 items

Correspondence with Columbia University, 1952-1953.
10 items

3. General Research Company Report

Scope and Contents note

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.

Box

Folder

General Research Company Report, Volume 1, 1953.
1 item

General Research Company Report, Volume 2, 1953.
1 item

4. Correspondence regarding accusations during and after the investigation

Scope and Contents note

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

Box

Folder

Correspondence regarding report, 1953.
11 items

General correspondence, 1952-1953.
6 items

Newspaper clippings and correspondence, 1952-1953.
50 items

Publications, "Letters to the Editor," editorials, and correspondence regarding clippings, 1936, 1953.
14 items

Press release and correspondence, 1953.
13 items

5. Newspaper articles

Scope and Contents note

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

Box

Folder

Newspaper clippings, May 12, 1953-July 25, 1953.
127 items

Newspaper clippings and corresponding correspondence, July 26, 1953-August 1953.
36 items

6. Board proceedings and decision

Scope and Contents note

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.

Box

Folder

Board proceedings and decision, 1953.
6 items

7. Correspondence after decision

Scope and Contents note

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

Box

Folder

Telegraphs after board action, July 1953.
12 items

Correspondence (supportive) after board action, 1953.
81 items

Correspondence (general) after decision, 1953-1954.
16 items

8. Newspaper articles after decision

Box

Folder

Newspaper clippings, 1954.
4 items

Newspaper clippings, 1955.
2 items

9. Materials authored by Ebey

Scope and Contents note

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

Box

Folder

Materials authored by Ebey, 1945-1953.
27 items

10. Minute Women

Scope and Contents note

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

Box

Folder

Minute Women - articles and miscellaneous, 1944-1953.
61 items

Minute Women (from O'Leary's papers), 1951-1953.
32 items

Minute Women of the USA, Inc. Newsletters, 1951-1954.
13 items

11. Roger O'Leary

Scope and Contents note

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

Box

Folder

O'Leary Correspondence, 1953-1954.
19 items

Material on O'Leary, 1953-1954.
14 items

Brown Award Committee Letter (rough drafts) by O'Leary, 1954.
27 items

The Nation magazine, January 9, 1954, featuring article by O'Leary.
1 item

12. Citizens Advisory Conference on Education

Box

Folder

Citizens Advisory Conference on Education, 1952.
1 item



13. Communist attacks and issues
Box	Folder
3	10	Doctors for Freedom, 1952-1953. 2 items
	11	Attack on Dr. Clement, 1952. 2 items
	12	Speeches and papers, 1953-1954. 3 items
	13	Miscellaneous, 1953. 4 items
	14	"A Study of Factors Related to Educational Unrest in a large School System," 1954. 1 item
	15	Hearing - Committee on Un-American Activities, 1953. 1 item
	16	Right Wing Literature/McCarthyism, 1951-1954. 40 items



14. HISD School Board
Box	Folder
4	1	HISD School Board (general), 1948-1971. 30 items
	2	HISD School Board election, 1951-1952. 28 items
	3	HISD meeting, December 12, 1949. 1 item
	4	"A Handbook of Facts about the Houston Independent School District, " 1951. 1 item
	5	HISD School Board articles, 1951-1954. 46 items
	6	School election - miscellaneous, 1951-1953. 40 items
	7	"Land Population Growth" report, 1951. 1 item

15. The AVC Bulletin

Scope and Contents note

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

Box

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