Descriptive Summary
Wilcox, Sebron Sneed,
1884-1959
Sebron Sneed Wilcox
Papers
1749-1968Materials
are in English and
Spanish.
MS 25
7.25 linear feet (about
5,400 items)
University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections
Sebron Sneed
Wilcox founded the Laredo Historical Society (Laredo, Tex.) and was a member of
the Texas Historical Commission for Webb County, Texas. Wilcox was a Texas
historian, writing several articles based on materials in the Laredo Archives.
He worked as a court reporter for the Forth-ninth District in Laredo from
1911-1958.
The Sebron
Sneed Wilcox papers span the years 1749 through 1968 and consist of his
collected and written documents regarding the history of Laredo, Texas. The
papers consist of correspondence, Laredo history, lawsuit and trial
transcriptions, speeches and documentation on the various celebrations held in
Laredo.
Biographical Note
Sebron Sneed Wilcox was born to Nathan Miles and Minnie Genevieve
(Sneed) Wilcox, on December 9, 1884, in Burnet, Texas. He attended schools in
Georgetown, Texas as a young boy. At the age of fifteen he entered Southwestern
University.
Wilcox married Stella Marie Jones on October 27, 1907. He worked for
the Houston and Texas Central Railway Company in Houston, then the attorney
general's office in Austin, and the law firm of Pierce and Hawkins in
Brownsville. In September 1911 Wilcox was appointed court reporter for the
Forty-ninth District in Laredo, and he remained in this position until he
retired in December 1958.
Wilcox, an ardent student of Texas history, was the main factor in
preserving the Spanish Archives of Laredo (dating from a 1749 document, but
predominantly 1768 to 1846, and miscellaneous papers up to 1875).
He assisted the Texas Historical Records Survey in
seeing that the documents were copied correctly, and copies of those completed
portions of the typescripts were placed in the Archives Division of the Texas
State Library, the University of Texas at Austin Library, the National Archives
in Washington, D.C., and in Laredo, Texas.
Wilcox wrote several articles based on the Laredo Archives, which were
published in the Southwestern Historical Quarterly. He was one of the founders
of the Laredo Historical Society and a member of the Texas Historical
Commission for Webb County. Wilcox died in Laredo on May 12, 1959, and was
buried in the Laredo Catholic Cemetery.
Source:
Wilcox, Sebron Sneed,
The Handbook of Texas Online,
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/WW/fwi11.html
.
Scope and Contents
The Sebron Sneed Wilcox papers span the years 1749 through 1968 and
consist of his collected and written documents regarding the history of Laredo,
Texas. The papers consist of correspondence, written histories, speeches,
memorabilia, and documentation on the various celebrations held in Laredo.
Included in the materials is information about Laredo governing bodies and
segments of its military, Spanish, Texan, and U.S history. These papers also
contain Wilcox's transcriptions of pages of the Laredo Archives. Transcriptions
are in Spanish. The papers are arranged into six series: History, Lawsuits and Trials, Celebrations and Speeches,
Correspondence, Memorabilia and the Laredo
Archives.
The History series includes papers
describing the lives of the early settlers in Laredo, Indian affairs, and
information about a variety of public personas. Included in the History series
are the Lamar Papers and related military information.
The Lawsuits and Trials series include
papers that Wilcox collected and organized during his time as a law clerk.
These cover Texas land disputes, sales and claims. This series also includes
criminal cases, divorces and murder trials, and a variety of miscellaneous
cases ranging from railroad company issues to recent attempts to reclaim
land.
The Celebrations and Speeches series
consists of various Laredo celebratory events and speeches collected by Wilcox.
This series includes the centennial celebration in Laredo (1936), the
International Bridge dedication ceremony (1922) and a span of ten years of
Washington's Birthday celebrations (1939-1940, 1946-1949). The speeches
encompass such topics as education, public funding, political and celebratory.
The Correspondence series is a collection
of letters written or collected by Wilcox. Many are letters to and from the
different historical societies dealing with Laredo history. These records
encompass topics such as judges and politicians, land disputes and land
surveys.
The Memorabilia series consists mainly of
articles, dating 1839–1971, with topics concerning the times and lives of the
people in Laredo. Also included in this series are photo albums, souvenir
collections and papers relating to various historical foundations.
The largest series is the Laredo Archives.
Wilcox transcribed some of the documents in the Laredo Archives. The
transcriptions are in Castilian Spanish. Wilcox perhaps planned to publish his
typewritten notes and transcriptions, but never did, however; this is
categorized in what is believed to be Wilcox's original volume order, 1-37.
