The Robert E. Nail, Jr. Archives encourages the discovery and understanding of our regional and institutional history by providing accessibility for research and study, and through the preservation and exhibition of its diverse collections.

Researchers are invited to use the Robert E Nail, Jr. Archives Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm. While walk-ins are accepted, please consider making an appointment to guarantee access to the archives. Direct email inquiries can be made to msauder@theojac.org or call 325.762.2269 for more information about the archives or to make an appointment.

Archives Collections (in alphabetical order)
For finished finding aids, it is important that you read the biographical note and the arrangement description first. When searching for items, use Ctrl+F to search in the page.

Note: Some of the below links lead to Adobe Reader files.
What is Adobe Reader? |  Download Adobe Reader

 Albany High School Ex-Student Assoc. Collection
Summary: Newspaper clipping, scrapbooks, and a publication created or collected by the Albany High School Ex-Student Association.
Keywords: Albany High School, Ex-Student Assocation, F.F.A., Abilene history, Albany history, The Lion's Roar, Junior Historian.

 Albany ISD Papers Preliminiary Finding Aid 
Summary: Clippings and printed material relating to Albany ISD for the years 1960-1963.
Keywords: Albany ISD, Albany High School, Albany school sports, Albany High School football.

 Albany Lions Club Papers Preliminary Finding Aid
Summary: Newsletter, publications, printed material, correspondence and business records created and collected by the Albany Lions Club for the years 1931-1938.
Keywords: Albany Lions Club, Lions Club, The Lions Tale.

 Bill Bomar Papers Preliminary Finding Aid 
Summary: Newspaper clippings, magazines, artifacts, and printed material created by and relating to Bill Bomar and his art make up this collection.
Keywords: Bill Bomar, Fort Worth Circle, Old Jail Art Center, artist, disabled artist, Cerebral Palsy.

 Blanton Family Papers Preliminary Finding Aid 
Summary: Correspondence, manuscript, blueprints, publications, and a scrapbook for the years 1933-1985.
Keywords: Joseph Edwin Blanton, Interwoven, Shackelford County Historical Commission, Chimney Creek Stage Stop, Chimney Creek Ranch, Texas Historical Preservation News.

 Bob Green Papers Finding Aid
Abstract: The collection of papers include eleven master broadcast videotapes that chronicle the history of Shackelford County Courthouse and the First National Bank of Albany produced by Bob Green, his writings, the writings of Robert E. Nail, Jr., and business/legal records relating to Fort Griffin.
Keywords: Albany News, Albany, Shackelford County, Texas, Ebersole, First National Bank of Albany, Fort Griffin, Texas, Gilbert, J.R., Green, James Robert (Bob,)(1926- ), Herron, Henry, John Larn Inquest, Kirkland and Stripling, Larn, John, Nail, Robert E., Jr., (1909-1968), Parker County, Texas, Princeton, New Jersey, Ranching, Reynolds Cattle Company, Shackelford County Courthouse, Tarrant County, Texas.

Book Collection Inventory
Summary: The Archives Book Collection is comprised primarily of books on Texas history and culture. There are also books on local Shackelford County history as well as regional history. The Archives Book Collection is non-circulating, and are not for sale. Most are out of print. See Also: Webb Family Book Collection

 Caldwell Family Papers Finding Aid
Abstract: Drafts of manuscripts, correspondence, photocopies of primary source research, notes and one photograph in support of an article for the Texas State Historical Association titled: "'God help them all and so must we': Clara Barton, Reverend John Brown, and Drought Relief Efforts, 1886-1887." Also research on the John Larn Inquest and the Shackelford County Courthouse and its restoration.
Keywords: Albany, Shackelford County, Texas; Barton, Clara (1821-1812); Brown, Reverend John (1843-1902); Caldwell, Shirley; Drought Relief, 1886-1887; Shackelford County Courthouse Restoration; Texas Drought 1886-1887.

