Born in 1814, T. W. House immigrated to Houston from England (via New Orleans) in 1838. By 1853 he had become Houston's most successful merchant and dry goods dealer. House was instrumental in the formation of several freight transportation firms vital to the city's early economy. His later success as a cotton factor eventually made him one of Texas' most prominent private bankers and investors and helped identify him as an invaluable contributor to Houston's early growth. House was succeeded by five children, of whom Edward Mandell House (an advisor of Woodrow Wilson) was the best known.
The collection is small, but includes here are a number of leaves of correspondence and an interesting though fragmentary journal which documents a trip by House to England during the Civil War. The bulk of the collection is composed of legal documents and fragmentary business records.
The collection is arranged chronologically within material types: legal documents, business records, correspondence, etc.
None.
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the T. W. House Papers must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
T. W. House Papers. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.
Donated by: Mrs. Roy Needham.
Processed in 1976.