Texas history is full of legend and lore. One such tale is the “Yellow Rose of Texas” – a legend commemorated in song. But is there such a rose? And if there is, which rose is it? The Song Originally conceived as a folksong in early Colonial Texas history, the first recorded copy of the…

Originally published by Historic Texas Indians, Texas Archealogical E-Journal. Vol.3, Fall, 1996. Defining the historic Indian tribes in Texas is not easy. Different tribes occupied different regions at different times. This is why we have divided the subject into Proto-historical, at the time of first contact with early explorers, at the time of the Spanish…

James Bowie, a son of Rezin Bowie, was born in Burke county, Georgia. Of his parents, it is said they were from Maryland. The father was a man of strong mind and sound judgment. The mother was a pious and excellent lady, and from her it was thought that the children inherited their remarkable energy…

  by Karen Tipton ©1995, Texas Highways In 1903, Texan Clara Driscoll put up the thousands of dollars necessary to prevent the sale of the Alamo convent to a hotel firm (see“Adina De Zavala, Alamo Crusader”). The gesture earned her the moniker “Savior of the Alamo.” In 1905, the Texas Legislature reimbursed Driscoll. Until then,…

By Frank W Jennings with Rosemary Williams ©1995, Texas Highways From the late 1800s until her death in 1955, a fragile-looking wisp of a black-haired, blue-eyed woman made it her mission to protect Texas historical treasures. She forged innovative volunteer groups. She identified and marked important historic sites. And she even defied law officers in…