Judge John W. Wildenthal Collection: An Inventory of his Records at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library

Judge John W. Wildenthal Collection:

An Inventory of his Records at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library


Descriptive Summary
	Creator	Wildenthal, Judge John W.
	Title	Judge John W. Wildenthal Collection
	Inclusive Dates	1959-1982
	Bulk Dates	1964-1978
	Identification	MSS 0313
	Extent	6 linear ft.; 8 document boxes, 1 small box, 1 large flat box; approximately 2686 items
	Language	Materials are in English.
	Repository	Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library

Biographical Note

Judge John W. Wildenthal was born in Cotulla, Texas on November 10, 1922. He attended Southwest Texas State Teacher’s College, and the University of Texas. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas in February, 1944. Following his graduation, Wildenthal served in the US Navy during World War II. After his discharge as a lieutenant, Wildenthal gained his law degree from the University of Texas in 1950. Following his graduation, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Wildenthal a member of his “Washington Legal staff.” Under Johnson, Wildenthal also served as attorney for the Senate Preparedness Subcommittee. He joined the General Counsel’s office of the Renegotiation Board in 1952. After three years in Washington, Wildenthal returned to Cotulla in 1953 to open a private law practice. John Wildenthal was elected County Attorney of La Salle County in 1958, and appointed Assistant Attorney General of Texas in 1959. He demonstrated his party commitment and loyalty when he became a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee, and managed the Dollars for Democrats campaign in 1959. During the same year, Wildenthal married Ms. Carolyn Harris. They had two children, Jon Mark Wildenthal and Mary Elizabeth Wildenthal.

In 1961, Wildenthal pursued his law practice in Houston, Texas, and became the campaign manager for Louie Welch. Louie Welch ran unsuccessfully for the Mayor of Houston in 1961, but won the same position in 1963. Welch selected Wildenthal as city attorney in 1964. Much of the research included in this collection – saltwater barriers on the Trinity River, bus service, etc. – are projects Wildenthal addressed during his time as Houston City Attorney. Wildenthal worked on projects such as gaining water and sewer lines and service for Acres Homes during his time as Houston City Attorney.

His political career included a run for the Democratic nomination of the Seventh congressional District in 1965. His Democratic opponent was Frank Briscoe, and the Republican opponent was future US President George Bush. Wildenthal also served as Vice President of the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority from 1968 to 1972.

Wildenthal was a trustee and member of Bellaire Christian Church, and a delegate for the Gulf Coast Area Christian Churches and the Texas Council of Churches. He worked with religious projects such as the Texas Conference of Churches and Institute of Religion including his legal contributions to the establishment and dedication of the Rothko Chapel. Judge Wildenthal was a member of the Houston Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, the Bar of the Supreme Court of Texas, and the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.


Arrangement

		Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority materials
		Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District materials
		Texas Self-Development Fund, Inc. materials
		Texas Council of Churches materials
		Texas Conference of Churches
		Coastal Plains Area, Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Texas materials
		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion materials
		Federal Bar Association
		Houston Inter-Faith Housing Corporation materials
		Studies of Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Houston’s Growth Problems
		Personal information and correspondence
		Published article
		Political campaign materials
		Dollars for Democrats materials
		Messages to the Prison Chaplain
		Scrapbooks

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

None.

Use Restrictions

None.


Index Terms

	Subjects
		Bar Associations
		Campaign Paraphernalia
		Chapels--Texas--Houston
		Prison chaplains--Texas--Houston
		Community development--Religious aspects
		Fund raising
		Subsidences (Earth movements)--Texas
		Water--Pollution--Texas
	Names
		Briscoe, Frank
		Wildenthal, John W., 1922-
	Organizations
		Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Texas. Coastal Plains Area
		Democratic Party (Tex.)
		Federal Bar Association
		Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority
		Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District
		Houston (Tex.) Inter-Faith Housing Corporation
		Rothko Chapel (Houston, Tex.)
		Texas Conference of Churches
		Texas Council of Churches
		Texas Medical Center. Institute of Religion
		Texas Self-Development Fund, Inc.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Judge John W. Wildenthal Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.

Acquisition Information

Donated by: Judge John W. Wildenthal.

Processing Information

Processed by: Martha Grace Cromeens, March 2002.

Detailed Description



Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority
	This series contains research including correspondence, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, and newsletters. The GCWDA series also includes reports on issues such as land subsidence and bulkheading effects.
Box	Folder
1	1	GCWDA research, 1968-1971.
	2	GCWDA research and correspondence, 1970-1971.
	3	GCWDA research – pamphlets and newsletters, 1970-1972.
	4	GCWDA – “Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972.”
	5	GCWDA research – articles, 1970-1972.
	6	GCWDA research – “Environmental Action” newsletter, 1970.
	7	GCWDA research – newspaper clippings, 1970-1971.
	8	GCWDA Certificate of Incorporation, 1974.
	9	GCWDA – Land Subsidence Report, 1975.
	10	GCWDA – Board of Directors Weekly Newsletter, 1971.
	11	GCWDA correspondence, 1971.
	12	GCWDA 1971 Reports.
	13	GCWDA, 1974-1976.
	14	GCWDA – Bulkheading Effects study, 1971.
Box	Folder
2	1	GCWDA subsidence correspondence, 1974-1975.
	2	GCWDA Subsidence – miscellaneous (research, notes, etc…), 1974-1975.
	3	GCWDA Subsidence Reports and Surveys, 1969, 1973.
	4	GCWDA Subsidence business cards.
	5	GCWDA Subsidence articles and research, 1970-1975.
	6	GCWDA 1971.
	7	GCWDA reports, 1975, 1976, 1978.

Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District.

This series consists of research regarding Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District as well as personal correspondence and a resume.

Box

Folder

Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District – correspondence, application, and resume, 1975.

Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District (research and information), 1975.



Texas Self-Development Fund, Inc. (TSDF).
	Series 3 includes meeting materials (i.e. minutes), funding information, pamphlets, and correspondence.
Box	Folder
3	1	Texas Self-Development Fund, Inc. correspondence, 1971-1972.
	2	TSDF pamphlets and booklets, 1969-1971.
	3	TSDF Miscellaneous, 1971-1972.
	4	TSDF Minutes and meeting and committee information, 1971.
	5	TSDF Funding, 1971-1972.

Texas Council of Churches

Box

Folder

Texas Council of Churches, 1966-1967.

Texas Conference of Churches.

General Materials

This series regarding the Texas Conference of Churches includes information concerning meetings, correspondence, and pamphlets.

Box

Folder

Texas Conference of Churches general correspondence, 1969-1973.

Texas Conference of Churches meeting information, 1969-1973.

Texas Conference of Churches pamphlets and booklets, 1969-1972.

Fund Materials

Box

Folder

Texas Conference of Churches Fund – Pedco Loan, 1969-1970.

Texas Conference of Churches Fund correspondence, 1970-1971.

Texas Conference of Churches Fund – miscellaneous, 1969-1970.

Texas Conference of Churches Fund meeting information (i.e. minutes), 1970.

Coastal Plains Area, Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Texas

Contains documents including minutes, agendas, and correspondence pertaining to the organization.

Box

Folder

Coastal Plains Area, Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Texas, 1968-1971.

Coastal Plains Area, Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Texas meeting information, 1968-1970.

Coastal Plains Area, Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Texas correspondence, 1968-1973.



Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion
		General
Box	Folder
4	4		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion and Human Development, 1975-1976.
	5		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion Endowment trust and deed, 1972-1976.
	6		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion Endowment trust and deed part 2, 1974.
	7		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – medical ethics, 1975.
		Rothko Chapel
Box	Folder
4	8		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Rothko Chapel, 1972-1975.
	9		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Rothko Chapel Part 2, 1974.
	10		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Rothko Chapel booklet and dedication, 1971.
		Baylor Medical
Box	Folder
5	1		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Baylor Medical correspondence, 1974-1977.
	2		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Baylor Medical correspondence, 1978-1980.
	3		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Baylor Medical pamphlets and newsletters, 1976-1981.
	4		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Baylor Medical minutes and agendas, 1976-1980.
	5		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Baylor Medical – financial, 1976-1980.
	6		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Baylor Medical – agreements and contracts, 1977-1978.
	7		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Baylor Medical Clinical Pastoral Education Evaluation, 1977.
	8		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Baylor Medical – bylaws, 1977-1978.
	9		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Baylor Medical – miscellaneous, 1976-1979.
		Treasurer’s Report
Box	Folder
6	1		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Treasurer’s Report, 1972.
	2		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Treasurer’s report correspondence, 1972-1982.
	3		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Treasurer’s report miscellaneous, 1973-1982.
	4		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Treasurer’s Report IRS, 1970-1973.
	5		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion – Treasurer’s Report (budgets, meetings, recommendations), 1973-1981.
		Institute of Religion and Human Development
Box	Folder
6	6		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion and Human Development, 1965-1974.
	7		Texas Medical Center – Institute of Religion and Human Development correspondence, 1972-1974.

Federal Bar Association

Box

Folder

Federal Bar Association, 1967-1973.



Houston Inter-Faith Housing Corporation
Box	Folder
7	1	Houston Inter-Faith Housing Corporation contracts, 1972.
	2	Houston Inter-Faith Housing Corporation miscellaneous, 1972.
	3	Houston Inter-Faith Housing Corporation correspondence, 1971-1975.

Study of Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Houston’s Growth Problems

Box

Folder

“A Continuing Study of Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Houston’s Growth Problems,” 1963.

Personal Information and Correspondence

Box

Folder

John Wildenthal, Jr., 1959-1966.

Published Article

Box

Folder

“Consensus After LBJ: The Role of the Electoral College.” 1968.



Political Campaign
	The Political campaign information within this series includes newspaper clippings, personal correspondence, flyers, bumper stickers, and any other information pertaining directly to Wildenthal’s campaign for the 7th District Congressional Seat.
Box	Folder
7	7	Newspaper clippings, 1965-1966.
	8	Wildenthal biography and news release, 1966.
	9	Frank Briscoe, 1964-1966.
	10	Wildenthal Press Clips, 1965-1966.
	11	Inaugural Invitation, 1965.



Dollars for Democrats
	Dollars for Democrats was a fundraiser during the 50s and 60s for the Democratic Party. This series includes correspondence between John Wildenthal and other campaign managers and Democratic party officials, stubs, receipts, account information, newsletters, and announcements.
Box	Folder
8	1	Dollars for Democrats – financial correspondence, 1959.
	2	Dollars for Democrats -- financial correspondence, 1960.
	3	Dollars for Democrats – financial deposits and account information, 1959-1961.
	4	Dollars for Democrats – miscellaneous, 1959-1966.
	5	Dollars for Democrats – correspondence, 1959.
	6	John Wildenthal Dollars for Democrats correspondence, 1959.

Messages to the Prison Chaplain

This box holds messages from prison inmates to the Prison Chaplain. The cards are approximately 3x5” and consist of personal information and requests. This box also includes a letter from the parents of an inmate to the Chaplain requesting help.

Scrapbooks

Two large scrapbooks and one smaller scrapbook hold newspaper clippings regarding political information.