Summer SAMPLER VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 3 • SUMMER 2016 CENTER FOR PUBLIC HISTORY Published by Welcome Wilson Houston History Collaborative Last LETTER FROM EDITOR JOE PRATT Ringing the History Bell fter forty years of university In memory of my Grandma Pratt I keep her dinner bell, Ateaching, with thirty years at which she rang to call the “men folks” home from the University of Houston, I will re- fields for supper. After ringing the bell long enough to tire at the end of this summer. make us wish we had a field to retreat to, Felix, my For about half my years at six-year old grandson, asked me what it was like to UH, I have run the Houston live on a farm in the old days. We talked at bed- History magazine, serving as a time for almost an hour about my grandparent’s combination of editor, moneyman, life on an East Texas farm that for decades lacked both manager, and sometimes writer. In the electricity and running water. I relived for him my memo- Joseph A. Pratt first issue of the magazine, I wrote: ries of regular trips to their farm: moving the outhouse to “Our goal…is to make our region more aware of its history virgin land with my cousins, “helping” my dad and grandpa and more respectful of its past.” We have since published slaughter cows and hogs and hanging up their meat in the thirty-four issues of our “popular history magazine” devot- smoke house, draw- ed to capturing and publicizing the history of the Houston ing water from a well region, broadly defined. instead of turning on The magazine has been my favorite hobby while I worked a faucet, winding up at my real job teaching some 10,000 students and publish- last in a long line of ing roughly 4,000 pages of academic history in books and cousins for a bath in a articles. It introduced me to smart, creative student work- big tub filled with in- ers who passed through our magazine staff in three or four creasingly dirty water waves. It pulled me off campus and out into the lively world heated on the stove. of Houstonians who shared my commitment to our region’s Felix especially liked history. It encouraged me to reclaim the writer’s voice of my my memory of the day youth after decades of writing academic books. I joined my cousin in At this point, I need to thank the editor of the magazine, shooting a bull in the Grandma and Grandpa Pratt with Joe Pratt, who seemed to like everything I wrote. After years behind with BB guns baby Joe. Photo courtesy of Joseph A. Pratt. of trying to help students see historical trends all around to see what he would them and recognize that these trends shape their lives, writ- do. The enraged bull broke through the fence separating us ing for the magazine has encouraged me to do the same. It and chased us back to the farm house, where we confronted has been fun to reflect on young Joe’s life against the back- uncles who grew angrier than the bull when they realized drop of the historical knowledge old Joe has accumulated what we had done. over 67 years. At the end of our talk, I told Felix that I lectured to my My articles and letters from the editor helped me better students in my large American history survey classes about understand my dad’s experiences in World War II, my what it was like to live on a farm without electricity and run- lifelong love affair with the Bolivar Peninsula, my obsession ning water to help them understand how different life was in with hurricanes, my passion for country music, the impact “the old days.” I showed them my grandma’s dinner bell and of race on my upbringing and my mature self, and especially told them that she used it to announce it was time to come my calling to be a teacher. I had the chance to interview to supper. Then before each class, after hundreds of rowdy interesting people as varied as Jane Blaffer Owens, George students had filed into the big auditorium, I vigorously rang Mitchell, Ben Love, and Larry Dierker, gaining new the history bell to announce it was time to come to order perspectives along the way. I came away from all of this and learn some history. much more certain that history matters on both regional Felix seemed amused by this. When he asked if he could and a personal levels. have the bell, I assured him that someday it would be his. In retirement, I hope to convey some of our family history The uses of history are many, and awareness of history to our two grandsons. and respect for the past are good for us all. Happy retirement, Joe! We will miss you. —Your colleagues, students, and friends Table of Contents FEATURES: Carolyn Farb: 2| VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 3 • SUMMER 2016 Fundraiser Extraordinaire A conversation with Carolyn Farb and Summer SAMPLER Bob Boudreaux EDITORIAL STAFF Los La Rottas de Houston: Joseph A. Pratt, Editor 10| Debbie Z. Harwell, Managing Editor A Colombian Family’s Marina DonLevy, Associate Editor Immigration Story Denise Gomez, Intern/Oral History By Alex La Rotta Nimra Haroon, Intern Paige McNamara, Intern Binding People Together in The Church Ethan O’Donnell, Intern/Oral History 15| of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Paulina De Paz, Intern La’Nora Jefferson, Intern By James Thornock Roshni Patel, Intern James Thornock, Intern Andrew Huff, Junior Intern Being the Spirit of 19| Marsha Van Horn, Art Director Houston: The University of ADVISORY BOARD Houston Marching Band Susan Bischoff William Kellar By La’Nora Jefferson Betty Trapp Chapman Fred Korge Barbara Eaves Martin Melosi Steven Fenberg Jim Saye DEPARTMENTS: Oscar Gutiérrez Anne Sloan PRESERVATION EDITORIAL POLICY 24| Houston History is published three times a year by Clayton House: Profile the Welcome Wilson Houston History Collaborative of a Home and the in the Center for Public History at the University Family who Built It of Houston. We welcome manuscripts, interviews, By Alex Colvin photographic essays, and ideas for topical issues on the history and culture of the Houston region, broad- COMMUNITIES 30| ly defined. Please send correspondence toHouston How Do You Pronounce Kuykendahl? History, University of Houston, Center for Public – The German Settlers of Northwest History, 3623 Cullen Blvd., Room 320, Houston, TX 77204-3007 or email [email protected]. Phone Harris County 713-743-3123. By Stephanie Gomez © 2016 by the Center for Public History. All rights 35| FROM THE ARCHIVES reserved. Reproduction of this issue or any portion of “Texas wines find their place in the it is expressly prohibited without written permission sun”: George Fuermann and the Early of the publisher. The Center for Public History History of the Texas Wine Industry disclaims responsibility for statements of fact and By Maria R. D. Corsi opinions of contributors. ECLECTIC HOUSTONIANS 38| Sofie Herzog: The First Woman Surgeon in Texas COVER PHOTO: By Rachel Penland Carolyn Farb with her Lucas terriers, Lucas and Max, in NEWS AND BOOKS front of Memphis King by artist AngelbertMetoyer. 42| Photo courtesy of Sofia Van der Dys. By Barbara Eaves HOUSTON HISTORY Vol. 13 • No.3 1 Photo courtesy of Sofia Van der Dys. 2 HOUSTON HISTORY Vol.13 • No.3 Carolyn Farb: Fundraiser Extraordinaire A conversation with Carolyn Farb and Bob Boudreaux he world perceives my friend Carolyn to be a bold, innova- She has an amazing intellectual capacity to discuss any and all Ttive, striking, commanding, and dedicated civic leader whose subjects with informed, well-thought and articulate opinions, often impressive commitment to helping others through philanthropy ap- spiced wth a rapier wit that will leave you chuckling; and she does proaches legendary status. All these are appropriate, applicable, not suffer fools lightly. I know. And those who know her well will tell and deserved. But as a friend for over three decades I know the lady you that she is not the type of person who takes “no” for an answer. to possess an indomitable spirt of a true romantic; a Rennaissance Having been her companion at numerous public events over the woman of the highest order; a sweet, caring and loyal friend; a per- years I saw firsthand how others responded to Carolyn with a genu- son of unquestionable courage in the face ine sense of respect, appreciation, and of personal adversity, tragedy, and heart- Holy, fair, and wise is she. admiration bordering on occasional break; and a lovely soul blessed with great awe. She took all this in gracious stride, abundance, beauty, and clever wit. The heaven such grace did lend her moving about in total control of whatev- While often seen as a trendsetting, high- That she might admired be... er room she entered as an almost au- ly visible member of what others would de- tomatic center of attention. She is one note as “High Society,“ I know Carolyn to To her let us garlands bring. of those people whom you will know be a simple Houston girl who would, by William Shakespeare is there, even if you don‘t immediately her own admission, rather have a burger (The Two Gentlemen of Verona 4.2) see her, because someone will tell you. and a glass of wine at some local restu- It was and is always a memorable night arant with a close friend, than to dance in a designer gown in the to head out anywhere with her.