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Hubert Roussel: “Extra, Extra. Read All About It!”
by Don Looser The Houston Gargoyle publication was “fondly remembered for its enlivening of the local scene.” This cover is from vol. 3, no. 9, March 2, 1930. Photo courtesy of the Houston History Research Center, Digital Archives, Houston Public Library, bk0045-272b. Just a scant memory ago is the era when legendary journalist and television reporter Walter Cronkite began his career in 1932 as a high school club […]
Montrose: From Streetcar Suburb to Midtown Enclave
By Marie Theresa Hernández and Brian Riedel Vibrant Colors – The rainbow crosswalks on Westheimer and Taft were installed in 2017 in memory of Alex Hill, a young member of the Montrose community tragically killed in a hit-and-run, and to commemorate the LGBTQ+ community’s resilience and contributions in Houston. In 2025, the crosswalks have been removed per a directive […]
A Celebration of Joe Pratt
Joe Pratt, NEH Cullen Chair of Business and History By Debbie Z. Harwell, Editor It is with great sadness we share the news that our founder and friend Joe Pratt passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Beloved by family, friends, colleagues, and students, Joe brought joy to all who knew him. He always said […]
23.1 Letter from Editor
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The Houston Saengerbund: “One of the Best Kept Secrets in the City of Houston”
By Jonas Leon Kaupert Members of the Houston Saengerbund host Oktoberfest at their new headquarters, located in the Houston Heights, in 2023. They spent time throughout their season practicing for the event, which celebrates their German heritage. Photo courtesy of the Houston Saengerbund. Houston ranks as one of the most diverse cities in the United […]
The Houston Saengerbund: A Legacy of German Culture and Song
By Vince Lee Songbook for Houston Saengerbund Bass performers at Des Deutsch Texanischen Saengerbundes (the German Texan Singers’ League), 1902. All photos courtesy of Houston Saengerbund Records, Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries. The Houston Saengerbund, meaning “singing society,” was founded on October 6, 1883, by German immigrants. They sought to bring their musical traditions […]
Relocation, not Dislocation: Organizational Continuity across Houston’s Chinatowns
By Daniel Killian The On Leong Merchants Association formed in 1893 as a national mutual aid society for Chinese men. The Houston chapter filed with the Texas Secretary of State in 1944, although it existed prior to that time. Photo courtesy of the Houston History Research Center, Houston Public Library, MSS-1248-0404. Today, when Houstonians refer […]
Between Two Worlds: Ana Eigler’s Journey of Bicultural Belonging
By Miranda Ruzinsky Ana Eigler, Sephardic, married her husband Robert Eigler, Ashkenazi, in 1973. They maintained a bicultural Jewish household of Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish practices alongside their shared Latin heritage. All photos courtesy of Ana Eigler. This is a story about identity—self-asserted and externally imposed. Ana Eigler, a Sephardic Jew from Latin America, understood […]
Storyteller of Today: Dima Suki’s Journey from Lebanon to America
By Maya Bouchebl Dima Suki attended the American University of Beirut in the early 1980s. Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the bustling city streets on the other, the campus is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. All photos courtesy of Dima Suki unless otherwise noted. The first wave […]
Lizbeth Ortiz – Art in Action
by Grace Jarman Lizbeth Ortiz, Houston artist and founder of the Frida Festival, shares her passion for the arts in a way that showcases her heritage and connects with her community. Photo courtesy of Lizbeth Ortiz and Anthony Rathbun Photography. In spring, as the air turns to the heat of a Houston summer, the streets […]