 Census Records, 1870-1920
Summary: Microfilm collection of census reports for Shackelford County, 1870-1920
Keywords: Census reports, Shackelford County, Texas counties

 Clarke Family Papers Preliminary Finding Aid
Summary: Correspondence, Christmas cards, and postcards created by or collected by the Clarke family between the years of 1906 to 1945, some of the materials are not dated.
Keyword: Joe A. Clarke, Miss Archie Lee Clarke (Mrs. W.R. [Will] Biggs), Miss Ollie Clarke, Jennie (Mrs. A.A. Clarke).

 Coates Family Collection Preliminary Finding Aid
Summary: A collection containing printed material documenting the Coates family history and 20 postcards created by or received by the Coates family between the years of 1931-1940, a few postcards are not dated.
Keywords: Coates Family, E.D. Lieb, Andrew Jackson, Fort Davis

 Cynthia Brants Papers Finding Aid
Summary: Artist Cynthia Brants (1924-2006), painter and printmaker, was a member of the informal Fort Worth Circle of Artists. Collection of her papers includes journals, scrapbooks, correspondence and cards, photographs, exhibitions catalogs, and some production files.
Keywords: American Art; Artist; Bomar, Bill, (1919-1991); Fort Worth, Texas; Gillespie, Sallie, (1898-1991); Granbury, Texas; Helfensteller,Veronica (1910–1964); McVeigh, Blanche, (1895-1970); Miller, JoAnn, (1929-2004); Jolly, Wade (1909-1976); Roesch, Kurt, (1905–1984); Sarah Lawrence College, New York; Utter, Bror, (1913-1993).

 District Judge Photograph Collection Preliminary Finding Aid
Summary: A photo collection of 8 district judges that served the Albany area from 1919-2002.
Keywords: District Judge, 42nd Judicial District, 90th Judicial District.

 Elsa Turner Papers Preliminary Finding Aid
Summary: Correspondence, printed materials, notes, photocopies, and newspaper clippings collected by Elsa Turner relating to poet Berta Hart Nance.
Keywords: Elsa Turner, Mrs. Robert Bland Turner, Mrs. Bland Turner, Berta Hart Nance.

 Evaline Sellors Papers Finding Aid
Absract: Evaline Sellors (1903-1995), potter, sculptor lived and worked in Fort Worth. She was a member of the informal Fort Worth Circle of Artists. Her work was exhibited and can be found nationally. The Papers document her career from childhood to her final one-man show in 1989.
Keywords: American Art; Art; Artist; Bewly, Murray, (1884-1964); Bomar, Bill, (1919-1991); Brants, Cynthia, (1924-2006); Bywaters, Jerry, (1906-1989); DeForrest, Judd, (1916- ); Dozier, Otis, (1904-1989); Fort Worth, Texas; Gillespie, Sallie, (1898-1991); Leach, Bernard, (1887-?); MacLean, Christina, (1853-1947); McVeigh, Blanche, (1895-1970); Nail, Robert E., Jr., (1908-1968); Plavcan, Joseph M., (1908-1981); Reeder, Dickson, (1912-1970); Reeder, Flora Blanc, (1917-1995); Sculptor; Sculpture; Sellors, Evaline Clarke, (1903-1994); Smith, Emily Guthrie, (1909-1986); Umlauf, Charles, (1911-1994); Utter, Bror, (1913-1993); Wildenhain, Marguerite, (1896-1985).

 Fort Griffin Fandangle Collection Finding Aid
Abstract: Publicity, i.e. newsprint articles, magazine articles, unpublished written articles, programs, brochures, broadsides, photographs, sheet music, business records, ephemera, scrapbooks, and assorted material of marginal relevance documenting the 68 year history of the community produced and performed Fort Griffin Fandangle.
Keywords: Albany, Texas; Fort Griffin; Fort Griffin Fandangle; Robert E. Nail, Jr. (1908-1968)

 Fort Griffin Records
Summary: Official and legal records, printed material and maps about Fort Griffin, Texas.
Keywords: Albany, Texas; American Civil War; Ft. Griffin; Ft. Griffin State Park

