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George Fuermann Professional Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 1970-001a

The George Fuermann Professional Papers consist of Mr. Fuermann's correspondence, typescripts, and other professional papers ranging in date from 1952 to 2001. The collection includes biographical information, professional correspondence, information about Fuermann's Texas and Houston historical collection, typescripts of Fuermann articles and books, dust jackets, and pictorial proofs, as well as notes for a planned but unpublished volume, "This is Houston." Of particular interest is a selection of Fuermann typescripts with editing and accompanying letters in the hand of Roy Bedichek, J. Frank Dobie, and Walter Prescott Webb.

The collection is arranged in six series: Biographical and Bibliographical Information, Correspondence, Fuermann Collection, Fuermann Articles, Fuermann Books, and Planned Volume "This is Houston."

Dates

  • 1951-2001

Creator

Conditions Governing Access:

Open for research.

Conditions Governing Use:

Special Collections owns the physical items in our collections, but copyright normally belongs to the creator of the materials or their heirs. The researcher has full responsibility for determining copyright status, obtaining permission to publish from copyright holders, and abiding by current copyright laws when publishing or displaying copies of Special Collections material in print or electronic form. For more information, consult the appropriate librarian. Reproduction decisions will be made by Special Collections staff on a case-by-case basis.

Extent

1.5 linear feet

Biographical Information:

Born in Buffalo, New York on August 25, 1918, George Fuermann moved to Texas with his family in 1923. He died in Houston, at the age of 82, on January 20, 2001. He earned a journalism degree in 1941 from Texas A & M College, where he edited the student journal, "The Battalion." Captain Fuermann received a Bronze Star during World War II, while serving the U.S. Army as a correspondent in the European Theater.

Mr. Fuermann's "Houston Post" career spanned 49 years. He began in 1946 as a general assignment reporter. His popular daily column, based on snippets of local history, "Post Card," ran from 1950 to 1971. He continued as Editorial Page editor from 1971 to 1983 and as "Wine Talk" columnist from 1984 to 1995, when the "Houston Post" closed its doors. From 1996 to 1999, George Fuermann wrote a wine column for a publication of the Rice Epicurean Markets.

George Fuermann authored approximately ten volumes. Additionally, he wrote numerous articles, forewards and other contributing texts. Among his best known books are Houston: Land of the Big Rich, 1951; Reluctant Empire, 1957; The Face of Houston, 1963; and Houston: The Once and Future City, 1971. For a complete list of his published volumes and other works to which he made a contribution, see sub-group II, box 1, folder 1.

In addition to his writing, Mr. Fuermann served the community as chair of the Municipal Arts Commission in 1965-1966 and as a member until 1971. He also served as chair of the Houston Committee on Foreign Relations in 1977-1978 and was a member of the American Bicentennial Commission. He founded two dining/social clubs, the "Seventh of April" in 1964 and "Cheap and Hungry" in 1985.

Acquisition Information:

Donated to the University of Houston by George Fuermann, in lots, from 1970 through 1983. Mr. Fuermann's family gave additional materials to the university, at the time of his death, in 2001.

General

Other Information:

Additional information may be found at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/uhsc/00027/hsc-00027.html

Processing Information:

Richard H. Dickerson, 2001.

Title
Guide to the George Fuermann Professional Papers
Author
Richard Dickerson, entered by Nicci Cobb
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University of Houston Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of Houston Libraries Special Collections
MD Anderson Library
4333 University Drive
Houston TX 77204-2000 USA
713-743-9750