Overview of the Collection
Robert E. Nail, Jr. Archives
Old Jail Art Center,
201 S. 2nd St.,
Albany, TX 76430
Old Timer Staff
Old Timer and Junior Historian Collection
1975-1997
20 containers. 8.4 cubic feet
Drafts, electronic documents oral history audiocassettes, photographs, negatives, slides, printed material, publicity, publications, operational documents, and scrapbooks document the tenure of the Junior Historians of Albany High School, Albany, Texas and the production of the publication Old Timer.
AR.2006.001
The records are in English.
Biographical Note
The Old Timer Magazine started in 1975 as an extracurricular Bicentennial activity for Albany High School students. The magazine, named for a character in the Fort Griffin Fandangle, documented local Shackelford County history. Created and sponsored by Barney Nelson, an extraordinary young woman, the Old Timer was an immediate success. The students researched, interviewed, wrote text, did their own layouts, photography, and much of the publishing work at the local newspaper publishing plant under the direction of the editor of the Albany News. All financing was done by the students with loans from the First National Bank of Albany. The Old Timer operated on a shoestring budget; it owned absolutely nothing except the enthusiasm and cooperation of the Albany community. Later that year Mrs. Nelson moved and Mrs. Winifred Waller took over as sponsor.
In 1977, Old Timer staff gained the support of Albany I.S.D. and the Old Timer became an Albany High School project. The following year, 1978, the Old Timer staff affiliated itself with the Texas Junior Historian organization. The students began submitting articles to the Junior Historian Writing Contest where the top six articles are published in
Texas Historian, a state wide publication. That same year a regional history publication called Big Country, Places, Events, and People was started by the Texas Bureau of Economic Understanding as part of the West Texas Schools American Heritage Project.
Between 1975-1981, eight Old Timer's were published with many articles going on to be published both in Texas Historian and Big Country, Places, Events, and People. After 1981, local history articles continued to appear in Big Country, but by 1986, the enthusiasm sparked by the 1976 bicentennial had all but dissipated.
Scope and Contents
Drafts, electronic documents, oral history audiocassettes, photographs, negatives, slides, printed material, publicity, publications, operational documents, and scrapbooks document the tenure of the Junior Historians of Albany High School, Albany, Texas and the production of the publication
Old Timer. The bulk of the material consists of drafts of articles that appeared in Old Timer and/or Big Country. The collection is split into four series. Series 1 contains material relating to the production of the
Old Timer and Big Country such as drafts, electronic documents, galley proofs, research, photographs, negatives, slides and oral history audiocassettes. Series 2 contains supporting production material such as photographs, negatives, and research material.
Series 3 contains administrative material relating to the management of the Junior Historians student group such as correspondence, publicity, printed material, operational documents and scrapbooks.
Series 4 contains the publications
Old Timer, Big Country, Texas Historian, and others. *Note: The complete series of Old Timer and Big Country can be also be found on the Archives bookcase.
Arrangement
Series 1 contains drafts arranged first by subject in alphabetical order: Assorted, Businesses, Churches, Events, Folklore, Frontier Life, Landmarks, Organizations, Persons, and Ranching and Farming. Within subjects, the material is arranged by article title in alphabetical order. Photographs, negatives, slides, oral history audiocassettes, research materials, and electronic documents associated with individual articles are noted if they exist. Series 1 also contains photographs, negatives, and slides used in the production of
Old Timer as well as those created at various Junior Historian events.
Series 2 contains supporting production material that may or may not be directly related to a particular article. Much of this secondary production material is unidentified photographs, negatives, and research material.
Series 3 is arranged by document type; operational documents, printed material, publicity, and scrapbooks.
Series 4 is arranged by title then chronologically. *Note: The complete series of
Old Timer and Big Country can be also be found on the Archives bookcase.
Note
The full series of both
Old Timer and Big Country do not exist in this collection. See the Archivist to locate copies of these magazines.
Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Organizations:
Junior HistoriansWest Texas Schools American Heritage Project
Texas Bureau of Economic Understanding
Places:
Albany, Texas
Subjects:
Local HistoryBusiness Church Events Folklore Frontier Life Landmarks Organizations Persons Ranching and Farming
Titles:
Big CountryOld TimerTexas Historian
Restrictions on Access
Open to the Public
Alternative Form Available
Webb Family Papers Finding Aid - Raw XML
Acquisition Information
Acquisitions within this collection: AR.2006.001
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Drafts,
1975-1997
Assorted Drafts and Projects
8
2
Gangsters and Moonshine - Those "Good 'Ole" Depression Days, Sandy Stovall-Breeden,
1980
8
2
Photographs
8
2
Galley Proofs
8
3
Wildlife in Shackelford County, Jamey Collinsworth,
1977
8
4
From Seneca Falls to Suffragettes: Equality or Enfranchisement?, Lisa Adams,
1986
11
5
Texas History Day: Shackelford County Courthouse Project, by Chad Duggan
1985
11
9
Research: Shackelford County Courthouse,
undated
Map Case
Shelf
Scrapbook, by Chad Duggan,
1983
Map Case
Shelf
The Gathering Place: Research, Recipes, Remedies, Debbie Wilfong, Lori Williams,
1984
9
5
Assorted English Papers,
undated, 1981
Business
1
1
Albany Abstract Company, Kay Williams,
1980
1
1
Photographs
1
1
Galley proofs
1
2
Albany News speaks for the frontier, Marcie Duggan,
1988
1
2
Photographs
1
2
Research
9
1
All aboard the Texas central, Debbie Wilfong,
undated
10
7
Cook Field, Charles Holson,
1975
9
2
Development of the oil industry in Shackelford County, Bill Farmer,
undated
1
3
E.J. Freeman Manufacturing Company, Genee Wagley,
1981
1
3
Photographs
1
3
Galley proofs
1
3
Research
1
4
First National Bank, Jay Adams,
1981
1
4
Photographs
1
4
Research
1
5
Fort Griffin General Merchandise Store, Cathy Teinert and Johnny Jones,
1977
1
5
Photographs
10
Hand of Pitch: Oil in Shackelford County, K.C. Jones,
1975
1
6
Ledbetter Salt Works, Samantha Hawkins,
1986
16
19
Oral History Audiocassette,
1986
1
6
Photographs
10
2
Photographs
10
2
Research
10
7
Ledbetter Salt Works, Eddie Bailey,
1977
1
7
Lone Star Head Company, Larry Boone,
1981
1
7
Photographs
1
7
Galley proofs
1
8
Lueders Rock Quarry, Margaret Peacock,
1979
1
8
Photographs
1
8
Galley proofs
16
4
Oral History Audiocassette
9
4
Number Please? - The telephone companies of Albany, Texas, Kendra Shirley,
1982
6
8
Oil Booming with the Goff Brothers, John Ayers,
1978
6
8
Photographs
1
9
Pioneer Store, Jeri Cameron,
1978
1
9
Research
1
10
Pioneer Store, Jeri Cameron,
1978
1
10
Photographs
1
11
Sure enough phone system, A, Lori Henderson,
1986
2
1
Texas Central Railroad, Jim Norman,
undated
2
1
Research
2
2
That Modern Hotel - McLemore Hotel, Marshall C. Mitchell,
1977
2
2
Photographs
2
3
That's Entertainment - Aztec Theatre, Marshall Mitchell,
1978
2
3
Photographs
Churches
2
4
Catholic Church in Albany, Enedelia Martinez,
1986
16
22
Ruben Castañeda Oral History Audiocassette
2
5
First Baptist Church of Albany, Texas, Beverly Lamb,
1977
2
6
History of the First Christian Church of Albany, Texas, Lori Williams,
1986
16
