Rusty Paulus and grandson Asher Murray operating trains in the exhibit.

Mr. Weber's, Mrs. Whalen's and Mrs. Barrera's 5th grade GT/Cluster classes from Passmore Elementary at the "S" Class model train exhibit currently running at the Alvin Museum.

Distinguished Visitors

The Quanah Parker Exhibit was a rousing success and drew some distinguished visitors. Robert and Elsie Beard attended as well as members of The Alvin Garden Club.

Here is picture of some young visitors to the Quanah Parker exhibit.

Pictured left to right: Rafael Lamadrid, Tomas Lamadrid, Javier Lamadrid and Luis Lamadrid. Quanah Parker exhibit also features Native American artifacts on loan from Eagle Dancer Gallery and various private collections. Children's corner features an interactive exhibit.

Our new temporary photo exhibit, “Quanah Parker – One Man, Two Worlds” is opening on Thursday, September 1 and will run through Saturday, October 8. There are 35 pictures of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker and his mother, Cynthia Ann Parker, depicting their history in the development of the U.S. frontier. In addition, there are numerous artifacts from other Indian cultures on loan to the museum which enhance the exhibit. No evening event is planned at this time, but there may be one in the future. You won’t want to miss this unusual exhibit. Come soon.

Our new temporary exhibit has ties to Alvin citizens.

“When I was about 10 years old, I recall talking to Alice Purdy, one of Quanah Parker’s daughters, who was in her seventies at the time.” This statement was part of an interview with Jo Nell Parker, a resident of Alvin and retired teacher from the Alvin School District. Jo Nell was born and raised in Elkhart, Texas. She began teaching in Alvin in 1976 at Longfellow Elementary. Her teaching career also included being at Alvin Primary from 1965-67, and later moving to Disney Elementary from 1979- 1991. Her three children, Walter Scott Nicholson, Benjamin Parker Nicholson and Janay Nicholson Andrade attended Alvin schools. The interview with Jo Nell was prompted by the current temporary exhibit at the Alvin Historical Museum and its connection with the Parker family of Alvin. According to Ms Parker, her father Joe Bailey Parker had been encouraged by his father to research the Parker family history and its connection with the story of Cynthia Ann Parker and her son Quanah Parker. As it turned out, Jo Nell is a fifth cousin to Cynthia Ann Parker. In 1953, Jo Nell’s father helped organize an annual reunion of members of the Parker family and the Comanche descendents of Quanah. This reunion has continued over the years being held in various locations. The Parker still holds annual reunions at For Parker. Jo Nell remembers attending many of these reunions and as a child going to the original location of Quanah Parker’s Star House. She related the anecdotal story that in appreciation for Quanah’s astute dealings with them, business men built the house for him, and that it was the Indian Agent who chose his “go to town wife,” the only one of his seven wives who would be considered his legal wife. Jo Nell has lent the exhibit a Comanche Indian doll, given to her in the early 1950s by Vance and Anna Tomakara. Vance was a grandson of Quanah Parker and the great-grandson of Cynthia Ann Parker. Anna had made the doll. Other documents and artifacts belonging to Jo Nell’s family were donated to Baylor University in February of this year to be placed in their Texas History exhibit.

REMINDER OF THE UPCOMING MEETING Sunday, October 25th at 2:00 At the Alvin Senior Center We will have updates on Society activities, a program and lots of socializing. Our program presenter is Les Pettigrew, a person who lived in and studied Civil War Battlefields in Winchester, Virginia. As a “Living Historian,” Les will recreate for us the Battle of Gettysburg, giving us the perspective of a person involved in reenacting history. HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN US FOR HIS PRESENTATION.

In preparation for recognition of all who have served as mayor of Alvin, the City Clerk asked us to provide pictures from our collection to be used in creating a video presentation. Searches were made of our collection of photographs and documents, as well as on the Internet. We were able to provide copies of several. However, it was discovered that likenesses of some of the earliest mayors could not be found. If you can help with this, please let us know.

A photo of the newly restored mural and the invitation to the re-installation of the mural at the Alvin Historical Museum Saturday September 26, 2015 at 1 PM.

