San Antonio College Library

Harris Kempner immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1854. He moved to Galveston, Texas, where he died in 1894. His sons continued his business in cotton, land, sugar, banking, and insurance and helped rebuild Galveston after the 1900 flood.

While the massive flow of immigrants to the Northeast was taking place, a number of Jews were finding their way to America through the port of Galveston, Texas. The descendants of these immigrants, now scattered throughout the United States, are hardly aware that their ancestors participated in a unique attempt to organize and channel Jewish immigration. From their recruitment in Eastern Europe to their settlement in the American West, these immigrants...

Eight-year-old David and his family gather at Grandma's house in Galveston, Texas, for a cherished family tradition--Grandma's annual retelling of the story of Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

Interweaving written documents, oral interviews, and pictorial images, Beasley presents a vivid picture of Galveston's alleys and alley life from the founding of the city into the twentieth century. The book blends a unique combination of research, photography, and the voices of those who have lived and live along the alleys. Beasley has uncovered and analyzed a wealth of new information not only about the back buildings of Galveston but also about...