Traces of Texas
@tracesoftexas.bsky.social
Purveyor of Texas history and culture. Cowboy boots junkie and advocate of all things Lone Star. 100% organic, free-range Texas content. A politics-free feed. DON'T get political! Buy me a coffee? Click here: https://buymeacoffee.com/tracesoftexas
Feebe the dog, Cara, a glass of wine, and a Texas sunset say "Goodnight, Texas!"
Thanks to TOT reader Jim Holster for sending this in.
Thanks to TOT reader Jim Holster for sending this in.
November 24, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Feebe the dog, Cara, a glass of wine, and a Texas sunset say "Goodnight, Texas!"
Thanks to TOT reader Jim Holster for sending this in.
Thanks to TOT reader Jim Holster for sending this in.
Men pose and show off their muscles in Brownwood, 1920s. I guess some male behaviors are timeless. 😉
November 24, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Men pose and show off their muscles in Brownwood, 1920s. I guess some male behaviors are timeless. 😉
This bathing beauty was sent in by Traces of Texas reader Barbara Vines and shows her mother, Ethel, in Brackenridge Park in San Antonio in the early 1930's. The photo was taken by Barbara's father. He and Ethel used to swim at the park all the time.
Thanks, Barbara! The photo is great!
Thanks, Barbara! The photo is great!
November 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
This bathing beauty was sent in by Traces of Texas reader Barbara Vines and shows her mother, Ethel, in Brackenridge Park in San Antonio in the early 1930's. The photo was taken by Barbara's father. He and Ethel used to swim at the park all the time.
Thanks, Barbara! The photo is great!
Thanks, Barbara! The photo is great!
A woman or older girl with two siblings or children in Houston, 1899.
November 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
A woman or older girl with two siblings or children in Houston, 1899.
As J.R. Ewing, Texan Larry Hagman was the only actor to appear in all 357 episodes of "Dallas." I only mention it because Larry died 13 years ago today, on Nov. 23, 2012. He was 81 years old.
November 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
As J.R. Ewing, Texan Larry Hagman was the only actor to appear in all 357 episodes of "Dallas." I only mention it because Larry died 13 years ago today, on Nov. 23, 2012. He was 81 years old.
Four patrons at Don's Keyhole jazz club in San Antonio, late 1940s. It was a renowned spot that opened in 1944 and saw Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole and famous folks play. One of the first integrated clubs in the south and historically noteworthy for that reason. Lasted for about 25 years.
November 23, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Four patrons at Don's Keyhole jazz club in San Antonio, late 1940s. It was a renowned spot that opened in 1944 and saw Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole and famous folks play. One of the first integrated clubs in the south and historically noteworthy for that reason. Lasted for about 25 years.
62 years ago tonight, Jackie and JFK attended a United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) at LULAC's gala in the ballroom at the Rice Hotel. He would be assassinated in Dallas the next day.
Photo courtesy the @houstonchronicle.com.
Photo courtesy the @houstonchronicle.com.
November 22, 2025 at 4:44 AM
62 years ago tonight, Jackie and JFK attended a United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) at LULAC's gala in the ballroom at the Rice Hotel. He would be assassinated in Dallas the next day.
Photo courtesy the @houstonchronicle.com.
Photo courtesy the @houstonchronicle.com.
Some of the things y'all send in just blow my mind. Traces of Texas reader Cal Nettles sent in this unique item. It's the letter General Motors sent to Cal's uncle Joe when Joe wanted to buy a car, using two mules as collateral. As you can read, General Motors agreed. How cool is this?
November 21, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Some of the things y'all send in just blow my mind. Traces of Texas reader Cal Nettles sent in this unique item. It's the letter General Motors sent to Cal's uncle Joe when Joe wanted to buy a car, using two mules as collateral. As you can read, General Motors agreed. How cool is this?
One of my own photos. I took this shot of Texas barbecue legend Vencil Mares back in 2012 at the Taylor Cafe, is BBQ place in Taylor, Texas. Vencil was 89 when I took this and died at 96 in 2019. I once asked him the secret to his long life and he winked and said "barbecue is health food."
November 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
One of my own photos. I took this shot of Texas barbecue legend Vencil Mares back in 2012 at the Taylor Cafe, is BBQ place in Taylor, Texas. Vencil was 89 when I took this and died at 96 in 2019. I once asked him the secret to his long life and he winked and said "barbecue is health food."
