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Dr. James “Red” Duke
The sound of helicopter blades beating overhead draws one’s eyes instinctively to the sky. Is there a traffic problem? Is it a police chase? Or is someone being rushed to the hospital? Spying the familiar red helicopter, whether the words Life Flight are visible on the exterior or not, the viewer immediately knows someone’s life […]
Fighting Houston’s Fires
For 178 years, organized groups of firefighters have battled Houston fires, with the first volunteer bucket brigade established less than two years after the city’s founding in 1836. This photo essay offers a visual chronicle of the department’s history.
The Turkey Day Classic: Houston’s Biggest Football Rivalry
It has been over 50 years since the last Turkey Day Classic was played, yet still to this day the game is the conversation among Jack Yates and Phyllis Wheatley Alumni alike. The classic initially began as a rotation of holiday games between Yates, Washington, and Wheatley High Schools in 1927. By 1946, the overwhelming […]
The Tatcho Mindiola Jr. Collection
In May 2015, Houston native Dr. Tatcho Mindiola, Jr., the long time Chicano activist, sociology professor, and director for the Center for Mexican American Studies, retired from the University of Houston (UH) after forty years of service. Months later he donated his papers, over sixty boxes, to the Hispanic Collections at the University of Houston […]
14.1 Houston EMS Table of Contents
Download the full pdf. Vol. 14, No. 1 (Fall 2016) Letter from the Editor by Debbie Z. Harwell 2 Pioneering Houston EMS: Answering the Call By La’Nora Jefferson, James Thornock, and Paulina De Paz 7 Houston Setting the Standard for Emergency Care By La’Nora Jefferson, James Thornock, and Paulina De Paz 15 On Call […]
Last Letter from the Editor by Joe Pratt
After forty years of teaching and thirteen years at the helm of Houston History, our editor-in-chief Joe Pratt has retired. This is the last letter from the editor he will write, but we are hopeful he will get bored with his gorgeous view of the mountains and write articles for us from time to time, sharing his wealth […]
Carolyn Farb: Fundraiser Extraordinaire
Houstonian Carolyn Farb and Bob Boudreaux, former TV news anchor now Shakespearean actor have been friends for decades. The two sat down for an interview for Houston History, offering a glimpse into Carolyn Farb’s life and contributions to the city of Houston and beyond. Below you will find the article in the magazine, the full audio interview […]
Los La Rottas de Houston: A Colombian Family’s Immigration Story
By Alex La Rotta Growing up, my siblings and I occasionally asked our parents how we ended up in Houston. I was particularly interested in trying to find meaning in my dual Colombian-American identity. Here we were, this large Colombian family (forty-plus members and counting) spread across Houston, yet it seemed so happenstance. We did […]
The Growth of the Latter-day Saints Church in Houston and Katy, Texas
By James Thornock The story of the church of Latter-day Saints in Texas began with the founders of the religion as well as the state of Texas. Just before his death in 1844, church organizer Joseph Smith sent a representative to Sam Houston to negotiate for a tract of land where the Latter-day Saints could […]
Being the Spirit of Houston: The University of Houston Marching Band
By La’Nora Jefferson The University of Houston marching band was founded in 1946. Any student could participate as long as they auditioned. Even in its early years, the marching band supported the Cougars at all football and basketball games, traveling to several away games. The band led the Frontier Fiesta parade and the first football […]