TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Restrictions
Index Terms
Administrative Information
Description of Series
Bonewitz Biographical Information and Houston History
Bonewitz Correspondence
Addendum
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Edwin A. Bonewitz Collection:
An Inventory of Records at the Houston Metropolitan
Research Center, Houston Public Library
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| Creator | Bonewitz, Edwin A. |
| Title | Edwin A. Bonewitz Collection |
| Inclusive Date | 1830's-1960's |
| Identification | MSS 25 |
| Extent | 6 boxes |
| Language | Materials are
in English. |
| Repository | Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public
Library |
Edwin Bonewitz was a lay historian interested in the history of Texas and especially Houston during the Republic and early statehood periods. Ed Bonewitz spent countless hours in the Harris County Court Records and in the Houston Public Library researching various topics with all the intensity of a perfectionist. Although he was an antiquarian concerned with esoteric subjects and completely caught up in detail, the results of his research are impressive.
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The Edwin A. Bonewitz Collection is a small holding of manuscripts, maps, drawings, correspondence, and notes of a lay historian relating to the history of Texas and especially Houston during the Republic and early statehood periods.
Although Bonewitz researched most of his adult life, the collection consists of material he compiled after 1950; the rest was destroyed. After Ed's death in 1969, his brother Fred Bonewitz deposited these remaining papers with the Houston Public Library. The collection consists of two segments: the manuscripts and the correspondence.
Bonewitz's seventeen original, unpublished manuscripts give one a great deal of insight into Houston, Texas during the Republic period and early statehood. This segment is the most useful part of the collection and should always be referred to first. The manuscripts describe Houston during the 1830's and 1840's, and explain much about its institutional life.
His voluminous correspondence with other historians comprises the largest part of the collection, but it is repetitious and difficult to use. Nonetheless, much extra material can be gleaned from the correspondence so as to supplement the manuscripts.
The collection also reveals the trials and tribulations of the non-professional historian, and the controversies which antiquarians in Texas dealt with in the 1950's and 1960's.
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Arrangement
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| The first two boxes are arranged alphabetically by subject with the manuscripts and letters concerning each topic filed together. Boxes 3 and 4 consist of correspondence arranged alphabetically by correspondent. The final box contains miscellaneous correspondence and notes taken by Bonewitz. |
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Access Restrictions
None.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Edwin A. Bonewitz Collection must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
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| Subjects |
| | Historical markers--Texas--Houston |
| | Mayors--Texas--Houston |
| | Public Schools--Texas--Houston |
| | Railroads--Texas--Houston |
| | San Jacinto, Battle of, Tex., 1836 |
| | Steamboats--Texas--Houston |
| Subjects (Persons) |
| | Allen, Augustus C. |
| | Allen, John K. |
| | Austin, John |
| | Bonewitz, Edwin A. |
| | Dickinson, Susanna |
| | Holley, Mary Austin, 1784-1846 |
| | Holman, James |
| | Houston, Sam, 1793-1863 |
| | Lamar, Mirabeau Buonaparte, 1798-1859 |
| | Mann, Pamelia |
| | Moore, Francis, 1808-1864 |
| | Parker, James W. |
| Subjects (Organizations) |
| | Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway Company |
| | Brazoria Railway Company |
| | Houston Tap Railroad |
| Subjects (Geographic) |
| | Houston (Tex.) |
| | Houston Ship Channel (Tex.) |
| | Texas--History--Republic, 1836-1846 |
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Edwin A. Bonewitz Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston
Public Library.
Donated by Fred Bonewitz, 1969.
Processed by Thomas H. Kreneck, 1977.
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Bonewitz Biographical Information and Houston History
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| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 1 | | Biographical materials, photo, and articles of Edwin A. Bonewitz |
| 2 | | Early Houston: Locations of Real Properties, 1830's-1850: "Long Row", Capitol, Downtown |
| 3 | | Early Houston: Locations of Real Properties, (Manuscript, "Houston-town in Mid-Year of 1839) |
| 4 | | Early Houston: Bonewitz Correspondence and Manuscripts on Residences and Capitol Building |
| 5 | | Early Houston: Structures and Newspapers, 1830's-1840's: Hotels, Bridges, Theatres, and Houston Telegram |
| 6 | | Founding of Houston: Allen Brothers, John Austin, William Austin |
| 7 | | Founding of Houston: "John Austin's Two Leagues of Land" |
| 8 | | Historical Markers in the Present Houston Area |
| 9 | | Houses and Schools in Early Houston, 1830's-1850's: Noble, Kellum, Cherry Houses |
| 10 | | Houses Churches, Parks, and Schools in Early Houston, 1830's-1850's: Noble, Kellum, Nichols Houses |
| Box | Folder |
| 2 | 1 | | Incorporation of Houston: First Mayors, Early Houston City Seals |
| 2 | | Incorporation of Houston: Two Bonewitz Manuscripts |
| 3 | | Individuals in Early Houston, Women, 1830's-1840's: P. Mann and S. Dickenson |
| 4 | | Miscellaneous Information on Early Houston and Texas: Texas Declaration of Independence, Zuber Story of Alamo, Parker Massacre, Houston during the Civil War |
| 5 | | Railroads in Early Houston, 1850's-1870's: |
| 6 | | San Jacinto Battle and Battleground |
| 7 | | Wa. B. Travis Diary, M. A. Holley Diary |
| 8 | | Water Transportation in Early Houston, 1830's-1870's: Port of Houston, Ship Channel, Constitution Bend, Steamboats, Buffalo Bayou |
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Bonewitz Correspondence
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| Box | Folder |
| 3 | 1 | | J. P. Bryan, B. Carrol, F. Dixon, J. Frantz |
| 2 | | Llerena Friend |
| 3 | | Llerena Friend |
| Box | Folder |
| 4 | 1 | | Journalists, Ed Kilman, G. Fuermann, F. Tolbert |
| 2 | | Librarians, Houston and Austin, Texas |
| 3 | | A. F. Muir |
| 4 | | R. H. Shuffler |
| Box | Folder |
| 5 | 1 | | Miscellaneous |
| 2 | | Bonewitz's Notes: Miscellaneous |
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Addendum
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| Box | Folder |
| 6 | 1 | | Correspondence with Houston Public Library, 1959-1962 |
| 2 | | Correspondence with Houston Public Library, 1963-1967 |
| 3 | | Correspondence with Port of Houston |
| 4 | | Correspondence with Port of Houston |
| 5 | | Miscellaneous notes |
| 6 | | Miscellaneous clippings |
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