Library acquires scrapbook from early pastor
By Casey Edward Greene
Special to The Daily News
GALVESTON — The Rosenberg Library’s Galveston and Texas History Center recently received a scrapbook belonging to the Rev. W. M. Harris (1858-1929), pastor of Galveston’s First Baptist Church.
Fletcher W. Harris, his grandson, donated it.
The Rev. Harris married Jessie Wooten Harris of Dalton, Ga., in 1886. He served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Galveston from 1895 to 1903.
Afterward, he was pastor at Baptist churches in Texarkana and Thomasville, Ga., before retiring from the ministry.
His scrapbook includes his sermons, poems that he wrote, newspaper clippings concerning the death of his wife in 1926 and resolutions honoring her memory.
It also features his writings, such as “Our Storm Swept Coast� and “The Baptist Situation in Galveston,� circa 1900 and book reviews.
Harris’ scrapbook provides a unique vista on the 1900 Storm, with a pass issued by Henry Thomas, sheriff of Galveston County.
It also has the reverend’s letter, Nov. 3, 1900, regarding the destruction of Galveston’s Baptist churches, including First Baptist Church.
His church was rebuilt, as evidenced by the inclusion of a program for the dedication of the new church building on Jan. 8, 1905.
The Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy Ave., collects, preserves and makes available to researchers archival materials that document Galveston’s various religious institutions.
Visitors are welcome to use these materials in the Galveston and Texas History Center (third floor).
For more information, call Casey Edward Greene, head of special collections, 409-763-8854, Ext. 117, or e-mail cgreene@rosenberg-library .org.
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