Background
Henson, Margaret Swett was born on January 3, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Daughter of William Claude and Clara L. (Kaufman) Swett.
( Despite his important role in the development of early ...)
Despite his important role in the development of early Texas—he was a close associate of Stephen F. Austin, a successful businessman and land speculator, father of the Texas navy, founder of Texas' first bank, and co-founder of Galveston—Samuel May Williams is unknown to many Texans. Elitist, arrogant, shrewd, sometimes sharp in his business dealings, and politically conservative, Williams made enemies easily, and contemporary prejudice has perhaps led modern scholars to overlook his genuine significance in Texas history. Margaret Swett Henson's biography examines the career of this early entrepreneur, whose interests were closely entwined with those of Texas. Arriving in Texas in 1822 under an assumed name with little but good family connections, some mercantile experience, and fluent Spanish, Williams was hired as secretary in charge of Austin's colonial land office at San Felipe and before long had acquired large holdings of his own. In partnership with Thomas F. McKinney he set up a commission house that did a thriving business and later added a small banking function. The two men helped found the Galveston City Company and in 1848 Williams opened his Commercial and Agricultural Bank in that city. Over three decades Williams participated in the events that determined the course of Texas history and did much to advance the development of Texas and its economy—a less romantic but no less vital role than that of more popular folk-heroes. This study makes extensive use of heretofore largely unexplored manuscript material, notably the Samuel May Williams Papers at the Rosenberg Library in Galveston, Texas.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890961921/?tag=2022091-20
( Winner of the Summerfield G. Roberts Award, this provoc...)
Winner of the Summerfield G. Roberts Award, this provocative revisionist look at a Mexican official long vilified in Texas gives a new perspective on specific events involving Juan Davis Bradburn. It also helps to explain early stages of the Texas war for independence in terms of the refusal of Anglo settlers to accept the "un-American" laws and customs of Mexican Texans.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890961352/?tag=2022091-20
( The Cartwright family created a truly Texas-sized empir...)
The Cartwright family created a truly Texas-sized empire over the course of the nineteenth century. The highly readable history of this remarkable entrepreneurial family provides a unique and important view of the Texas experience.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0876111290/?tag=2022091-20
( Built in the winter of 1839-1840, this house, and the T...)
Built in the winter of 1839-1840, this house, and the Texas pioneer who inhabited it, are the central focus of this thoroughly researched and well-written study of Galveston's merchant elite—Gail Borden, Michel Menard, Thomas McKinney, and others—a generation of leaders who did much to shape their city and Texas itself.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0876111258/?tag=2022091-20
( In Mexico Lorenzo de Zavala was a reformer striving to ...)
In Mexico Lorenzo de Zavala was a reformer striving to empower the middle class; in Texas, he sought economic stability and hoped to restore his political career. His early death defeated both plans. Some Mexican historians praise Zavala’s efforts to create a republic in Mexico and to improve the conditions of the lower classes, but most see him as a traitor because he signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. Anglo historians have generally ignored Zavala except for brief references. A few contemporary Texans admired his political talents, but most suspected his motives. Between 1822 and 1824, Zavala, a native of Yucatan, served in the first Congress of the Mexican republic. He went on to become governor of the State of Mexico and the first Mexican minister to France. When President Santa Anna rose to power, Zavala resigned in protest. Fearful for his life, he moved his family to Mexico’s frontier state of Texas where he owned land. Elected a delegate to the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos, he signed the Texas Declaration of Independencethe only delegate who had previous experience writing a constitution and who had held office at both national and state levels. Fellow delegates unanimously named him vice-president of the new Republic of Texas. Forced to flee when Santa Anna approached San Jacinto, Zavala was increasingly frustrated by the new Texas government and its interim president, David Burnet. Shortly after resigning office, he died at his home opposite the San Jacinto battleground, his death attributed to recurring bouts of fever. He was only forty-eight years old.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/087565150X/?tag=2022091-20
Henson, Margaret Swett was born on January 3, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Daughter of William Claude and Clara L. (Kaufman) Swett.
Biosystems Engineering, University Houston, 1962. Master of Arts in History, University Houston, 1969. Doctor of Philosophy in History, University Houston, 1974.
Teacher secondary Houston Indiana School District, 1962-1969. Teaching fellow University Houston, 1969-1971. Instructor, lecturer Houston Community College, 1971-1974.
Archivist Houston Metropolitan Archives Project National Endowment of the Humanities, 1974-1976. Assistant professor University Houston Clear Lake, 1978-1984. History researcher United States Army Corps Engineers, Galveston, 1984-1992.
( Built in the winter of 1839-1840, this house, and the T...)
( In Mexico Lorenzo de Zavala was a reformer striving to ...)
(The Cartwrights of San Augustine -- Three Generations of ...)
( Despite his important role in the development of early ...)
( The Cartwright family created a truly Texas-sized empir...)
( Winner of the Summerfield G. Roberts Award, this provoc...)
Fellow Texas State History Association (editorial board Southwestern History Quarterly 1980-1990, advisory editorial board Handbook of Texas since 1989, president since 1997), East Texas History Association (board directors 1982-1984).
Married Wilbur A. Nowotny, October 2, 1943 (divorced 1951). Children: Kathleen, Patricia. Married J. Scott Henson, September 14, 1951.
Children: Michael, John Peter, Steven Paul.