Research Behind WPA-Era Historic Reconstructions

Does anyone know where the best places might be to find information relating to the research which took place prior to the Civilian Conservation Corps' reconstructions of Mission San Francisco de los Tejas (near Weches, in Houston County) and Mission Espiritu Santo (at Goliad)? I have inquired along these lines in the past of employees of Texas Parks and Wildlife, but these individuals were unable (understandibly) to point to the best sources on short notice.

Thanks for any direction.

Holly
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Last edited by on Sat 03 Nov 2007, 9:33 pm; edited 1 time in total

According to Henry Wolff, Jr. -- a columnist for many years for 'The Victoria Advocate' -- the architect and superintendent employed in reconstructing Mission Espiritu Santo, in Goliad, was Raiford Stripling. Mr. Stripling was a young man of only twenty-five years and newly graduated from Texas A&M when he took on the job. Beginning in the mid-1930s, this freshly sprung architect worked along with members of the Civilian Conservation Corps -- many of whom were veterans of World War I -- to raise the old mission complex from the dust. And for Raiford Stripling the door was just beginning to open in Goliad, as he would return in 1963 to oversee the reconstruction of Mission Espiritu Santo's protector: Presidio Nuestra Senora de Loreto de La Bahia.

By the way, 'The Victoria Advocate' is one of the oldest, continually published newspapers in the state:

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/NN/een8.html

Here are links for more to be found on Mr. Stripling:

http://www.presidiolabahia.org/stripling.htm

http://archone.tamu.edu/college/news/newsletters/fall2006/stiplingArchive.html
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Thanks so much for the information, M C, and I definitely will be looking for that book.

It is interesting to learn that Raiford Stripling and the other gentlemen made the study trip to Mexico prior to rebuilding Mission Espiritu Santo.

You probably know that most scholars believe the original Mission San Francisco de los Tejas -- established in 1690, in present-East Texas -- was contructed of logs positioned vertically rather than horizontally, as is seen today in the Park replica. What is there for us, rather, is a memorial .... a gift from the 'C C C Boys' which Fray Damien Massanet probably would have been pleased to occupy had the mission survived and flourished.

You may, recall, too, that some archaeological discoveries were made about a year ago relating the the Caddoan village with which Mission Tejas was associated:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20060206b

I think that the old bell from this early, East-Texas mission is now a part of the collections of the Mayborn Museum, at Baylor University, in Waco.

http://www.baylor.edu/mayborn/

I am not sure where the old cannon unearthed at the site near Weches ended up; perhaps at the Texas Memorial Museum, in Austin?

Thanks again for the information!

Holly
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves