Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Sterling C. Evans Papers
Date(s)
- 1864-2003 (Creation)
Extent
52 boxes
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection contains the papers of Sterling C. Evans including personal correspondence with friends, family members, and business associates; personal notebooks; plat maps, blueprints, diagrams of land: legal and financial documents surrounding real estate transactions; favorite quotations and poems; manuscripts; a travel diary; notes, notebooks of advertising and commercial brochures; photographs, newspaper clippings, receipts for gifts, and personal artifacts. The collection also contains the papers of his lifelong assistant, Dorothy Whitley.
The papers reflect Evans' personal life, his early career in the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, his professional career with the Federal Land Bank, and his retirement to a second career of investments in and operating large ranches and plantations in Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana. In addition, the papers reflect his generosity and his involvement with Texas A&M University through his service to the Board of Regents during a pivotal time in the university's history as well as his support of the university library.
While the papers record Evans' early career, they more extensively detail his agricultural business after his retirement from the Federal Farm Credit Administration and the Federal Land Bank. This post-retirement career is highlighted by a growing friendship with Gus Wortham of Houston, Texas, and their joint real estate ventures such as Randle Lake Plantation in Milam County, Texas, Bear Lake Plantation in Tallulah, La., Crescent Plantation in Louisiana, Little Eva Plantation in Chopin, La., Nine Bar Ranch in Cypress, Texas, and the U Bar Ranches in Medina County, Texas and Hidalgo County, N.M., as well as other smaller operations. These subject files include personal correspondence, legal documents, financial documents, photographs, brochures, advertising materials, and news clippings.
Correspondence includes Evans' exchanges with his wife, Cathrene Thomas Evans, and well-known professional associates such as Gus Wortham, W. N. Stokes, John Wasson, Eugene Butler, Mildred McCoy, Carl Detering, John Lindsey, Earl Rudder, Frank Vandiver, William Mobley, Perry Atkission, Ray Bowen, Irene Hoadley, Fred Heath, Ambassador Edward Clark, and Dolph Briscoe. Also included is correspondence from many family members, and close friends, as well as students from Texas A&M University and Evans' former employees.
System of arrangement
This collection is arranged into the following series and subseries:
Series 1. Personal Correspondence, 1949-1999
Series 2. Personal Financial and Legal Information, 1939-1993
Series 3. Agribusiness and Ranching, 1864-1994 (bulk: 1953-1994).
Subseries 3.1. Nine Bar Ranch (Cypress, Texas), 1953-1977
Subseries 3.2. U-Bar Ranches (Brackettville and Castroville, Texas, Hachita, New Mexico, and other locales), 1962-1992
Subseries 3.3. Little Eva Plantation (Chopin, Louisiana). 1864-1991 (bulk: 1955-1979)
Subseries 3.4. Other Agricultural Properties, 1941-1980 (bulk: 1941-1970)
Subseries 3.5. Cattle Sales, 1950-1984
Series 4. Texas A&M University, 1954-2003
Subseries 4.1. Sterling C. Evans Library, 1982-1984
Series 5. Dorothy Whitley, 1959-1996
Series 6. Writings and Memorabilia, 22 March 1939-1994, undated
Series 7. Photographs and Clippings, 1917-2001
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Restricted - personal information: all of Box 4, and folders 5/1 through 5/3.
Physical access
These materials are stored offsite and require additional time for retrieval.
This collection is partially processed. Boxes 1-23 are available for research. Boxes 24-52 are unprocessed and require archival review before access.
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.