A dapper man in Cleburne ca 1880. Epic hat! I need to add one to my haberdasher arsenal. I have decided he's an architect and unmarried, but courting Pearl Allen, daughter of Dr. Charles Allen and his wife Martha.
Courtesy the wise and perspicacious folks at The Portal to Texas History.
Courtesy the wise and perspicacious folks at The Portal to Texas History.
November 21, 2025 at 12:13 AM
A dapper man in Cleburne ca 1880. Epic hat! I need to add one to my haberdasher arsenal. I have decided he's an architect and unmarried, but courting Pearl Allen, daughter of Dr. Charles Allen and his wife Martha.
Courtesy the wise and perspicacious folks at The Portal to Texas History.
Courtesy the wise and perspicacious folks at The Portal to Texas History.
Actress Jayne Mansfield departs by helicopter to Rotterdam, Netherlands (1957). Though born in Pennsylvania, she moved to Dallas as a young girl, graduated from Highland Park High School, and attended both UT and SMU. She was exceptionally intelligent, spoke five languages and played the violin.
November 19, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Actress Jayne Mansfield departs by helicopter to Rotterdam, Netherlands (1957). Though born in Pennsylvania, she moved to Dallas as a young girl, graduated from Highland Park High School, and attended both UT and SMU. She was exceptionally intelligent, spoke five languages and played the violin.
The late, great Mance Lipscomb, left, and the equally great Lightnin' Hopkins as seen in the 1968 documentary "The Blues According to Lightnin' Hopkins," directed by Les Blank. It's a short (33 minutes) documentary but it really takes you in Lightnin's world 57 years ago. Highly recommended.
November 18, 2025 at 12:39 AM
The late, great Mance Lipscomb, left, and the equally great Lightnin' Hopkins as seen in the 1968 documentary "The Blues According to Lightnin' Hopkins," directed by Les Blank. It's a short (33 minutes) documentary but it really takes you in Lightnin's world 57 years ago. Highly recommended.
Traces of Texas reader Leigh Hajovsky kindly shared this nice photo of her grandmother, Kay Klauber, and it comes with a great story. This was taken in the late 1940s, when Kay was modeling. Today, Kay is 94 years old and still the owner and operator of Kay Klauber Candies in Columbus, Texas.
November 17, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Traces of Texas reader Leigh Hajovsky kindly shared this nice photo of her grandmother, Kay Klauber, and it comes with a great story. This was taken in the late 1940s, when Kay was modeling. Today, Kay is 94 years old and still the owner and operator of Kay Klauber Candies in Columbus, Texas.
James Dean take a peak behind the camera while on the set of "Giant" in Marfa, Texas, 1955. Pretty dang cool!
Taken for LIFE magazine.
Taken for LIFE magazine.
November 17, 2025 at 7:59 PM
James Dean take a peak behind the camera while on the set of "Giant" in Marfa, Texas, 1955. Pretty dang cool!
Taken for LIFE magazine.
Taken for LIFE magazine.
Ironic: Noah Smithwick was run out of Texas in 1830 for being a "bad citizen." He ended up returning five years later, fought in the Texas revolution, and later wrote "The Evolution of a State, or Recollections of Old Texas Days," perhaps the primary eyewitness account of early Texas history.
November 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Ironic: Noah Smithwick was run out of Texas in 1830 for being a "bad citizen." He ended up returning five years later, fought in the Texas revolution, and later wrote "The Evolution of a State, or Recollections of Old Texas Days," perhaps the primary eyewitness account of early Texas history.
The Texas Quote of the Day:
"Smite the rock with the rod of knowledge and fountains of unstinted wealth will gush forth!"
---- words said by Ashbel Smith, president of the University of Texas Board of Regents, at the laying of the cornerstone of the Main Building at UT-Austin 143 years ago today.
"Smite the rock with the rod of knowledge and fountains of unstinted wealth will gush forth!"
---- words said by Ashbel Smith, president of the University of Texas Board of Regents, at the laying of the cornerstone of the Main Building at UT-Austin 143 years ago today.
November 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
The Texas Quote of the Day:
"Smite the rock with the rod of knowledge and fountains of unstinted wealth will gush forth!"
---- words said by Ashbel Smith, president of the University of Texas Board of Regents, at the laying of the cornerstone of the Main Building at UT-Austin 143 years ago today.
"Smite the rock with the rod of knowledge and fountains of unstinted wealth will gush forth!"
---- words said by Ashbel Smith, president of the University of Texas Board of Regents, at the laying of the cornerstone of the Main Building at UT-Austin 143 years ago today.
An elderly woman in Denison circa 1890. I wonder what her story was. She was probably born in about 1820 so she would have been an adult during the Civil War. Of course, she could very well have immigrated to the U.S. later. In any case, she's got quite a striking face, don't y'all think?
November 15, 2025 at 2:02 AM
An elderly woman in Denison circa 1890. I wonder what her story was. She was probably born in about 1820 so she would have been an adult during the Civil War. Of course, she could very well have immigrated to the U.S. later. In any case, she's got quite a striking face, don't y'all think?
The Arcane Texas Fact of the Day:
During Lampasas's late-19th-century boom as a health resort, a two-mile mule-pulled trolley ferried visitors from the train depot to the opulent Park Hotel, which boasted 200 electrically lit rooms and mineral baths. It burned down in 1895.
During Lampasas's late-19th-century boom as a health resort, a two-mile mule-pulled trolley ferried visitors from the train depot to the opulent Park Hotel, which boasted 200 electrically lit rooms and mineral baths. It burned down in 1895.
November 14, 2025 at 6:59 PM
The Arcane Texas Fact of the Day:
During Lampasas's late-19th-century boom as a health resort, a two-mile mule-pulled trolley ferried visitors from the train depot to the opulent Park Hotel, which boasted 200 electrically lit rooms and mineral baths. It burned down in 1895.
During Lampasas's late-19th-century boom as a health resort, a two-mile mule-pulled trolley ferried visitors from the train depot to the opulent Park Hotel, which boasted 200 electrically lit rooms and mineral baths. It burned down in 1895.
I have had a great time going through the John Rogers archive at The Portal to Texas History. Here's one for you car buffs: a parking lot in Dallas in the late 1950s. That white Thunderbird under the light in the background is my favorite. I've always loved those early T-birds.
November 14, 2025 at 1:51 AM
I have had a great time going through the John Rogers archive at The Portal to Texas History. Here's one for you car buffs: a parking lot in Dallas in the late 1950s. That white Thunderbird under the light in the background is my favorite. I've always loved those early T-birds.
An oil derrick builder eats a sandwich at lunchtime in Borger, 1942. Simply OUTSTANDING!
Taken by John Vachon.
Taken by John Vachon.
November 14, 2025 at 12:34 AM
An oil derrick builder eats a sandwich at lunchtime in Borger, 1942. Simply OUTSTANDING!
Taken by John Vachon.
Taken by John Vachon.
Three young ladies from a 1950s advertisement for "Padre Beach. They are, from left, Judy Russey, Floy Dell Hassell, and Jane Ann Ervin."
That reminds me ... I need to get to the ocean!
That reminds me ... I need to get to the ocean!
November 13, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Three young ladies from a 1950s advertisement for "Padre Beach. They are, from left, Judy Russey, Floy Dell Hassell, and Jane Ann Ervin."
That reminds me ... I need to get to the ocean!
That reminds me ... I need to get to the ocean!
This is Sam Houston's house aka his "executive mansion" when he was the President of the Republic of Texas in 1837. This was taken sometime after that, but this is the house. It was at what's now 405 Main in Houston --- where there's a Subway sandwich shop. Wonder what Sam would say about that?
November 13, 2025 at 8:49 PM
This is Sam Houston's house aka his "executive mansion" when he was the President of the Republic of Texas in 1837. This was taken sometime after that, but this is the house. It was at what's now 405 Main in Houston --- where there's a Subway sandwich shop. Wonder what Sam would say about that?
Ed Wright's homemade travel trailer in Harlingen, 1939. Ed was from Terrell but that didn't keep him from going out and seeing the sites, as the printed words and license plates attest. Ed went to Lubbock, Pharr, Sugar Land and even far-flung, exotic places like Miami and Uniontown. Ed got around!
November 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Ed Wright's homemade travel trailer in Harlingen, 1939. Ed was from Terrell but that didn't keep him from going out and seeing the sites, as the printed words and license plates attest. Ed went to Lubbock, Pharr, Sugar Land and even far-flung, exotic places like Miami and Uniontown. Ed got around!
Apparently 99% of Texans --- including Daniel Boone, who took this photo outside Richland Springs and sent it to me ---- saw the northern lights last night and I didn't. I'm told that there might be a very good chance to see them again tonight.
November 12, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Apparently 99% of Texans --- including Daniel Boone, who took this photo outside Richland Springs and sent it to me ---- saw the northern lights last night and I didn't. I'm told that there might be a very good chance to see them again tonight.