Needing some inspiration for traveling this summer? Then look no further than in the archives! From maps to travel guides, postcards to posters, diaries to scrapbooks, there are a variety of resources to guides your plans. So plug in that hybrid vehicle, and grab something to take notes. For those looking to venture down to the coast, then this Texas Album – Start Greenville, provides the perfect trip itinerary.
“Lib” and Glen started out their summer travels in Greenville, Texas in June 1922. The first leg of their journey included stops in Dallas, Hillsboro (for lunch) before they spent the night in Waco. This travel album comprises many photographs and annotations by the creator, postcards, maps, and small ephemera. While in Dallas they explored the Fair Grounds, the Jefferson and various streets in town.
The second leg of the trip took them to Austin, where for two days they visited the Capitol grounds, and the law building at the University of Texas.
They describe the scene at Deep Eddy as “one of Austin’s good swimming holes.” After Austin, the third leg of their trip brought them to San Antonio (after passing through Buda, San Marcos, and New Braunfels) where they spent another two days. “Lib” and Glen explored various swimming holes, fishing, and did some sightseeing. They saw missions, the Alamo, and Brackenridge Park. While in town they stayed in the Gunter Hotel. The Gunter opened on November 20, 1909, on the site of the earlier Mahncke Hotel. The hotel was built by the San Antonio Hotel Company and named for Jot Gunter, a local rancher and real estate developer who was one of its financiers.
The fourth leg of the trip took the couple through Karnes City, Kennedy, Cuero, Yorktown, Victoria, and Edna. However, a muddy spot in the road caused a traffic jam. “Cars stuck to the rear of us; cars stuck ahead of us. Nothing to do but sit in the car until daylight.” After getting unstuck, they arrived in Houston. In addition to images of their muddy ride, photographs of this leg of the journey show various scenes of Rice University including the main building, the Power building, and the boy’s dormitory.
Finally, the last leg of the road trip brought “Lib” and Glen to Galveston. They drove around the sea wall, and participated in the Crystal Plunge. They swam, they fished, and enjoyed the sites and scenes of Galveston.
This album is one of many featured in the exhibition “Send Me a Postcard! Women on the Road across 19th-20th Century America,” which examines women motorists/automobilists and their travels across the country.
Contact Samantha Dodd, curator of the Archives of Women of the Southwest for additional information or assistance with accessing these materials. “Send me a Postcard! Women on the road across 19th-20th century America” will be on display in the Hillcrest exhibit hall through August 2022. View additional materials in the companion digital exhibit. The DeGolyer continues to expand our digitization efforts, adding new content weekly. We have thousands of items digitized and searchable in our digital collections with many thousands more