Arrangement
- History
- Lawsuits and Trials
- Celebrations and Speeches
- Correspondence
- Memorabilia
- Laredo Archives
Access Restrictions
This collection is housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use the Collections Request Form.
Usage Restrictions
Permission to publish material from these papers must be obtained from
University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Sebron Sneed Wilcox Papers, MS 25, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Acquisition Information
The papers in this collection were left to Patricia Wilcox Hammond in
1989. She had them inventoried and appraised by Dorothy Sloan Books in Austin
Texas, then donated the collection to University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Related Material
Additional research material, a collection of rare books about Texas,
copies of Wilcox's writings on local history, an almost complete file of the
Laredo Times, and the original manuscript materials of the Laredo Archives were
donated to St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas.
Alternative Form Available
Typescript copies of The Laredo Archives were made from the original
documents, and portions of these copies were placed in the Archives Division of
the Texas State Library, the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and in
Laredo, Texas. A microfilm record was made for Texas Tech University, and that
copy was placed in the Texas Tech Library.
Processing Information
Prepared by Joel A. Blanco-Rivera, Archives Intern, Summer 2002, and
Eva Sansone, Archives Intern, Summer 2003.
Index Terms
Personal Names
Wilcox, Sebron Sneed,
1884-1959.
Organizations
Spanish Archives of
Laredo.
Subjects
Historians--Texas.
Public
historians.
Locations
Laredo
(Tex.)--History.
Genres/Formats
Correspondence.
Legal files.
Memorabilia.
Speeches.
Local Subjects
Mexico/Mexican History
Texas History
Detailed Description of the Collection
History
The History series describes the lives of the early settlers in
Laredo, Indian affairs, and information about a variety of public personas.
Included in the History series are the Lamar Papers and related military
information.
Arranged alphabetically by topic or person of involvement.
1
1
Military 6
1
2
Military 9
1
3
Military 103
1
4
Military 12
1
5
Military 11
1
6
Andrea Castanón de Villanueva (Madam Candelaria),
1836-1838
1
7
Clergymen at Laredo and St. Augustine Church,
undated
1
8
Collection of Articles on the History and Life of
Laredo,
1937
1
9
Col. Santos Benavides, undated
1
10
Conservation of Texas Forests, undated
1
11
Data on Election Riot in the Laredo City Election,
April 7, 1886
2
1
Data on Laredo History,
1750-1820
2
2
Data on Laredo History,
1821-1899
2
3
Earliest Postmaster Basilio Benavides,
1818
2
4
Early Days in Austin,
1910
2
5
First Crossing of the Rio Grande by Virgil Lott,
1935
2
6
Fort McIntosh,
1941
2
7
History of the Laredo Archives, undated
2
8
Indian Depredations,
1790
2
9
Indian Raids,
1813, 1833, 1852
2
10
Laredo during the days of the Texas Republic,
1936
2
11
Lamar Papers, undated
2
12
Map of the City of Laredo, undated
2
13
Mayors and Aldermen,
1755-1868
2
14
Miscellaneous Articles about History of Laredo,
1755-1902
2
15
Nation Guard Unit
2
16
Perote Prison, Santa Fe Expedition and the Third
Expedition, undated
2
17
Poem:
A Legend of the Mission San
José by James B. Cunningham, undated
2
18
Public Education, undated
2
19
Sacking of Laredo in 1842, undated
2
20
Story of Ben Thompson by Clyde Wantland,
undated
2
21
Texas Writers, undated
2
22
The Laredo City Election and the Riot of April, 1888,
undated
2
23
Texas Calvary – Rio Grande Republic,
1863
3
1
Thesis:
The Founding of Laredo and St. Augustine
Church by Sister Natalie Walsh, August,
1935
3
2
Webb County, undated
3
3
Zapata County,
1949
3
4
Miscellaneous,
1810-1821, 1836-1839
3
5
Miscellaneous, undated
3
6
Miscellaneous non-SSW pieces
3
7
Incomplete pieces
3
8
Royal Cedula dealing with use of the
royal lands
3
9
3
10
Memorabilia – Rotary Club Program,
1937
Lawsuits and Trials
This series include papers that Wilcox collected and organized
during his time as a law clerk. Papers cover Texas land disputes, sales and
claims. This series also includes criminal cases, divorces and murder trials,
and a variety of miscellaneous cases ranging from railroad company issues to
recent attempts to reclaim land.
Arranged chronologically.
