Oveta Culp Hobby Papers and Photographs
Collection
Identifier: MSS 1356
Scope and Contents
This collection is comprised of photographs of various generations of the William P. Hobby family and the Houston Post building and events. The collection also includes photographs from Oveta Culp Hobby’s army career. Also included is a book titled "Around the World in 13 Days with Oveta Culp Hobby", comprised of articles written by Oveta Culp Hobby regarding her experience on the Clipper "America's” June 17-30, 1947 flight around the world. The collection includes a few photographs from the flight. Also included is William P. Hobby’s campaign notebook, a book of his letters, a printed program from a luncheon saluting Col. Oveta Culp Hobby, an autograph album, and some correspondence received by the Hobby Family.
Dates
- 1917-1970s
- Majority of material found within 1960-1978
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Oveta Culp Hobby Papers and Photographs must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Oveta Culp Hobby (1905 - 1995) was the first secretary of the US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, first commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps during World War II, and chairperson of the board of the Houston Post. In 1931, she married William P. Hobby, a former Governor of Texas and the publisher of the Houston Post. She later became the Post's executive vice president, president, and then its publisher. In 1946–47, Mrs. Hobby served on boards of the Advertising Federation of America, the American Design Award Committee, the American National Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the Citizens Committee for the Hoover Report, and the American Assembly. In 1948 she was a member of the United States delegation to the United Nations Conference on Freedom of Information and the Press in Geneva, Switzerland. She was invited to fly around the world on a special circumnavigation flight of Pan American World Airways. In April 11, 1953, she became the first secretary of the new Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1955 Mrs. Hobby resumed her position with the Houston Post as president and editor. In 1956 she became chairman of the board of directors of the newly organized Bank of Texas and the first woman in its 113-year history to be a member of Mutual of New York's board of trustees. President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed her to the National Advisory Commission on Selective Service and she flew to Vietnam as a member of the HEW Vietnam Health Education Task Force in 1966. In 1968 she was named to the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and supervised the construction of the Houston Post's new building on the Southwest Freeway at Post Oak Road. Her son William P. Hobby, Jr., served as Lieutenant Governor of Texas from 1973 - 1991. Oveta Culp Hobby died on August 16, 1995, in Houston, and is buried at Glenwood Cemetery.
Extent
2.5 Linear Feet
Arrangement
Series 1 Papers
Series 2 Photographs
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Photographs, a luncheon program, and the book Around the World in 13 Days with Oveta Culp Hobby were donated by Bill Hobby in 2000. The rest of the material was collected by Houston Public Library.
Processing Information
Processed by Claudia Cardenas, February 2019
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Repository Details
Part of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center Repository