9-11
Oral History Audiocassette (3)
2
6
Research
19
"Our Heritage," First Christian Church, of Albany, Texas,
1961
10
7
Living in history: the first presbyterian church of Albany, Tammy McMordie,
1975
2
7
Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church, Jerry Don Vandivere,
1977
9
3
Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church 1880-1989, Melissa Compton,
1989
2
8
Trinity Lutheran Church, Ray Seedig,
1983
2
8
Photographs
2
8
Research
Events
2
9
Biggest Thing that ever happened in Albany: Albany Flood 1978, Tommy Campbell,
1979
2
9
Photographs
2
9
Galley proofs
9
2
Fort Griffin Fandangle,
undated
2
10
Fort Griffin Fandangle: Four Important Shows, Carrie Prince,
1978
2
10
Photographs
9
3
Natural Disasters in Shackelford County: Flood and Fire, Chad Bartee,
undated
2
11
Santa Claus Bank Robbery, Lisa Henry,
1980
9
1
The Bank has been robbed, Darla Holder,
undated
10
7
Tragedy of too much water, Cathy Teinert,
1975
Folklore
3
1
Ancient Divining Practices in a Modern World, Paul Quesenberry,
1981
3
1
Photographs
3
1
Galley proofs
3
1
Research
10
7
Early Household Remedies, Rodney Wade,
1975
3
2
Jump Back! He's fixin to get you again!, Darla Holder,
1977
9
4
Water rides the wind, Lisa Gillespie,
undated
7
4
Watt Matthews: Folklore of his lifetime, Sunday Belcher,
1989
Frontier life
3
3
Buffalo Hunters, Jimmy Walsworth,
1984
3
4
Cooking and Curing in the 1800s, Kristy Spurgin,
1984
3
4
Research
3
5
Indian Attacks in and around Shackelford County, Devita Boyd,
1984
3
6
Shackelford County Trees, John and Ray Caldwell,
1975
3
6
Photographs
Landmarks
9
1
75 years in history, Ray Seedig,
undated
3
7
Albany's first cemetery: the beginning and the end, Jan Matthews,
1977
10
7
Country Side Graveyard, Sharon Hash,
1975
9
2
Fort Davis, Jim Tom Lenoir,
undated
3
8
Fort Griffin Cemetery, Greg Parker,
1978
3
8
Photographs
3
9
Georgia Battalion Monument, Darla Holder,
1978
3
9
Photographs
9
2
House upon the land, Gina Chapman,
1989
10
7
Ibex, Texas, Jim Law,
1975
9
3
Memory of an Old Rock House, Jamey Collinsworth,
undated
10
7
Moran: Past! Present! Future, Michelle Harris,
1975
9
4
Old Cauble House, Cynthia Cauble,
undated
3
10
Reynolds Bend Cemetery: A Final Resting Place, Deedra Martin,
1979
3
11
Reynolds Bend: A Place of Heritage, Letha Powell Key,
1979
3
11
Rock Hill School, Gary Gossett,
1979
3
11
Photographs
3
13
Suspension Bridges-Engineering Marvels of the Frontier: Old Bridges in Shackelford County, Brentley Irwin, Gary Estep,
1978
3
13
Photographs
3
14
That Superintendent will have to go.., Becky Parker,
1976
Organizations
3
15
Albany Lions Football, Gerry Middlebrook,
1979
3
16
Albany Volunteer Fire Department, Liz Sazama,
1980
3
16
Photographs
3
17
Galley Proofs,
1980
16
20
Walter Crow Oral History Audiocassette
4
1
Beginning and early history of Harding-Simmons University, Ricia Petree,
1986
4
2
Bluebonnet Study Club, Tami Nixon,
1979
4
2
Photographs
4
3
Eastern Star and Masons, Jill Holson,
1979
4
3
Photographs
4
3
Research
4
4
Hendrick Home for Children, Lillian Wheeler,
1981
16
13
Claude Bruce Oral History Audiocassette
9
3