3
11
Murder Trial: against James Stuart,
1825
3
12
Murder Trial: against Reyes Rojas, Antonio Farias, and
Ygnacio Arispe,
1828
3
13
Court Papers, land
1849, 1930
3
14
Lawsuit: Jose María Margill vs. The Public Land Grant,
1872
3
15
Miscellaneous Deeds,
1888, 1891
3
16
Lawsuit: Manuel Rodriguez vs. Rafael Arredondo,
1904
3
17
Lawsuit: Juan Ortiz vs. US and Comanche Indians,
1904
4
1
J.F. Mullally, District Judge,
1905
4
2
Lawsuit: L.A. Kerr vs. B.F. Kingsley,
1910
4
3
Judge A.W. Terrell,
1910
4
4
Judge John A. Vails,
1938, 1941
4
5
Lawsuit: Land Claims U.S./Mexican Boundary,
1945
4
6
Bankruptcy Case: Joe Villarreal Service Station,
Nov. 1951
4
7
Lawsuit – City of Laredo vs. Falfurrias Creamery
Company,
1954
4
8
Lawsuit – J.W. Verduzco vs. Guerra Hardware,
Feb. 1955
4
9
Lawsuit – Rodolfo A. Sanchez vs. Albert Martin,
1956
4
10
Lawsuit – Leslie Smith vs. C.W. Points Oral Depositions
and Answers,
1956
4
11
Lawsuit – Luis R. Villarreal vs. Amalia García,
1956
4
12
Lawsuit – Duval County vs. George B. Parr,
1956
4
13
Deposition Ex Parte, María Estela Haught,
1957
4
14
Lawsuit – José Garza vs. Robert Thomas,
1957
4
15
Lawsuit – Delhi Pipeline Corp. vs. Leon J. Ramirez, p.
1-152,
1957
4
16
Lawsuit – Thomas O. Mudd, Jr. vs. Universal Gas Company,
1957
5
1
Lawsuit – Delhi Pipeline Corp. vs. Leon J. Ramirez,
p.153-321,
1957
5
2
Deposition: Pedro Lugo and Calvin Surtees, Jr.,
1957
5
3
Deposition: Perfecto Villarreal re: Water Damage to the
Laredo Bank Building,
1958
5
4
Lawsuit – Land Case, Gabriel Ramirez,
undated
5
5
Judge Alexander Watkins Terrell, undated
5
6
Legal Brief on Laws of Possession Real and Mobile,
undated
5
7
Trials: Murder Trial against William Vestel,
July 16, 1849
5
8
Trials – Murder Trial of Robert B. Brown Beeville, TX,
undated
5
9
Trials: Property and Inheritance
Celebrations and Speeches
This series consists of various Laredo celebratory events and
speeches collected by Wilcox. This series includes the centennial celebration
in Laredo (1936), the International Bridge dedication ceremony (1922) and a
span of ten years of Washington's Birthday celebrations (1939-1940, 1946-1949).
The speeches encompass such topics as education, public funding, political and
celebratory.
Arranged alphabetically.
5
10
Speech:
The Boom Days of Laredo During the
Eighties, undated
5
11
Centennial Celebrations in Laredo,
1936
5
12
Speeches, Cinco de Mayo, undated
5
13
Speech, Confederacy, undated
5
14
Dedication of International Bridge Laredo/Nuevo Laredo,
1922
5
15
Speech:
A History of the District Court of
Webb County,
1936
6
1
Education
6
2
Speech: Fort McIntosh
6
3
Speech: General Rotarian
6
4
Speech: Hacienda de Dolores, undated
6
5
Speech: Laredo Anniversaries
6
6
Speech: Laredo During the Texas Republic,
1936, 1938
6
7
Speech: Laredo Election Riot,
1941
6
8
Speech: Laredo History,
1946, 1958
6
9
Speech: Laredo History, undated
6
10
Speech:
Laredo, the Gateway to
Mexico, undated
6
11
Speech:
Mexico as seen by a
Stenographer,
1920
6
12
Presentation of Laredo Archives to St. Mary's
University Dec. 10,
1968
6
13
Laredo Spanish Archive
6
14
Washington's Birthday Celebration
6
15
Laredo Under Spanish
6
16
Speech: Texas Folklore
6
17
Speech: Tribute to Tomas Sanchez
6
18
Speech: Vocation Day
7
1
Washington's Birthday
7
2
Washington's Birthday
7
3
Celebration: Washington's Birthday,
1939, 1940
7
4
Celebration: Washington's Birthday
1946, 1947
7
5
Celebration: Washington's Birthday
1948, 1949
7
6
Winter Gardens Bankers Ass.
1943
7
7
Speech: Miscellaneous
Correspondence
This series is a collection of letters written or collected by
Wilcox. Many are letters to and from the different historical societies dealing
with Laredo history. These records encompass topics such as judges and
politicians, land disputes and land surveys.
