Photograph of high waters at the corner of 7th Street and Shreveport Avenue after a flood in Port Arthur, Texas. Buildings are visible in the background.

Photograph of four men standing in chest high water after a flood, in front of a bakery at the corner of 7th Street and Shreveport Avenue in Port Arthur, Texas.

Photograph of several boys sitting in a boat in the side lobby of the Lake View Hotel in Port Arthur, Texas after a flood.

Photograph of several houses in high waters at 7th Street and Shreveport Avenue after a flood in Port Arthur, Texas.

Photograph of people standing in high waters in the street after a flood in Port Arthur, Texas. There are several horse-drawn wagons in the street, and people stand on the balconies of some of the buildings in the background.

Photograph of people pushing boats and standing in high flood waters in front of the post office in Port Arthur, Texas. Several people sit in a horse-drawn wagon to the right, and a large group of people stand on the post office's steps.

Photograph of four men wading through chest high water in front of a bakery on Procter Street in Port Arthur, Texas, after a flood.

Photograph of several men standing around a dead sperm whale laid on wooden boards in Port Arthur, Texas. A wooden fence is visible to the right, and there is a coil of rope on the boards in the foreground.

Photograph of two men standing by the jaws of a dead sperm whale on wooden boards in Port Arthur, Texas. Another man and two small children stand to the right, and buildings are visible in the background.

Photograph of Chuck Foster and his orchestra performing at the Port Arthur, Texas, Pleasure Pier. Five men with saxophones are standing at podiums in the foreground, with a man and woman in evening wear sitting on the right. Behind the front row to the left are two men sitting at a piano, and other musicians to the right are obscured by the standing men. A banner printed with "Chuck Foster" and "Merry Christmas" are hung above an image of Santa Claus' head, all of which hangs over the band. Plants and wreaths are festooned across the wall in the background. On the lower portion of the photo, Chuck Foster has autographed the picture with "To Jean with love."

Photograph of cars and a crowd of people outside during the dedication of the Gates Library in Port Arthur, Texas.

Photograph of two men sitting on a wagon drawn by a horse through high water during a flood in Port Arthur, Texas. The roofs of buildings are visible in the background.

Photograph of a flooded area between Lake Sabine and the Neches River in Port Arthur, Texas. Several buildings, including the Plaza Hotel, are visible in the background.

Photograph of a horse-drawn carriage bearing several people walking through high flood waters in Port Arthur, Texas. Several buildings are visible in the background.

Photograph of a large group of people standing in flood waters after a hurricane in Port Arthur, Texas. Two boys push a boat to the left, and a carriage is visible to the right. A group of people stand on the steps of the building in the background.

Photograph of Peter Lamp (1842-1921) seated indoors, smoking a pipe. He is wearing a suit and hat, and blowing smoke out of his mouth. Handwriting on the back of the photograph identifies him as Peter Lamp.

Bills of sale of a slave named Nancy. The initial bill was written by notary William Christy in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jacob Sevy is selling Nancy, approximately 15, to John Covington Thomas of Gainsville, Alabama, for $1,200. Handwritten bills are added explaining that John C. Thomas sells Nancy to James Chessher in August 1838 for $3,000, who in turn sells her to Stephen Jackson of Jefferson County, Texas, in 1840 for $1,000. A separate paper is included with a description of this document.