Look into the past: The Reynolds Presbyterian Orphanage, Jennifer R. Heirman,
1993
9
3
Masonic fraternity, Bobby McCoy,
undated
9
3
Masonic Lodge #482, Jay Walsworth,
1981
9
4
Reynolds Presbyterian Academy, Renee McCoy,
undated
4
5
Rockwell Foundation, Laura Simonson,
undated
9
4
Schools of Shackelford County, Loree Skiles,
1997
Persons
4
6
Adams Family moves West, Melissa Shankles,
1977
10
7
Albany's first native capitalist, Tricia Pringle,
1975
4
7
Ann King's Monkey Bread,
1980
4
7
Photographs
4
8
Arthur Adams: Businessman, Father, Friend, Jamey Collinsworth ,
1978
4
8
Photographs
4
8
Research
10
7
As told by Miss Nell Sammons and Mrs. Margaret Earhart Matthews, Betty Key,
1975
4
9
Big Boss Tent Man: George Sazama, Donna Sazama,
1978
4
9
Photographs
4
9
Research
4
10
Black Pioneers of Shackelford County, Tammy Wiloth and Karen Macgregor,
1978
4
11
Bob Lilly: Real Cowboy, Ken Lawrence,
1977
4
11
Photographs
4
12
Clarence Albert Bales, Lori Wafer,
1978
4
12
Galley Proofs
16
1
Oral History Audiocassette
4
13
Dance with Margie, Donna Stilwell,
1978
4
13
Photographs
4
14
Dentures, anyone?: Doc McCord, Darla Holder,
1976
4
14
Research
9
2
Diller Family, Tom Belcher,
1986
4
15
Doc Holliday at Fort Griffin, Brian Gillit,
1995
4
15
Research
10
7
Early residents of Shackelford County, Nancy Durham,
1975
9
2
Elsa McFarland Turner, Michelle Morgan,
1984
5
1
Family Heritage: Gentry-Halbert, Mike Halbert,
1979
10
7
Feudin' Editors, Carol Webb,
1975
5
2
From Horse and buggy age to space age: A McComb History, Jeaninne Lowe,
1981
5
2
Photographs (xerox copies)
5
3
Frontier Life of John Chadbourne Irwin,
undated
10
7
G.P. Crutchfield, Carol Webb,
1975
9
2
Gerlinde Damith Lowe, Joanie Holson,
undated
5
4
Girls of Yester-Year, Holly Green,
1984
10
7
Greer Gold Story, Tempe Wiloth and Becky Pilcher,
1975
5
5
His quest is done: Robert E. , Sunday Belcher,
1983
16
5-7
Oral History Audiocassette (3),
1983
10
7
History of the black people of Shackelford County, John Willett,
1975
5
6
Hobbs and Allison Ancestry, Sandy Stovall,
1980
5
6
Photographs
5
6
Research
5
7
I'm doing better than I deserve: Procter Clarke, Jennifer Halbert,
1983
5
7
Photographs
5
7
Research
16
12
Virginia Clarke Oral History Audiocassette,
1983
5
8
Ike Chism: The Greeter, Tracie Edgar,
1981
5
8
Photographs
5
8
Galley Proofs
16
18
Oral History Audiocassette,
1980
5
9
Indian Heritage, Sandy Stovall-Breeden,
1980
5
9
Galley Proofs
9
3
J.C. Lynch, Jeff Balliew,
undated
5
10
J.L. Castleberry, Beverly Shelton,
1981
5
10
Photographs
5
11
Jack Pate - Cowboy,
1976
10
6
I wish I could give my son a wild raccoon, Jack Pate article,
1977
10
6
Photographs
10
6
Galley Proofs
10
7
Janie Johnson, Phillip Cogan,
1975
9
3
John C. Lynch Story, Ace Reames,
1995
6
1
Joseph Beck Matthews II: Prominent Rancher and Cowboy, Letha Key,
1979
6
1
Photographs
6
2
Life at Old Fort Griffin, Deidra Newcomb,
1980
6
2
Galley Proofs
6
2
Research
9
3
Life of John Larn, Eddie Edington,
1981
6
3
Lifetime Challenge: The Life of John McGaughey, Joel Viertel,
1979
6
3
Transcribed Oral History
6
4
Lloyd Mays,
1976
10
6
I wish I could give my son a wild raccoon, Lloyd Mays article,