Arranged alphabetically.
7
8
Congressional Record Maury Maverick,
1938
7
9
Garner, John,
1903
7
10
Conveyance Document – John Towhig to B. Brown, Eagle
Pass,
1851
7
11
Wilcox,
1928, 1935, 1936
7
12
Wilcox,
1937
7
13
Wilcox,
1938
7
14
Wilcox,
1939
7
15
Wilcox,
1940 - 1942
8
1
Wilcox,
1943-1947
8
2
Wilcox,
1948-1958
8
3
Wilcox, miscellaneous 1
8
4
Wilcox, miscellaneous 2
8
5
Wilcox, to his daughter
8
6
WPA Historical Records Survey,
1939
25
1
Album: newspaper clippings
25
5
Child Shoe
26
1
Book: Plant Life
26
2
Book: Correspondence of Several Court Cases,
1890
27
1
Book: Correspondence of Several Court Cases,
1892
27
2
Book: Correspondence of Several Court Cases,
1903
Memorabilia
This series consists mainly of articles, dating 1839–1971, with
topics concerning the times and lives of the people in Laredo. Also included in
this series are photo albums, souvenir collections and papers relating to
various historical foundations.
8
7
Articles,
1839 - 1840
8
8
Articles,
1843, 1862
8
9
Articles,
1870 - 1889
9
1
Articles,
1893
9
2
Articles,
1907, 1916
9
9
3
Articles,
1921-1925
9
4
Articles,
1934
9
5
Articles,
1936-1937
9
6
Articles,
1938-1939
9
7
Articles,
1940
10
1
Articles,
1941-1942
10
2
Articles,
1943
10
3
Articles,
1944-1945
10
4
Articles,
1946
10
5
Articles,
1947, 1950-1952
10
6
Articles,
1953-1954
10
7
Articles,
1956
11
1
Articles,
1957
11
2
Articles,
1958
11
3
Articles,
1968, 1971
11
4
A Souvenir Album of Laredo,
1917
11
5
Book Prospectus
11
6
Byron's Guide of the Río Grande Valley and Old Mexico,
1942
11
7
Mary Genevieve Wilcox 1
11
8
Mary Genevieve Wilcox 2
12
1
Mary Genevieve Wilcox 2
12
2
Miscellaneous
1810-1910
12
3
Miscellaneous,
1922-1946
12
4
Miscellaneous,
1947-1972
12
5
Miscellaneous, undated
12
6
Personal Material
12
7
Photographs, Buildings
12
8
Photographs, People
12
9
Program: Boxing Show Boys Club of Laredo,
1947
13
1
Rotarian
13
2
Rotarian Club
13
2
Texas History 1
13
4
Texas History 2
13
5
Texas Historical Society
13
6
Texas Palo fax Papers 1
13
7
Texas Palo fax Papers 2
Laredo Archives
Wilcox transcribed some of the documents in the Laredo Archives.
The transcriptions are in Castilian Spanish. Wilcox perhaps planned to publish
his typewritten notes and transcriptions, but never did, however; this is
categorized in what is believed to be Wilcox's original volume order, 1-37.
14
1
Abstract documents
14
2
Abstract documents and letters
14
3
Abstract of Title Laredo Real Estate and Abstract
Company,
1875-1901
14
4
Abstract of Title – Portion #9 Laredo, TX,
1904
14
5
Abstract of Title of Portion #36,
1893
14
6
Account Book for City of Laredo, Benito García,
1877
14
7
American Mexican Claims Commission,
1942
14
8
Apportionment of Lands in the Town of Revilla,
1767
14
9
Census of 1841
14
10
General Visit of Laredo,
1768
14
11
Indenture Document Frederick O'Shea and John B. Brown
Eagle Pass,
1951
14
12
Inventory of Goods Teodosio Treviño killed by Indians,
1835
14
13
Inventory of County Archives of Texas, Webb County,
1938
14
14
14
Land Survey – L.C. Navarro, surveyor,
1902
14
15
Laredo Debating and Literary Society,
1894
14
16
Laredo League of Woman Voters Survey of the City of
Laredo,
1952
14
17
S.N. Johnson Wholesale liquor-bills of sale,
1911-1919
14
18
Thomas H. Addicks Request for land,
1841
14
19
Webb County Election Roster,
1894
15
1
Volume I – Spanish Archives of Laredo,
1749-1770
15
2
Volume II – Spanish Archives of Laredo,
1771-1774
15
3
Volume III – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 377-548
1885-1784
15
4
Volume III – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp549-740
1775-1784
15
5
Volume IV – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp741-905
1785-1794
15
6
Volume IV – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp906-1034
1785-1794
15
7
