Photograph of Fort Leaton ruins in the Big Bend desert, near Presidio, Texas. Several wood support beams of varying lengths support the wall structure. A stone marker near the photograph's left quadrant describes the structure. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The mission was successful, and Christianized many of the tribes until the Padres were called back from this wilderness in the eighteenth century" (pp. 3-4).

Research paper written by Sammy Cobos about the construction of adobe buildings. Several examples of adobe buildings from Marfa and Ruidosa are explained. This paper was written for an American History class at Marfa High School.

Topographic map of a portion of Texas from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) project. The map includes towns, historic or notable sites, bodies of water, and other geologic features. Scale 1:24000

Research paper written by Cecilia Orozco about the 1st Aero Squadron, the first aviation unit used in active field service in the history of the United States Army. With the paper are two letters from Stacy C. Hinkle, which were used to write the paper. This paper was written for a history class at Marfa High School.

Photograph of a flagpole, viewed from the ground looking up with an American flag at the top and a Texas state flag below. A cloudy sky is visible above the pole. The image accompanied the conclusion of a written speech, with the caption: "To those who would protest the American life of challenge and accomplishment, I would remind them, our land has never been easy. [...] The land is rich, not only in landscape, but also in the heritage of those who have tried to tame it. This is My Land, My Heritage, My Hope" (p. 14)

This is a paper describing the people who lived in Casa Piedra (otherwise known as La Punta del Agua).

This is a paper describing Anne Jordan Childers

Pphotograph of a barren Big Bend crater. Several edges of the crater contain sparse tufts of grasslands and a mountain range is visible in the far distance. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "These Indians were primarily farmers, whose fields lined the banks of the now dry rivers and creeks. The sites of the Jumano pueblos are still a source of artifacts" (p. 3).

Photograph of a grassy, barren Big Bend landscape, with mountains in the far distance. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The chief engineer gave the honor of naming the newly-created water store to his wife, who was reading a Russian novel" (p. 6).

Portrait of Ben Leaton and Juana Pedraza posing together. Juana is wearing a dark-colored dress and is seated in a wooden chair; Leaton is wearing a dark colored suit, standing to her left, with one hand on her arm. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "An exploratory group headed by John W. Spencer met in Chihuahua and came into the Big Bend" (p. 4).

Photograph of a Big Bend cave painting that includes a picture of a cave buffalo in the upper-left quadrant, a small picture of a buffalo in the upper-right quadrant, and a picture of a caveman in the lower-left corner of the photograph. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The climate changed, and food shortages caused the Jumanos to become buffalo hunters, as evidenced by this cave painting" (p. 3).

Photograph of wildflowers and grasses in a canyon near Presidio County, Texas. There is a large bush of pink wildflowers in the foreground with green grasses and bushes behind. A rocky mountain range features prominently in the background and extends the width of the photograph. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "Bluebonnets, our State flower, and sage bloom early in the year-round warmth in the Big Bend Park on the Rio Grande" (p. 2).

Photograph of seven stone items -- fossils of prehistoric shells and bones, and Indian manos (grinding stones) -- displayed on the bottom of a metal tub sitting on a grassy plain. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "Water-dwelling dinosaurs, such as those related to the modern crocodile, and bird-like reptiles have been excavated from their rock prisons" (p. 1).

Photograph of a desert landscape in the Big Bend area, including trees and bushes with mountains in the background. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The Big Bend really began to open up when in 1882 the Southern Pacific Railroad planned to lay rails through Ft. Davis on its way to the ocean. The city fathers didn't want the noise of the trains to disturb their beautiful, quiet town, and the plan was revised so the tracks would be laid twenty-five miles south" (p. 6).

Photograph of farm fields in front of a mountain range, located in the Big Bend area. Several tractors and wagons are visible on dirt roads around the fields and desert scrub is visible in the foreground. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The two to three hundred acres behind the mission have been given the title of 'the oldest piece of land continuously used for farming in North America'" (p. 4).

Photograph of a desert landscape in the Big Bend area with a prominent mountain in the center. A dirt road is visible in the foreground as well as an unidentified building. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The city fathers didn't want the noise of the trains to disturb their beautiful, quiet town, and the plan was revised so the tracks would be laid twenty-five miles south" (p. 6).

Research paper written for a history class at Marfa High School about the rancher George Dawson from Shafter, Texas, who during his lifetime managed two large ranges, "El Rancho Del Pajorito" and "La Mora." In 1918, Dawson was called to the Army for World War I and was stationed in France for a year. Dawson spent the remainder of his life maintaining the two ranches with his wife, Juana Dawson, who was the main contributor of the information in this paper.

A history paper chronicling of the life of Mr. Robert Jefferson Carr.

Research paper written for a history class at Marfa High School about Mr. Victor Dominguez, who was an employee at the Murphy-Walker Grocery Store in Marfa, Texas, until her started a taxi stand, and Mr. and Mrs. Alex Dominguez, Sr., a ranching family.

Close-up photograph of woolly mammoth bones and fossils embedded in the soil, near Marfa, Texas. A red trowel is visible near the top of the image. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The land turned against the 'thundering lizards,' and the Age of mammals came upon the earth" (p. 1).

Report by Mark Covington for an American History class at Marfa High School in 1966. It tells the history of the U.S. Border Patrol in Marfa, Texas, why it was necessary and some of the laws governing immigration. There are stories about liquor and dope smuggling, wetbacks, and activities during WWII.

This is a research paper written by Josephine Aguilor for an American History Class at Marfa High School on January 13, 1964. It contains biographical information about the Brite family, describing their home and their charitable acts in Marfa, Texas.

Indian burial ground near Presidio, Texas.

Photograph of the Camp Holland (Holland's Ranch) (located at Southwest of Valentine) in Presidio County, Texas.