 Helen Lieb Papers
Summary: Photographs, correspondence, business records, ledgers, scrapbooks, and artifacts documenting the life of Helen Lieb (1921-2006) and her work with the Albany High School Ex-Students Association, the Albany Abstract Co., World War II - Stamford Flying School, the Robert E. Nail, Jr. Scholarship, the Eastern Star, the Albany Chamber of Commerce, and the Old Jail Art Center
Keywords: Albany Abstract Co., Albany Chamber of Commerce, Albany High School Ex-Students Association, Eastern Star, Fort Griffin Fandangle, Lieb, Fredrick Gaither (1917-1996), Lieb, Helen Maydene Sanders (1921-2006), Nail, Robert E., Jr., (1908-1968), Old Jail Art Center, Robert E. Nail, Jr. Scholarship, Sedwick, John F., Stamford Flying School, World War II

 Historical Sketches of Stephens County Prelminary Finding Aid
Summary: Compilation of sketches.
Keywords: Stephens County, Drawings, Breckenridge Bicentennial Committee, Historical Sketches of Stephens County.

 Ida Laster Huckabay Collection Preliminiary Finding Aid
Summary: Photocopy of book, "94 years in Jack County 1854-1948."
Keywords: Ida Laster Huckabay, "94 years in Jack County 1854-1948," Jack County, Jacksboro, TX

 Ledbetter Picket House Committee Papers Prelimnary Finding Aid
Summary: Correspondence, legal and financial records, and printed material documenting the process of obtaining and moving the Ledbetter Picket House to City Park (now Webb Park).
Keywords: Ledbetter Family, Picket House, Ledbetter Picket House Committee, W.G. Webb.

 Ledger/Scrapbook Collection Inventory
Summary: Collection of ledgers/scrapbooks.
Keywords: Grocery store ledger, mercantile ledger, ledgers, scrapbooks, United Confederate Veterans, WWII, bank ledger, R.L. Williams, Albany Dance Club, Houston Telegraph, Albany Garden Club, Mrs. Tom (Helen) Price, Tom Price, Shackelford County Historical Survey Committee (now the Shackelford County Historical Commission), First National Bank, J.A. Matthews, T.E. Jakcson, Ft. Griffin store, Ft. Griffin, Albany, Shackelford County, Ledbetter RAnch, A.A. Clarke, Clarke & Maloney, law ledgers, Minnie M. Sterrett, Florence M. Muse, James Lynch, Ledbetter Store.

 Louis (Bill) H. Hill Collection Preliminary Finding Aid
Summary: This small collection contains one artifact and one newspapers clipping.
Keywords: Flight Officer Louis H. Hill, Bill Hill.

 Magazine Collection Preliminary Finding Aid
Summary: Collection of 19 magazines and 2 college football programs, 1917-1954.
Keywords: Magazines, college football, pop culture, WWII, military magazines, Texas A&M, University of Texas, Baylor University, Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus.

 McCarty Family Papers Preliminary Finding Aid
Summary: Photos, books, correspondence, drawings, newspaper clippings, diaries, scrapbooks, and artifacts collected or created by the McCarty family from 1902 to 1998.
Keywords: R.H. McCarty, Albany News, Margaret McCarty Lawrence

 Newspaper Collection (1876-1970)
Summary: The Newspaper Collection contains the following newspapers: Frontier Echo (1876-1878), Fort Griffin Echo (1879-1882), Albany Star (1882-1884), Albany Echo (1883-1884), Albany Weekly News (1891-1894), Albany News (1884-1970); Missing (1911-1914), Shackelford County Leader (1939-1947)