Volume IV – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp1035-1069
1785-1794
16
1
Volume V – Spanish Archives of Laredo,
1795-1800
16
2
Volume VI – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 1272-1445
1801-1807
16
3
Volume VI – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 1446-1601
1801-1807
16
4
Volume VII – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 1602-1750
1808-1810
16
5
Volume VII – Spanish Archives of Laredo, 1808-1801pp
1751-1913
16
6
Volume VII – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 1914-2006
1808-1810
16
7
Volume VIII – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 2007-2177
1811-1815
17
1
Volume VIII – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 2178-2325
1811-1815
17
2
Volume VIII – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 2326-2421
1811-1815
17
3
Volume IX – Spanish Archives of Laredo,
1814-1815
17
4
Volume X – Spanish Archives of Laredo,
1815-1816
17
5
Volume XI – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 2819-3012
1816-1819
17
6
Volume XI – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 3013-3132
1816-1819
17
7
Volume XI – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 3133-3285
1820-1821
18
1
Volume XII – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 3286-3419
1820-1821
18
2
Volume XIII – Spanish Archives of Laredo
18
3
Volume XIV – Spanish Archives of Laredo pp
3639-3836
18
4
Volume XIV – Spanish Archives of Laredo pp 3386a –
3900
18
5
Volume XV – Spanish Archives of Laredo,
1822-1823
18
6
Volume XVI – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 4095-4263
1823-1824
18
7
Volume XVI – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 4264-4424
1823-1824
19
1
Volume XVII – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 4425-4542
1824
19
2
Volume XVII – Spanish Archives of Laredo, pp 4543-4721
1824
19
3
Volume XVIII – Spanish Archives of Laredo pp 4722-4878,
1824
19
4
Volume XVIII pp 4879-5002,
1824
19
5
Volume XIX pp 5003-5213,
1824
19
6
Volume XX Letters, Decrees and Orders pp 1-153,
1825
19
7
Volume XX Letters, Decrees and Orders pp154-301,
1825
20
1
Volume XXI Letters, Orders, Wills, etc pp 1-121,
1826
20
2
Volume XXI Letters, Orders, Wills, etc. pp 122-253,
1826
20
3
Volume XXII Letters, Orders, Decrees, etc pp 1-115,
1827
20
4
Volume XXII Letters, Orders, Decrees, etc pp 116-229,
1827
20
5
Volume XXII Letters, Orders, Decrees, etc pp 1-161
1828
20
6
Volume XXIII Letters, Orders, Decrees, etc pp
162-285
20
7
Volume XXIV Decrees and Orders of Governor Official
Correspondence, Lawsuits pp. 1-121,
1829
21
1
Volume XXV Decrees, Letters, Probate Proceedings and
Willspp 1 –102,
1829
21
2
Volume XXV Decrees, Letters, Probate, Proceedings and
Willspp 1 – 102,
1829
21
3
Volume XXVI pp 1- 93,
1830
21
4
Volume XXVI pp 94-240
January-July, 1831
21
5
Volume XXVIII pp 1-82
August-October, 1831
21
6
Volume XXVII pp 83-241 November-December,
1831
21
7
Volume XXVIII pp 1-171
January-April, 1832
21
8
Volume XXVIII pp 172-310
May-December, 1832
22
1
Volume XXIX pp 1-86,
1833
22
2
Volume XXIX pp 87-184,
1833
22
3
Volume XXX pp 1-149,
1833
22
4
Volume XXX pp 150-280,
1833
22
5
Volume XXXI pp 1-89,
1834
22
6
Volume XXXI pp 90-196,
1833
22
7
Volume XXXII pp 1-169
January-February, 1834
22
8
Volume XXXII pp 170-263
March-June, 1834
23
1
Volume XXXIII pp 1-102
July-September, 1834
23
2
Volume XXXIII pp 103-248
October-December, 1834
23
3
Volume XXXIV pp 1-134
January, 1835
23
4
Volume XXXVI pp 135-187
February-March, 1835
23
5
Volume XXXV pp 1-141
April-May, 1835
23
6
Volume XXXV pp 142-225,
June-August, 1835
23
7
Volume XXXVI pp 1-117
September, 1835
23
8
Volume XXXVI pp 118-204 October-December,
1835
24
1
Volume XXXVII pp 1-125,
1836
24
2
Volume XXXVII pp 126-303,
1836
24
3
Expedients pp 1-98,
1845
24
4
Expedients pp 99-226,
1845