Clarence P. Denman:

An Inventory of Clarence Denman Research Notes on Texas Military Organizations at the Texas State Archives, 1891-1892, about 1924-1926

Biographical History

Dr. Clarence Phillips Denman, 1897-1983, was born in McGregor, Texas. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Texas, and a doctoral degree from the University of Michigan. Dr. Denman also attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College, Texas Christian University, University of Pennsylvania, Memphis State University, and George Peabody College. He taught at Western Kentucky State College, Arkansas State College, and Belmont College before moving to Arlington State College (which was transferred to the University of Texas System in 1965) in February 1955, where he worked as Professor of History until 1968.

Dr. Denman had fellowships at the University of Texas, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Michigan. He conducted research for and wrote the book, The History of the University of Texas at Arlington, 1895-1917, which was never published. He also authored the book, The Secession Movement in Alabama, which was published in 1933 by the Alabama State Department of Archives and History. In addititon, he wrote the paper, The Office of Adjutant General in Texas, 1835–1881, which was published in the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 28 (April 1925).

Dr. Denman married Annie Mary Sprouse, who was from Springfield, Tennessee and taught in White Settlement, Texas. They had one daughter. Dr. Denman died in Santa Clara, California in 1983.

(Sources include the Clarence Denman Papers online finding aid at the University of Texas Arlington Library, Special Collections, available on the Texas Archival Resources Online website - http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utarl/00205/arl-00205.html, viewed on May 18, 2012; the University of Texas at Arlington website - http://www.uta.edu/uta/about/traditions/history.php, viewed on May 25, 2012; and the Texas State Historical Association website - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qnt02, viewed on May 23, 2012.)

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Scope and Contents of the Records

Dr. Clarence Phillips Denman, 1897-1983, was Professor of History at Arlington State College (which was transferred to the University of Texas System in 1965) from 1955 to 1968. The documents in this collection consist primarily of handwritten and typed research notes pertaining to the history of Texas military organizations, and are estimated to have been created between 1924 and 1926. The notes cover the history of Texas military organizations from 1835 to 1924, with the bulk of the information pertaining to the period between 1840 and 1890.

Notes cover miscellaneous pre-Civil War military organizations (1835-1863); Houston companies (1835-1871); Texas military units in the Confederate period (1861-1865); Civil War regiments (1861-1880); the Palestine Riflemen volunteer company (1874-1884); Texas militia involved with the Mexican War (1846-1847); cavalry companies field artillery (1840-1842, 1861-1862, 1871-1872, 1874-1893, 1897-1905, 1916-1917); military organizations in Galveston including the Galveston Artillery Company, Galveston Guards, Galveston Zouares, Galveston Rifles (colored), and Old Washington Guards (1840-1846, 1850, 1852, 1855-1864, 1871-1884, 1890-1894, 1917, 1924); military units in Austin (1840-1841, 1844-1846, 1852-1858, 1860-1866, 1871-1882, 1885-1888, 1894, 1904, 1924); the 3rd regiment of 1878 (1818, 1875-1880, 1882-1883, 1924); the Republic of Texas Regular Army (1834, 1836-1838, 1842-1846); north east Texas companies, including those in Red River, Fannin, Lamar and Bowie counties (1835-1849, 1850-1859, 1861-1871, 1874-1879, 1880-1882, 1924); various military orders and appointments (1833-1850, 1875-1877); military affairs of the Republic of Texas (1835-1920, 1924); military companies in Houston (1873-1882, 1884, 1890); and in San Antonio (1857-1859, 1861-1863, 1870-1875, 1880, 1890, 1918).

The notes were mostly created in consultation with primary and secondary material found at various libraries and archives, including the Texas State Library. They include references to the publications The Houston Republic, Morning Star, Gammel: Laws of Texas, The Weekly Telegraph, The Galveston Weekly News, Tri-Weekly Telegraph, etc. Also included are a few original letters exchanged between Dr. Denman and surviving members of several military organizations (as well as with library representatives) concerning questions and answers pertinent to his topics of research, such as the history of the creation of select Texas regiments as well as the names of relevant officers to consult for first-hand accounts and other information. There are also two original pamphlets - General Orders number 4 (1891) and number 33 (1892) from the Adjutant General's Office, State of Texas.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives research room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Under the Copyright Act of 1976 as amended in 1998, unpublished manuscripts are protected at a minimum through December 31, 2002 or 70 years after the author's death. The term of copyright for published material varies. Researchers are responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).

Technical Requirements

None.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Clarence Denman research notes on Texas military organizations. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession number: 2010/047.

These records appear to have been received from the Texas Adjutant General's office in 1926. An accession number was assigned for control purposes on December 1, 2009.

Processing Information

Processed by Robert L. Stephens, September 2009

Additional description, text, EAD and DACS elements added by Aditi Worcester, May 2012.

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Detailed Description of the Records

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