HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC299_SOPHIE_ELIZABETH_HALLIDAY_OIL_INDUSTRY_PHOTOGRAPH_COLLECTIONTyrrell Historical Library
Finding Aid for the Sophie Elizabeth Halliday Oil
Industry Photograph Collection, 1903-1940.
Accession 299
Finding aid created by
Tyrrell Historical Library staff
Summary I nformafion
Title: Sophie Elizabeth Halliday Oil Industry Photograph Collection
Creator: Halliday, H. J. (Herbert Judson), 1880-1968.
Halliday, H. B. (Herbert Bonham), 1911-1963
Inclusive dates: 1903-1940
Extent: 1 box, approximately 0.3 cubic feet
Abstract:
This collection consists of photographs from 1902 to 1904 related to the Hogg -Swayne
tract, Flores gusher, and Batson oil field, all three once a part of Spindletop. Other
images include an oil field fire at Spindletop that occurred between September 12 and
14 of 1902. In addition, there are a few images from the 1940s that show destroyed oil
derricks of the Stella Oil Company after a Gulf storm struck the area. The oil derricks
were situated on the original Hogg -Swayne lease. The Stella Oil Company was formed
in 1906 by Herbert Judson Halliday. The 1940s photographs were created by Herbert
B. Halliday, son of Herbert J., who was still associated with the Stella Oil Company.
Call number: 11-2-G; AC -299.
Language: The material is in English.
Repository: Tyrrell Historical Library
695 N. Pearl St
Beaumont, TX 77701
Phone: 409-833-2759
Home Page: http://www.beaumontlibrary.org/tyrrell_historical_library.htm
Access and Use
Acquisition Information
Unknown.
Arrangement
This collection is organized into 1 box with photographs numbered consecutively. The
early (circa 1903) photographs are arranged (1-30) and the remaining images (31-42)
are the circa 1940 derrick destruction aftermath of Stella Oil Company. Due to the
weight difference between the older card -backed photographs and the light -weight
1940s photographs, the latter are placed on top. Historical information will also be
found on the top, inside the box.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions apply.
Copyright:
Copyright is unknown. The library does not hold the copyright to many of its archival
collections. The researcher must secure those rights when needed, including permission
to publish. The researcher assumes full responsibility for complying with copyright law.
Related Material:
AC -675 Vallie Fletcher Taylor Spindletop Photograph Collection.
Preferred Citation:
AC -299, Box 1, Sophie Elizabeth Halliday Oil Industry Photograph Collection, Tyrrell
Historical Library.
Biographical/ Historical Note
Joseph R. Caston (1849-1923) and Herbert Judson Halliday (1880-1968) formed a
partnership when Caston, who had a three well lease in the Hogg -Swayne tract on
Spindletop hill, went broke. Halliday paid $500 for a one-half partnership. Joseph
Caston's son, Alva Gray Caston (1877-1922), worked for David M. Caffall (1877-1942)
whose wife was Stella (1877-1950). Joseph Caston bought out David Caffall, and then
in 1907, David Caffall and Herbert Halliday bought out Joseph Caston and were
partners in the Stella Oil Company.
Collection Scope and Content Note
The collection includes portraits of people involved in the community at the time, either
as visitors or citizens. The portraits include Fred Manley and "Shorty" Hasbrook,
"Pappy" Grant, George Link and Albert Taylor. George Link later became a successful
oil man in Oklahoma. It also includes photographs of equipment and buildings of
Spindletop Avenue and other area oil fields, such as the first electric lift, operated by
the German -American Oil Company; an air plant boiler room, an air plant power
station, and oil derricks of the Heywood lease, Batson oil field and Spindletop oil derrick
avenue. Oil derrick labor crews, a model rice field and a typical boarding house may
also be seen in this collection.
Subject Terms
Subjects:
. Carriages and carts.
. Horses.
. Hotels and
motels.
. Petroleum—Equipment
and supplies.
. Petroleum
—United States—Texas—Spindletop.
. Petroleum—Employees.
. Petroleum—Fire.
Persons:
. Halliday, H. J. (Herbert Judson), 1880-1968.
. Halliday, Herbert Bonham, 1911-1963.
. Caston, Alva G., 1877-1922.
. Caston, Joseph R., 1849-1923.
. Caffall, David McKinley, 1877-1942.
. Caffall, Stella M., 1877-1950.
. Manley, Fred.
. Taylor, Albert.
. Link, George.
Organizations:
. German -American Oil Company.
. National Oil and Pipeline Company.
. Stella Oil Company.
Locations:
. Batson oil field (Beaumont, Tex.)
. Flores Gusher (Beaumont, Tex.)
. Hogg -Swayne lease (Beaumont, Tex.)
. Spindletop hill (Beaumont, Tex.)
Genres:
. Biographical notes.
• Organization files.
• Photographs.
Contents List
Container/ Location Title
Box # 1 Sophie Elizabeth Halliday Oil Industry
Photograph Collection.