Collection includes work of commercial photographer, Basil Clemons. The collection includes works produced primarily in Breckenridge, Texas, and consists of silver gelatin prints (approx. 12,000); nitrate, safety, and paper negatives (approximately 5,900); artifacts; articles; and Clemmons family genealogy cards. Clemons' prints of Breckenridge's development and decline provide a valuable contribution to the social history of small town America and the boom town phenomena. Photos of the oil fields in and around Breckenridge in Stephens County during the 1920s dominate the collection. Photos of circuses and wild west shows are especially noteworthy. Other towns represented are Caddo, Eliasville, Ibex, Ivan, Parks, Ranger, and South Bend. A few photos are included of Fort Worth, Jim Kearn, Lovely Valley, Possum Kingdom Lake, and Stinton. Also includes prints of West Texas oil fields by H. T. Bearden and the United Oil Photo & Press Service of Stephenville, Texas.
Finding aid available here. Materials provided by Special Collections and Archives at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Finding aid available here. Materials provided by Special Collections and Archives at the University of Texas at Arlington.
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![Bernice Coles Post 191, the American Legion ceremony scrapping a captured German cannon to be thrown back at Hitler, Stephens Co[unty] Courthouse, Breckenridge, Texas by Basil Clemons 1887-1964](https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/specialcollections_basilclemonsphotograph/4794/thumbnail.jpg "Bernice Coles Post 191, the American Legion ceremony scrapping a captured German cannon to be thrown back at Hitler, Stephens Co[unty] Courthouse, Breckenridge, Texas by Basil Clemons 1887-1964")
![[National Recovery Administration] N.R.A. mass meeting, Breckenridge, Texas, 1933 by Basil Clemons 1887-1964](https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/specialcollections_basilclemonsphotograph/4792/thumbnail.jpg "[National Recovery Administration] N.R.A. mass meeting, Breckenridge, Texas, 1933 by Basil Clemons 1887-1964")
!["The Atheneum," [Clematheneum], home of Basil Clemons by Basil Clemons 1887-1964](https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/specialcollections_basilclemonsphotograph/4772/thumbnail.jpg "\"The Atheneum,\" [Clematheneum], home of Basil Clemons by Basil Clemons 1887-1964")
![Basket dinner to the Lions of Breckenridge by Stephens Co[unty] by Basil Clemons 1887-1964](https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/specialcollections_basilclemonsphotograph/4767/thumbnail.jpg "Basket dinner to the Lions of Breckenridge by Stephens Co[unty] by Basil Clemons 1887-1964")