New …at the Alvin Historical Museum,#AlvinMuseum “Perspectives on History,” a temporary exhibit of history scrapbooks by the 4th Grade students of James “Red” Duke Elementary School. As explained by their teacher, Brie Carterlester, “The scrapbooks were a collaborative effort by students working in teams to research the many perspectives held during the Civil War; from the currency used and the economic conditions of the North and South, to the understanding of the character and accomplishments of prominent government and military leaders, inventors, and group formed during the Civil War.” One of the favorite components of the project was the diary entries written by the students , in which they imagined themselves as a 10 year old boy or girl living at this time. The exhibit will be on display at the Alvin Historical Museum, 300 West Sealy, Alvin, through September. Museum hours: 11:a.m.-3p.m. Thursdays and Fridays: 11a.m.-3p.m.first Saturdays and 1-4p.m. first Sundays. Additional times can be requested: 281-331-4469- alvinms@att.net

Thanks to all of you who have responded to the letter concerning renewal of membership during this transition period. Members who have renewed by May 18th will be published in the Summer-Fall Newsletter. Those received after this date will appear in the next Newsletter. If you have any questions about renewing please call us(281-331-4469) or email us- alvinms@att.net. Also a reminder that the Temporary Exhibit about Alvin artist, Robert Earl McKinney, goes through June 8th. Be sure to visit us an see the only time that the entire scope of Robert’s painting has been on exhibit. Our friend and valued Society member, Mona Travis, continues to recover from the stroke she suffered. Send her your wishing for wellness and keep her in your thoughts. Kathy Mattes #AlvinMuseum

The Alvin Museum is excited to host an exhibit of the paintings of nationally known local artist Robert Earl McKinney. Robert was raised in Alvin where he attended Alvin High School and Alvin Community College in the 1950’s. His family lived on Sidnor Street a block from the high school. He was encouraged in his art endeavors by his art teacher Ms. Cherry Simpson. After serving in the military he returned to Alvin and taught art classes on House Street and later opened an art studio on Sealy Street. He travelled extensively throughout the west, Mexico and Central America, painting scenes as he went. Robert was selected to create three historically accurate paintings depicting the battle of the Alamo. As such, he spent a year researching records from the Alamo to determine the real stories to prepare for his work. Once completed, the three paintings hung in exhibit at the San Jacinto Historical Museum in 1982. It is also said that they were displayed at the Alamo Museum but this has not been verified to date. His work on the Alamo paintings was featured on the television program “Eyes of Texas”. Robert died in 1993 while still in his 50’s. His paintings are located all around the U.S. The Alvin Museum is proud to announce that it has collected twelve of his original paintings and eight of his prints from numerous sources to be displayed together for the first (and possibly only) time. This collection includes two of three prints of the Alamo paintings. Also view the “Eyes of Texas” segment which explored his work on the Alamo paintings. We welcome all of Alvin to come to the museum and participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity to view our nationally famous Alvinite’s work. #AlvinMuseum

Make a visit to the Alvin Historical Museum part of your holiday plans. The foyer is decorated with an old fashioned Christmas tree along with other nostalgic memorabilia. Holiday openings include Friday , December 26th, and January 2nd from 11:00-3:00.

#AlvinMjuseum

Visitors to the Museum

Some photos taken from a tour October 29th. These adults with special needs were from a facility in Manvel called Way Makers. They were delightful and enthusiastic visitors.

We have a new temporary exhibit titled "Pieces of Love" at the Museum. Stop by and see the craftwork of Jewell Richardson.

Thanks to Winston's Dairy, we have an exhibit of Pleistocene artifacts discovered in Alvin, Texas! Teeth and horn fragments dug up while excavating a sand pit.

The Spring meeting was fun with Tom Stansel telling the history of the Santa Fe Depot, and Pat Klopp announcing the 2014 Garden Tour.

Our October meeting featured a presentation by Michael Bailey of the Brazoria County Museum, and Les Pettigrew of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. They gave us a presentation of the fortifications along the Texas coast during the Civil War. Photos are at the link below.
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/papao55/library/Alvin%20Museum%20Society%20Fall%20Membership%20Meeting/Alvin%20Museum%20Society%20October%202013

We have a new permanent exhibit at Alvin's Historic Museum! Come see some of the earliest history of Texas, with the story of Stephen F. Austin's Old 300. The exhibit includes old early Texas currency.