1977
10
6
Photographs
10
6
Galley Proofs
9
3
Luther Hollowell, John Teinert,
1981
10
4
A man to remember: J.M. Morgan, Alan Jones,
1980
10
4
Photographs
10
4
Galley Proofs
6
5
Mellie: The Life of a Happy Woman, Vanessa Boling,
1981
16
14
Oral History Audiocassette,
1981
6
6
Miss Annie of Albany, Melissa Teinert,
1979
6
6
Research
6
7
Miss Nell, Kwin Qusenberry,
1979
6
7
Transcribed Oral History
9
1
Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Cauble, Lance Cauble,
1995
10
Munk and Vera, Johnny Jones,
1975
6
8
Oil Booming with the Goff Brothers, John Ayers,
1978
6
8
Photographs
6
9
An Oil well as a Hobby: Morris Tidmore, Karen Schkade,
1981
6
9
Photographs
6
9
Galley Proofs
6
9
Research
16
16
Oral History Audiocassette,
1980
9
4
Pender Brush, Dianna Cook,
1981
9
4
Residents of Bluebonnet Village, Della Lee and Kim Scott,
undated
10
7
Robert Alexander Jeffress, Wade Caldwell,
1975
6
10
Robert E. Nail, Jr., Robert Williams,
1984
6
11
Sallie Reynolds Matthews: A Pioneer Rose, Lisa Adams,
1985
6
11
Research
9
4
Sargent (sic) Hugh A. Brothers, Linda Stokes,
undated
10
7
School Marm (Willie Green), Mary Anna Green,
1975
10
7
Sidesaddle, Tina Rodriguez,
1975
6
12
Sixty-two year musical experience: Velma Reese., John Willett,
1977
6
12
Photographs
6
13
That special Garvin Touch, Sharon MacGregor,
1979
6
13
Photographs
7
1
Tonkawas, Richard Wade,
undated
7
2
Tonkawa Indians, Steve Spore,
undated
7
2
Research
7
3
Two Shackelford County Families: Bernstein-Noack, Mark Bernstein,
1979
7
3
Photographs
7
3
Research
7
4
Watt Matthews: Folklore of his lifetime, Sunday Belcher,
1989
Persons: World War II
7
5
Adventures of Darrell Hudman, Brian Holson,
1997
9
1
Bob Green: His Wartime Experience, Jessica Esfandiary,
1994
7
6
An Experience of War (Morris Ledbetter), Charles Rodriguez,
1982
7
7
Photographs,
1940s
10
3
General Robert B. Williams (research),
undated
9
2
Glenn Leech in World War II, Kim Leech,
1997
9
2
Harold Law is sent to Germany and lives to tell, Jeff Merrell, Electronic Documents How to Use
1997
16
8
Harold Law Oral History Audiocassette #1
16
15
Harold Law Oral History Audiocassette #2
9
3
L.B. Gibson, American Hero, Zach Kincaid, Electronic Documents How to Use
1997
16
23
L.B. Gibson Oral History Audiocassette
10
1
Lieutenant Colonel William Edwin Dyess, Kay Williams,
1978
17
Scrapbook: William Edwin Dyess, Albany Chamber of Commerce,
undated
17
Photographs
7
8
Max Williams serves in the Philippines during WWII, Josh McComas, Electronic Documents How to Use
1997
16
21
Max Williams Oral History Audiocassette
7
9
Sam R. Webb, Blessing Schkade, Electronic Documents How to Use
1997
16
2-3
Sam Webb Oral History Audiocassette
9
4
William Edwin Dyess "A Hero of Bataan", Dora Mae Peables,
undated
17
Scrapbook: William Edwin Dyess, Albany Chamber of Commerce,
undated
7
11
WWII: Not just a man's war: Ellen Webb and Opal Neff, Lara Woods,
1997
7
11
Photographs
16
17
Ellen Webb Oral History Micro Cassette
Persons: Korean War and Vietnam
9
3
Korean War: the experiences of Arthur Lee Viertel, Zelda Padilla,
1997
7
10
