Descriptive Summary
Mann, Frank E.
Frank E. Mann Collection1960-1979MSS.0049
16.25 Linear feet,
6 boxes
Materials are in English.
Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
Biographical Note
Frank E. Mann was a native Texan who served on the Houston City Council from 1960 to 1979. After securing law and accounting licenses, he served two nonconsecutive terms in the state legislature. Just before the outbreak of World War II, he organized the civilian fire defense program in Houston. During his tenure of nine terms in the City Council, Mann's accomplishments included a freeway program, the elimination of political firings, the installation of fire department ambulances, and the initiation of an employee insurance program. Forming close relationships with City employees, Mann worked on adjusting the salaries and insurance plans of Houston municipal employees in an effort to put them on par with those of private industry. Concerned about the difficulty of accommodating urban services to the City's growth, he dedicated himself to air and water pollution control, improved sewage and garbage disposal, and a continued supply of pure water. He advocated an equitable system of financing City services between the City and the county. Due to his lack of connections with minority groups, Mann was not reelected to his seat on the City Council in 1979.
Scope and Contents
Among the major subjects and materials of the collection are the reports on the nine single-member council districts plan, editorials on cable television, correspondence and financial statements covering city finances as a whole, reports on the technological development of fire control equipment, and progress reports regarding rapid transit. The rest of the materials consist of letters, reports of meetings, editorials, hearings, memoranda, and recommendations concerning such subjects as City annexations, City planning, sales and property taxes, and the Port of Houston Authority.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged according to the major subject groupings, each containing materials under subheadings which are organized chronologically. The less-frequent subject matters are also organized chronologically, though not by subheadings. The primary subject groupings and most folder titles reflect the original order of the papers.
Access Restrictions
None.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Frank E. Mann Collection must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Frank E. Mann Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.
Acquisition Information
Acquired in 1980.
Processing Information
Processed by: Alec Sulak, April 1991.
Index Terms
Mann, Frank E.
Air--Pollution--Texas--Harris County
City council members--Texas--Houston
Civic leaders--Houston (Tex.)
Environmental protection--Texas--Houston
Lawyers--Texas--Houston
Local elections--Texas--Houston
Politics--Texas--Houston
Pollution--Texas--Harris County
Port of Houston Authority
Public utilities--Texas--Houston
Public works--Texas--Houston
Transportation—Texas—Houston
Budget Matters
1
1
Payment of city employees, library budget
1960
1
2
Firemen salaries
1960
1
3
Police payroll
1960
1
4
1961
1
5
1962
1
6
1963
1
7
1964
1
8
1965
1
9
1966
1
10
1967
1
11
1968
1
12
1969
1
13
1970
1
14
1971
1
15
Payment of city employees,
1970-1971
1
16
General finances, Payment of city employees,
1972
1
17
Parks and recreation department, Trinity River Authority,
1972
1
18
Request for line-by-line budget,
1972
1
19
School taxes,
1972
1
20
Transfer of funds,
1972
1
21
General finances, Tax matters, Duties of Controller,
1973
1
22
Payment of city employees,
1973
1
23
General finances, Tax matters,
1974
2
1
City employees,
1974
2
2
1975
2
3
Requests made by Mann via city secretary,
1975
2
3
Requests made by Mann via city secretary,
1975
2
4
News articles,
1976
2
5
Fire department,
1976
2
6
Castillo, Police school,
1976
2
7
Ordinances, Motions, Minutes,
1976
2
8
Museum of Fine Arts,
1976
2
9
Wynnewood Acres, Bonnie Edwards,
1976
2
10
Houston Zoo improvements,
1976
2
11
1977
2
12
Fire department,
1977
2
13
Personnel roster,
1977
Cable Television Matters
2
14
Applications and public relations materials from companies,
1972,
1978
2
15
Application, Gulf Coast Cable TV,
1972
2
16
Application, Greater Houston Cable TV,
1972
2
17
Application, Cablevision of Houston, Inc. (Twin City Trans-Video, Inc.)
1973
2
18
Teleprompter Corporation (Southwest Video Corporation),
1972
2
19
Editorials, Arguments from individuals and associations pro and con,
1973,
1978
3
1
Proposals, Ordinances, Statements,
1973,
1979
Nine Single Member Council Districts Plan
3
2
Five separate plans for redistricting,
1979
3
3
City motions, resolutions, minutes, statements,
1979
3
4
Notices of meeting dates and times, speakers' list,
1979
3
5
Determination of boundaries, Robert M. Collie and Justice Department correspondence,
1979
3
6
Population tabulations (A),
1979
3
7
Population tabulations (B),
1979
3
8
August 16 hearing, Determination of boundaries,
1979
3
9
Correspondence from groups and individuals, election matters and voting results,
1979
Houston Fire Department
3
10
C.R. Cook, Fire Chief,
1969,
1974
3
11
Preliminary statement, aerials and pumpers,
1974
3
12
Bids on fire apparatus,
1976
3
13
Specifications for pumping engines,
1976
4
1
Preliminary statement, procurement of reserve pumpers,
1976
4
2
Bids on fire apparatus,
1977
Rapid Transit Action Program
4
3
Motions, Ordinance,
1964-1968
4
4
Progress reports,
1964-1968
4
5
Houston-Harris County Transportation Studies,
1969-1972
4
6
General information, News articles,
1970-1979
4
7
Post Oak Transit Project,
1970
4
8
Progress Reports, Recommendations,
1970-1971
4
9
Dial-a-Ride,
1971
4
10
Editorials, Copies of news articles,
1971-1973
4
11
Statements, Letters to mayors regarding appointments to rapid transit authority,
1973
4
12
Recommendations, Progress reports, Hearings,
1972
4
14
Car pooling,
1973
4
13
Minutes of meetings, Letters,
1973
4
15
Technology,
1973
4
16
Southern Pacific Railroad,
1973
4
17
Airport,
1974
4
18
Acquisition of private property by the City of Houston
4
19
Traffic and environmental concerns,
1974
5
1
Bus fares and costs,
1970-1971
5
2
Texas Highway Department: initial overview, social, economic, environmental assessment,
1974
5
3
Budget matters,
1979
Miscellaneous
5
4
Letters regarding city planning, houses, roads,
1961-1978
5
5
Chiropractic,
1966-1967
5
6
Sales tax controversy,
1967
5
7
Land platting activity,
1970
5
8
Astrodome lease,
1971-1972
5
9
Texas Film Commission,
1973
5
10
Letter on criminal justice, statement from clergy,
1971-1976
1973,
1974,
Port of Houston Authority: meetings of port commissioners,
1979
5
11
5
12
Comprehensive alcoholism plan for Harris County,
1974-1975
5
13
Capitol improvement program: schedule,
1975-1976
5
14
Trucks: hazardous materials,
1976
5
15
Civil service department: classification system,
1976-1977
5
16
Art contributions,
1974,
1977
5
17
Frank Davis notes,
1976
5
18
Appreciation dinner: copy of news article,
1976
5
19
Annexations,
1978
5
20
Property taxes,
1979
5
21
Institute of International Education: Southern Regional Advisory Board
5
22
Photographs
Nine Single Member Council Districts Plan: Five drawings of proposals
6