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E. O. Goldbeck and the Famous 36th Infantry

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E.O. (Eugene Omar) Goldbeck was a commercial photographer active in Texas in the early 1900s until his death in the mid-1980s. He was a second generation German-American and grew up and lived in San Antonio. The 36th Infantry Division formed during World War I and fought in France throughout the duration of the war. They were comprised of soldiers from both Texas and Oklahoma until after the First World War. The patch for the division, which you see in this photograph, is a symbol for both states – the arrowhead for Oklahoma and the “T” for Texas.

Rise of the American Scene: Regionalism and the Dust Bowl

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In the wake of severe economic uncertainty, social upheaval and political shifts that followed the disastrous Great Depression, American artists maintained a commitment to projecting a very personal view. Intent on shunning the influence of European artists and instruction, these artists struggled to establish and maintain their own identity. Much of this work, especially that now known as Social Realism and Regionalism, falls within the larger movement known as American Scene.

History of the Service Flag

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Located in the Grace Museum’s 1948 historic period room living room is a small white flag with a red border and gold fringe. At the center of the flag are two blue stars. This small flag, known as the Service Flag, carries with it great significance to those who know its meaning.

Abilene Army Airfield

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Today we are featuring PLANES that from the Grace Museum History collection via a lesser-known newspaper titled “The Fighter”!

Collection Connection – Marie A. Hull, The Farmer

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We are kicking off Home Essentials week with The Grace Museum’s painting (with a twist), The Farmer, by Marie A. Hull – coincidentally the first painting ever acquired by the Abilene Museum of Fine Arts. For national pet month we followed some of our museum friends at the #GettyMuseumChallenge and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art by “updating” our collection this week with special pet guests and a fun art activity.

Collection Connection – David Everett, Cotillion

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Next in our Home Essentials series we are featuring sculptor, David Everett and his piece “Cotillion” in the Grace Museum permanent Collection. Inspired by his sculpture for #NationalPetMonth we made our own stacked sculpture of some of our Grace Staff pets and a fun “Exquisite Corpse” art activity as a fun extension.

Collection Connection – Film Friday

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It’s #FilmFriday and our Collection Pet Takeover continues with Willow posing as a Victorian woman in the Cartes-de-visite style and then Bonnie as Colonel W.L. Beckham and Cheddar as Grace Beckham (the Hotel Grace-turned-museum’s namesake)!

Collection Connection – Abilene Shakespeare Club

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Our final Collection Pet Takeover includes all of our remaining staff pets — posing as members of the Abilene Shakespeare Club circa 1900-1910. A sizable collection within the Grace Museum History Collection documents the many and impactful women’s clubs active in Abilene through the years through photographs, programs, and various ephemera.

Railcar Relics

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It’s Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Week and we are diving into our Texas & Pacific Railway Collection for inspiration. Today we showcase railcars! The Sunshine Special, The Texan, The Louisiana Limited, and the Texas Eagle were some of the passenger locomotives owned by the Texas & Pacific (T&P) Railway Company.

Film Friday: Cyanotype

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It’s Film Friday and we are learning about Cyanotype! This vintage film process created some of the most interesting photographs and we are inspired to show you how to make your own cyanotype-inspired works of art – on paper, fabric, and more! #MadeItAtTheGrace