Anchors Aweigh!

For the last couple of weeks, I have been working to construct a two-part exhibit on Beaumont’s and the McFaddins’ contributions to World War I. I look forward to the exhibit opening the first week of August and seeing the whole project put together. I have learned a great deal while doing my research and how much Beaumont and Texas sacrificed to help win the war.

 

I was amazed to learn that during the war, Texas mobilized over 128,000 men for service overseas, and Beaumont sent two National Guard companies to the newly-formed 36^th Infantry Division. They trained at Camp Bowie near Fort Worth, Texas. Also during this time, many enlistees from the surrounding area were assigned to the famous 90^th Division, which was largely composed of men from Texas and Oklahoma.  

 

Even civilians in Southeast Texas “did their bit” to help with the war effort. Beaumont was also a producer of food for the military and contributed rice, beef and other commodities. Many women and children helped by volunteering for war relief programs, such as for the Red Cross to roll bandages and assemble first aid kits.

 

One of the most interesting facts that I learned so far about Southeast Texas’ efforts has been that Beaumont had a major shipbuilding facility and was a major producer of fuel because of its proximity to massive oil deposits at Spindletop and the rest of the Gulf Coast. Even today, Beaumont remains an important refining center.

 

With my exhibit, I plan to showcase not just the men and women in uniform, but all those on the home front who contributed in so many important ways.

 

 

 A photograph of a newly constructed ship, the City of Beaumont, during its launch.

 

 

Hello! I am Arthur Garrison, the one of the summer interns at the McFaddin-Ward House this year. I am from Fort Worth, Texas, and must admit that Beaumont is a welcomed change of both scenery and climate for me. I have received a Master’s degree in history from the University of North Texas, and am currently working towards the completion of a museum’s studies program at the University of Oklahoma.

I have previously worked as a guest services representative at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. I have also volunteered as a docent, collections manager, researcher, and overall “gopher” at the Military History Museum of Fort Worth. I am looking forward to working with the staff and volunteers at the McFaddin-Ward House, and learning the many necessary and sought-after skills that are required to work in a museum.

Throughout my internship, I will be posting updates of my projects and the various happenings at the museum. Aelish, the museum’s previous intern started this blog and shared information on the research she did on the McFaddins’ collection of Blenko glass. I plan to take my research in another direction by focusing on Beaumont’s involvement in the First World War and include an in-depth look at the McFaddins’ contribution to the war effort and have begun work on designing an exhibit on the topic. I am extremely interested in military history and how it affected so many aspects of American life, even a wealthy family like the McFaddins. I am excited about learning more about Southeast Texas during the World War and the knowledge I will gain from the project.

I will continue posting weekly updates during my internship and give a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what it is like to work for a history museum. Feel free to comment and ask questions as I go along, and please continue to follow my progress on this exciting project.