 Old Timer and Junior Historian Collection (1975-1997)
Abstract: Drafts, electronic documents oral history audiocassettes, photographs, negatives, slides, printed material, publicity, publications, operational documents, and scrapbooks document the tenure of the Junior Historians of Albany High School, Albany, Texas and the production of the publication Old Timer. In addition, this collection is a very good source of local Shackelford County History. The Collection is arranged by the following Subject Keywords: Albany, Texas; Shackelford County Businesses, Albany Churches, Shackelford County Events, Shackelford County Folklore, Shackelford County Frontier Life, Shackelford County Landmarks, Shackelford County History, Shackelford County Organizations, Shackelford County Persons, Shackelford County Ranching and Farming. Junior Historians, Texas Bureau of Economic Understanding, West Texas Schools American Heritage Project.
Publications: Big Country, Old Timer, Texas Historian

Personage Research Files Inventory
Summary: The Personage Research Files contain information about persons living in or connected to Albany, Tx and the Shackelford County Area. Some files are extensive while others simply contain an obituary.

Photograph Collection (Onsite Only)
Summary: Approximately 2500 photographs documenting the history and activities past and present of Shackelford County.

 Reilly Nail Papers Finding Aid
Abstract: Research, notes, photographs, drafts, scrapbooks, an artifact, and publications in support of the book "Per Stirpes" by Reilly Nail. A second addition includes Nail family photographs and a sketchbook of Fort Griffin Fandangle costume designs.
Keywords: Albany, Shackelford County, Texas; Bomar, Jewel Ruth Nail (1895-1965); Bomar, William P. Jr. (1919-1991); Bomar, William P. Sr.; Bonham, Texas; Coates, Emily Fairfax Davis (1905-1988); Coates, Francis Graham (1893-1971); Cook, Missouri Matilda Nail (Dude) (1858-1932); Cook, William Ivy (1856-1923); Davis, Emma Fairfax Crook (1879-1973); Davis, John Merrick (1879-1956); Davis, Rebecca Adeline Nail(Puss) (1852-1929); Davis, William Young (1850-1936); DeMaret, Alice Josephine Nail (1868-1941); DeMaret, Allen Navarre (1857-1946); Fort Griffin Fandangle; Fort Worth, Texas; Genealogy; Head, Jessie Will Cook (1877-1901); Head, Will P.; Ladonia, Texas; Nail, Addie A. Terry (1859-1892); Nail, Anna Watson (1804-1888); Nail, Anslum Lunium (Dick) (1860-1929); Nail, Celia Mae Terry (1825/29-1906); Nail, Chloe A. Black (1872-1966); Nail, Diana Noland; Nail, Elizabeth S. James (1852-1875); Nail, Jackson Calhoun (Jack)(1849-1874); Nail, James Henry (Jim) (1856-1928); Nail, James Henry Jr. (1907-1983); Nail, Jessie Griffin; Nail, John (1798/99-1845); Nail, John M. Jr. (1831-1865); Nail, Larry Henry (1945- ); Nail, Loretta Reilly (1876-1969); Nail, Margaret (1898-1899); Nail, Mattie Belle Cook (1864-1942); Nail, May Vernon Webb; Nail, Rebecca Anne Terry Goen (1834-1916); Nail, Richard Terry (1900-1961); Nail, Robert Edward (1870-1932); Nail, Robert Edward Jr. (1908-1968); Nail, Ronald James (1944- ); Nail, Samuel Burtram Claudius (1872-1907); Nail, Tenie Belle Colbert; Nail, William Chapman (Buck) (1866-1917); Nail, William Ivy (1902-1914); Nail, William M. (1827-1875); Nail, William Reilly (1927-2006); Nail, William Reilly Sr. (1903-1958); Petty, Matilda Lou Nail (1928- ); Pyle, Jasper Ganey (1858-1927); Pyle, Mary Emily Nail(Mollie) (1863-1948); Pyle, Wynne Belle (1881-1971); Reynolds, Dewitt C.; Reynolds, Frances Nail (1897-1970); Webb, Alline Demaret(1890-1958); Webb, Sam (1895-1950); Webb, Sam Nail (1916-1992); Wolfe City, Texas

 Robert E. Nail, Jr. Papers Finding Aid
Abstract: Robert E. Nail, Jr. (1909-1968), writer, lived in Albany, Texas. The collection contains literary works and printed material about those works and the author.
Keywords: Albany, Texas, Lawrenceville Academy Alumni, Nail, Princeton University Alumni, The Ft. Griffin Fandangle, World War II.

