About the Collection
The John Miller Morris Collection of Texas Real Photographic Postcards and Photographs contains real photographic postcards (RPPCs) and photographs of locations throughout Texas, circa 1900-1925. The Morris collection, which consists of 9,290 postcards and 350 photographic prints, includes images from every area of the state and is arranged by geographical region.
The large number of images, many rare and probably unique, depict Texas at a time of tremendous growth and change. The RPPCs portray both common and unusual aspects of everyday life in small towns and ranches in rural areas. Larger towns and cities are illustrated as well, showing urban life from a personal snapshot perspective. The border-area photographs document the movement of Mexicans and the military near and across the border during the Mexican Revolution.
The impact of the collection on the study of Texas photography is immense. Many of the photographers are little-known or unknown. The RPPCs, therefore, represent new documentary evidence about which photographers were working at the turn of the 20th century and significantly add to the history of Texas photography.
Items from the following series in the physical collection are available online.
- Series 1: East Texas and South East Texas, circa 1900-1925
- Series 2: Houston-Galveston, circa 1900-1925
- Series 3: Golden Crescent and Coastal Bend, circa 1900-1925
- Series 4: Lower Rio Grande Valley, South Texas, and Middle Rio Grande Valley, and Rio Grande, circa 1900-1925
- Series 5: Ark-Tex, Brazos Valley, Heart of Texas, Texoma, and North Central Texas, circa 1900-1925
- Series 6: Central Texas and Capital Area, circa 1900-1925
- Series 7: Texas Hill Country and Alamo Area, circa 1900-1925
- Series 8: Nortex and West Central Texas, circa 1900-1925
- Series 9: Concho Valley and Permian Basin, circa 1900-1925
- Series 10: South Plains and Panhandle, circa 1900-1925
Biographical Note
John Miller Morris (1952-2017) was born in Amarillo, Texas and grew up in the Texas Panhandle. Dr. Morris earned his bachelor degree, two masters and PhD in Geography and Planning at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Morris was a Professor in the Department of Political Science and Geography at the University of Texas at San Antonio. A historical geographer, Morris authored and edited multiple books, including "El Llano Estacado," a definitive work on the history and geography of the region, "From Coronado to Escalante," "Taming the Land," and "A Private in the Texas Rangers." He was working on a 2-volume, illustrated study of early 20th century Texas photographers at the time of his death.
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