[Austin Avenue Methodist Church Chancel]

Photograph of the chancel and the altar of the Austin Avenue Methodist Church in Waco, Texas. Most of the chancel is raised on a platform. At the very back is the raised choir loft and the Kilgen organ console (mostly obscured). The back wall contains wooden paneling, tracery and facade organ pipes. A short upper wooden screen separates the choir from the main part of the chancel, on which are clergy seats, the pulpit, decorated with a parament, and the altar. This portion is accessible by stairs on the very left and right. A narrow passage for the ministers is located between the lower screen of the chancel, nearly flush with the pulpit, and the altar rail. A small baptismal font is within this passage at right, elevated with a round cover. Kneeling cushions are placed along the entire length of the altar rail, with the pews visible along the very bottom of the image. On the left and right walls adjoining the chancel are the hymn boards, doors, and a raised balcony/gallery. The entire chancel is decorated for Advent and Christmas with spruce rope, garland, Christmas lights, and white poinsettias. A garland with a tied ribbon is hung above …
Date: December 22, 1953
Creator: Willis Studio
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Hector Suyker to Emma Riecke - December 22, 1918] (open access)

[Letter from Hector Suyker to Emma Riecke - December 22, 1918]

Letter from Hector Suyker to Emma Riecke discussing the three letters she sent him and his restlessness to go home. There was no news of leaving because troop deployment was halted. He hopes to begin traveling home on Christmas day.
Date: December 22, 1918
Creator: Suyker, Hector
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, December 22, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, December 22, 1943]

Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr., on December 22, 1943, describing the Christmas dinner he had at a private residence in Italy. He praises the Italians ability to make and eat food, and wishes his family a Merry Christmas.
Date: December 22, 1943
Creator: Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Portrait of John Henry Kirby]

Photograph of John Henry Kirby (1860-1940) captured sitting down at a desk. He was chairman of the board of Kirby Lumber Company. He known as the "Prince of Pines". Within the image Kirby is wearing dark colored clothing and pictured holding a piece of paper in his hands.
Date: December 22, 1907
Creator: Gray
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from her Grandmother to Johnie Louise Bruyere, December 22, 1928]

A postcard from her grandmother to Johnie Louise Bruyere on December 22, 1928. The front has a drawing of a window seat, with a Christmas wreath and stocking hung on the window. It is snowing outside. The front reads: "Happy, Happy/all day through/Merry Christmas!" The note on the back reads: "This is wishing you and each one of Merry X-mas and a happy new-year loveingly [sic] Grand Ma Ma."
Date: December 22, 1928
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Louisa Messimer to Johnie Louise Bruyere, December 22, 1928]

A postcard from Louisa Messimer to Johnie Louise Bruyere on December 22, 1928. The front of the card has a drawing of a holly branch with red berries and two red birds sitting on it. It reads: "Christmas Wishes. Never was Christmas Day more glad/Than the one I wish for you;/Never were wishes more sincere/From a heart more fond and true." The note on the other side reads "Dear sweetie, I hope old Santa's good to you this year and - hoping you a happy X Mas."
Date: December 22, 1928
Creator: Messimer, Louisa
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Louise and Dorothy Lee to Johnie Louise Bruyere, December 22, 1920]

A postcard addressed to Johnie Louise Bruyere. The front has a drawing of six babies dressed as Santa climbing over a wooden trunk and packing up presents into a sack. One of the babies is asleep next to the sack, and another has fallen head first into the trunk. It reads: "All through the year kind wishes I've safely stored away, For Santa Claus to bring to you on Christmas Day." The note on the back reads "We hope that Old Santa is good to you."
Date: December 22, 1922
Creator: Lee, Louise & Lee, Dorothy
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History