 Shackelford County Court Records Preliminary Finding Aid
Summary: Handwritten duplicates of Shackelford County Court minutes, 1874-1926.
Shackelford County Court Minutes, Shackelford County Court Records

 Shackelford County Historical Commission Papers Finding Aid
Abstract: Correspondence, meeting minutes, committee reports, committee events, and writings of the County Chairman make up the bulk of this collection. Other topics include historical markers, cemetery surveys, publicity, renovation plans for downtown Albany, manuscripts, and scrapbook material.
Keywords: Shackelford County Historical Commission, Albany, Shackelford County, Texas, Cemetery Surveys, Historical Markers, Lambshead Ranch, Shackelford County Court House

 Shackelford County Ranching Industry Records Preliminary Finding Aid
Summary: Ranching records and information collected and created by the Monroe Cattle Co., located in Shackelford County.
Keywords: Monroe Cattle Co., Matthews Family, Cattleman's Association, Shackelford County Ranching Industry, livestock, livestock brands, cattle brands, Masonic Lodge, Fort Griffin, Lawrence Clayton. 

 Shackelford County Vertical File
Summary: Printed material on the history of Shackelford County, its cities, and the outlying area. A vertical file is an artificial grouping of records by subject.

 Soil Conservation Map Collection Preliminary Finding Aid
Summary: This collection consists of around 500 sil conservation aerial photographs and 6 map indexes to a 1951 flight.
Keywords: Albany, Texas; Shackelford County; Soil conservation; aerial photos; soil conservation maps; soil conservation service; United States Department of Agriculture.

 Ty Cashion Papers Preliminiary Finding Aid
Summary: Written works, a newspaper clipping, a letter, and a publication created by Ty Cashion during 1994-1995.
Keywords: Fort Griffin, Ty CAshion, Lottie Deno, Frontier Violence at Fort Griffin, Fort Griffin Vigilantes, Fort Griffin Vigilance Committee

 Webb Family Papers Finding Aid
Abstract: Writings, correspondence, photographs, printed material and books about or collected by a member of the Webb Family.
Keywords: Albany Chamber of Commerce; Albany Chapter of the American Legion; Albany Dance Club; Albany High School; Albany High School Ex-Students Association; Albany High School Football; Albany, Texas; American Civil War; Crutchfield, Graham Peterson (1899-1958); Crutchfield, Virginia May (Webb) (1902-1983); Ft. Griffin Fandangle; Ft. Griffin Fandangle Association; Ft. Griffin State Park; Nail, Robert E. Jr. (1908-1968); Webb, James Richard (1884-1953); Webb, Sam (I) (1855-1927); Webb, Sam Richard (1913- ); Webb, William Graham (1879-1961); Webb, William Graham Jr. (1904-1977); World War II.

 Webb & Hill Business Records Inventory
Abstract: Correspondence, titles, deeds, and ledgers make up this collection of material collected from the offices of the Webb and Hill: Real Estate, Insurance, and Livestock Sales. The Records remain in original order, arranged chronologically by year, alphabetical order by record series title, with the individual records in alphabetical order within each record series.
Keywords: Albany, Texas; Bayland Orphans' Home; Campbell; Cattle Sales; Compañia Deslindadora de Torrenos; Dallas, Texas; Hill; Hill, L.H.; Insurance; JB Watkins Land Mortgage Company; Land Sales; Phillips International Company; Real Estate; Real Estate Law; Robert Ralston Real Estate; Shackelford County, Texas; Stamford, Texas; Texas State General Land Office; Texas State Treasury Department; Warren, J.R.; Webb; Webb and Hill; Webb and Webb; Webb, Campbell and Hill; Webb, Sam (1855-1927); Webb, Sam Richard (1913- ); Webb, William Graham (1824-1902); Webb, William Graham (1879-1961); Webb, William Graham Jr. (1904-1977); Wood and Davis Lease.