Photograph of the front and side of the "Lincoln School" located at 920 W. Swanitz in Palestine, Texas, taken from the northwest corner. It is a two-story brick building that served as a school for African-American students from 1923 until integration in Palestine during 1965. This building was demolished after a 1999 fire. A sign on the corner says: "Anderson County Community Council community Center, 723-5101, Our One Constant: Service to Humanity."

(Back of Photo) Harriets Michael - 1 yr - April 3, 1962 - and me. From the William Blackshear collection, which was donated to the Palestine Public Library.

(back of photo) Side of 1215 Anacapa St. 1946 - W.S.B. purchased it for $14,500. The date I purchased this property spent about $3,000.00 on it for paint and improvements. Photo is from the William Blackshear collection, which was donated to the Palestine Public Library.

1215 Anacapa St. - Santa Barbara, Calif. Home of William S. Blackshear. Photo is from the William Blackshear collection, which was donated to the Palestine Public Library.

1215 Anacapa St. - Santa Barbara, Ca. Home of William S. Blackshear. Photo is from the William Blackshear collection, which was donated to the Palestine Public Library.

Shed behind 1215 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, Ca. - Photo is from the William Blackshear collection, which was donated to the Palestine Public Library.

William Blackshear standing in front of his home at 1215 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, Calif. 1946 - Photo is from the William Blackshear collection, which was donated to the Palestine Public Library.

(back of photo) Inside one of my missions - Angleton, TX. - Easter 1934. Photo is from the William Blackshear collection, which was donated to the Palestine Public Library.

Charles W. Blackshear - Freeport Beach - Age 21 - on visit to William S. Blackshear - April 1934 - Photo is from the William Blackshear collection, which was donated to the Palestine Public Library.

Two men stand on top of a line of damaged railroad freight cars. Another man sits on the top of a freight car while several men below sort through debris. To the right of the train cars a long warehouse building has been destroyed. Metal and wooden debris and a number of dark barrels line the railroad tracks. In the distance on the right a number of the storage tanks from the Richardson-Republic tank farm can be seen, many of which have visible crushing and compression damage. The number "#42" is written in the lower right hand corner.

A view of evidently undamaged refinery facilities from the top of a storage tank.

An aerial view of Republic's refinery facilities after the 1947 Disaster. In the foreground, the large spherical liquid petroleum tank has been visibly damaged on the left and top portions of the sphere. A spiralling stairway runs from the ground to the top of the tank. Behind the tank are other refinery pipelines and structures, and a line of freight cars.

A line of freight cars parallels a road alongside twisted and warped metal framework from pier buildings. Three or four train cars are overturned and have sustained heavy damage. Metal and wood debris is scattered in the foreground. An automobile is parked on the road just left of the center of the image. The number "#14" is written in the lower right hand corner.

A large piece of metal debris lies on the ground in front of a building after the Texas City disaster. In the background, a four-wheeled flat vehicle or wagon stands in front of the building which appears to be missing part of its siding. To the right of the vehicle, a pole leans over a pile of wooden boards or ties.

A row of four warehouses stands alongside railroad tracks. The metal framework appears intact, but the first two buildings are missing much of the metal siding covering the sides and ends of the buildings. Large pieces of corrugated metal debris lie in front and along the side of the front building. Piles of an agricultural product stored in cloth bags and stacked in uniform piles can be seen inside the front building. Toward the side rear of the front building four men are gathered in a small group looking at something on the ground. In the foreground, between sets of railroad tracks, a bicycle wheel and two wooden railroad ties lie scattered on the ground. Two water towers are visible on the far left horizon. The number "#35" is written in the lower right hand corner.

Eight long piplines run toward the storage tank farm in the background. The pipelines are twisted and bent, and pieces of corrugated metal and other debris are scattered between the pipelines and heaped along the right side. Farther right, a line of damaged freight cars stands near a long, large structure with a metal framework, apparently part of the metal structure of the pier building. On the left of the pipelines is a road on which are two automobiles. Another long section of metal framework from a damaged pier structure is at the far left. Part of the structure has fallen. A cloud of smoke rises on the horizon about mid-picture.

Two damaged steam locomotives sit amid metal and wooden debris from the power plant and shop buildings damaged in the concussion from the explosions. A large smokestack is visible behind the rightmost locomotive, but the structure next to it is heavily damaged with only the metal structural frame standing. To the right rear, only parts of one wall of a building remain standing; the rest of the building has been destroyed down to within a few feet of the foundation level. Behind the leftmost locomotive, which has the number "29" visible on its front, is the edge of a water tower. On the right in the foreground is a fire hydrant with a wooden box on a post above it with one side forming an open door. Inside the box can be seen a folded water hose and nozzle with one end of the hose attached to the hydrant below. A wrench is attached to the valve on the top of the hydrant. The number "27" is written in the lower right hand corner of the picture.

A view of fourteen round storage tanks taken from across a dirt road lined with power poles. One power line is down, lying in the road. Debris is strewn on the ground in the foreground. Across the road near the storage tanks, pipes of varying sizes lie broken and bent on the ground. A number of the storage tanks have visible compression crushing and denting damage. A spherical butane/LPG tank is visible on the far right. Behind the tanks, two tall water towers are visible.

A view of part of the storage tank farm after the Texas City Disaster. Five round storage tanks and a butane/liquid petrolem gas sphere storage tank can be seen. The two tanks on the far right show significant crushing on the tops and sides of the tank. The second tank on the left has a section on the left crushed inward.

A group of about 15 men are working to clear and repair railroad tracks. Two parallel sets of tracks are visible. On the left, a flatbed rail vehicle holds railroad ties. Ahead of it on the tracks is a freight car holding several large rectangular forms. Small groups of men work along the other set of tracks, picking up debris, and replacing railroad ties. Some metal and wooden debris is visible along the tracks. Ahead of the workers on the tracks sits a badly damaged locomotive. To the right of the tracks are stacks of rectangular wooden structures stacked in piles. Some piles have been toppled. A large metal hook, suspended from a wheel and pulley, is visible on the far right. The number "#41" is written in the lower right corner.

An overhead pipline crosses above a road leading between rows of round storage tanks. Some tanks show compression damage and denting.

Five men stand talking to two policemen in front of a large two-story warehouse badly damaged in the explosion. The building has no roof, and on the second story, the walls are caved inward. Windows have been blown out. Three sets of railroad tracks run alongside the building. A large construction crane stands on the tracks near far right corner of the building, assisting in debris removal. At the far end several men and a vehicle are working in the debris. The number "#15" is written in the lower right corner.

A closeup view of a damaged round storage tank after the Texas City Disaster. The sides and top have been crushed in. Twisted interior metal supports can be seen in the gap. Behind this damaged tank are five other tanks in rows. One of those tanks near the top of the picture shows visible crushing along the top. In the far left corner, parts of the refinery structures can be seen.

Four raised pipelines run out to ship docks and loading facilities on the right side of a water channel. The pipelines and their supports have collapsed not far out from the shoreline. Pipelines and wooden pilings from a ruined dock lie twisted and broken. Metal and wooden debris is scattered along the pipelines. On the other side of the channel is a line of railroad cars. Toward the outer end of the tracks, large metal structures from a covered track or conveyor system has collapsed over the rail cars. Heavy damage is visible to the railroad cars and the metal structure. The entire area seems to have had extensive fire damage. In the lower right corner, a man with elbows resting in the open front passenger window of an automobile is talking to two men inside the car. The number "#11" is written on the photo.