Vietnam War: Don Koch, Michelle Picquet, Electronic Documents How to Use
1997
7
10
Photographs
Persons: Ranching and Farming
9
2
Green Family ranching history, William Henry Green IV,
1993
9
4
Ranching in Shackelford County...one family's heritage, Amy Montgomery,
undated
9
4
Reeves Burchard-Rancher, Jody Brown,
1995
9
4
Settling in Shackelford County on the Merrick Davis Ranch, Nancy Klein,
1981
Ranching and Farming
9
1
Anxiety 4th herefords, Jana Hill,
undated
9
1
Blach Ranch, Robert Shawn Askew,
1993
7
12
Butterfield Overland Main in Texas, Danny Peacock,
undated
9
2
Cowboys and their songs, Shelby Edgar,
undated
7
13
Driving Cattle on the Western Trail, Tim Riggle,
1980
10
5
Fencing the West with Barbed Wire, Yvonne Garcia,
1982
10
5
Research
7
14
Fifty Cent Wheat and Ten Dollar Cattle, Mark Harris,
1979
7
14
Photographs
10
7
Nail Ranch: Two Sets of Memories, Paul Stribling,
1975
16
24
Oral History Audiocassette
7
15
Seven Triangle Ranch, Anabeth Van Zant,
1979
7
15
Xeroxed Photographs
9
4
Texas Cowboy, Shelby Edgar,
undated
Series 2: Supporting Production Material,
1975-1997
8
1
1977 Old Timer TOC,
1977
10
7
Bio on 1975 Old Timer authors,
1975
8
5
Unidentified Photographs and Negatives,
undated
8
6
Unidentified Production Negatives,
undated
8
7
Unidentified Production Negatives,
undated
17
1-2
Unidentified Oversized Production Negatives,
1980, 1981
14
Photographs, Negatives, Proof Sheets,
1980s
15
Photographs, Negatives, Proof Sheets,
1980s
11
4
Galley Proofs,
1981
18
Galley Proofs,
1975-1980s
11
6
General Research,
undated
11
7
Research: City of Albany,
undated
11
8
Research: Reynolds College,
1915, undated
17
3
Research: Lottie Deno,
1956-1957, undated
10
9
Research: Examples of Historical Writing,
mostly undated
16
Unidentified Oral History Audiocassettes (7),
undated
16
3.5 floppy disks (5) (back ups of the electronic records entries),
1997
8
8
Subject Files: Fort Griffin Fandangle,
undated, 1981
8
9
Scrapbook Material,
undated
Series 3: Administrative Documents,
1975-1997
11
1
History of the Old Timer and Big Country,
undated
11
2
Operational Documents,
1978-1983
11
2
Correspondence,
1978-1983
10
8
Publicity,
1970s-1980s
11
3
Old Timer, Release Forms,
1978-1980
18
Artifact: 2nd Prize Ribbon,
1982
Scrapbooks,
1980-1982
Map Case
Shelf
Junior Historians, Chapter 14,
1980-1981
Map Case
Shelf
Junior Historians, Chapter 14,
1981-1982
Map Case
Shelf
On Albany, Junior Historians, Chapter 14,
1980-1981
17
William Edwin Dyess, Albany Chamber of Commerce,
undated
Series 4: Publications,
1977-1986
19
Old Timer, 4 issues, (*Note: The complete series (1975-1981) of Old Timer can be also be found on the Archives bookcase.),
1977-1981
20
Big Country, 5 issues, (*Note: The complete series (1977-1986) of Big Country can be also be found on the Archives bookcase.),
1977-1986
20
Texas Historian, 12 issues,
1979-1984
19
The 1986 Sesquicentennial, pamphlet,
1986
19
Foxfire,
1982
19
An Economic Survey of Shackelford County, Bureau of Business Research College of Business Administration, The University of Texas,
12/1948
19
"Our Heritage," First Christian Church, of Albany, Texas,
1961