E.H. Watson Papers

Collection

Identifier: 2008.097

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The E.H. Watson Collection consists of correspondence from E.H. Watson to a friend Ervin, E.E., who served in the United States Navy, and one letter written by Dr. D.C. Butler D.C. of the Department of English at East Texas State Teachers College dated December 15, 1953. E.H.W. wrote of subjects related to Commerce, Northeast Texas, ETSTC, and general gratitude towards E.E. and his gifts.

In the letter dated June 11, 1945, E.H.W. described his professional duties, including placing student teachers, organizing summer school, and enrolling students. He wrote a general description again on August 11, 1945.

E.H.W. mentioned faculty and staff in his letters especially Dr. Butler and Dr. Charles T. Neu, Head of the Department of History. On July 15, 1945, he wrote of the health of Dr. Neu and of his death (May 10, 1950). He described the low numbers of faculty in the fall of 1946 and his concerns regarding student enrollment. He mentioned the growth of Commerce in the summer of 1946 and continued to describe city and campus growth through the transition of President Ferguson to the inauguration of President Gee in 1947. E.H.W. described specific campus growth plans (December 27, 1947) including the construction of a new dormitory, million dollar physical plant, cafeteria, and student union buildings.

The collection has only one series, Correspondence, and is organized chronologically.

Dates

n.d., 1944-1954

Creator

Watson, E.H. (Person)

Conditions Governing Use

Items in this collection are protected by applicable copyright laws.

Biographical / Historical

Erastus Heermans, E.H., Watson of Celeste, Texas was a summer school faculty member at East Texas State Teachers College beginning in June 1924. E.H.W. served as director of the Training School, a school for local children that doubled as a teacher training laboratory school, from 1928-1948. In the 1940s, he organized the High School Summer School. He was also a member and program chairman for the Kiwanis Club in 1947 and taught an extension class in Paris, Texas in the spring of 1951. E.H.W. lived in Commerce on Monroe street with his wife.