Title:
Commemorative shovel
Description:
Steel shovel with a gold handle and plaque. Marking on the stem: 2 Heat Treated. Etched on the plaque: State Archives and Library Building, Austin, Texas. Ground breaking ceremony May 11, 1959. State Building Commission. Governor Price Daniel, Chairman. Attorney General Will Wilson, member. Honorable E.E. McAdams, member. Architects Adams & Adams. General Contractor B.L. McGee.
Description:
Historical Note: This shovel was used by Governor Price Daniel and members of the Texas Library and Historical Commission to turn the first dirt to indicate that construction of the present Texas State Library and Archives building had begun on May 11, 1959. Price Daniel's political career spanned more than four decades and included all three branches of state government. Born in 1910 at Dayton, Texas, he grew up in Liberty and Fort Worth. After graduating from high school in Fort Worth, he attended Baylor University where he earned a degree in journalism. The following year, 1932, he received a law degree and returned to Liberty where he opened a law office. In 1939 he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives and became a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee. The following year he married Jean Houston Baldwin and they had four children. After serving three terms in the legislature, he was chosen Speaker of the House in 1943. However, he resigned to enlist in the army as a private, though he soon completed officer candidate school. Stationed in Japan and the Pacific, he attained the rank of captain when he was discharged in May 1946. Upon his return to Texas, he entered the race for attorney general and won the election. Daniel was elected U.S. senator in 1952. After four years as senator Price Daniel was elected governor, an office he held for three consecutive terms, from 1957 to 1963. Attempting to run for an unprecedented fourth term, he was defeated by John Connally in the gubernatorial primaries.
Description:
Related Collection: Texas Governor Price Daniel records at the Texas State Archives.
Identifier:
ATF0499
Item identifier:
ATF0499
Collection:
Artifacts collection
Date of creation:
1959
Subject:
Daniel, Price
Subject:
Texas. Governor
Subject:
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Type:
Image
Type:
Memorabilia
Type:
Shovel
Medium:
Metal
Citation information:
ATF0499, Artifacts collection. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Copyright information:
This image is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States. The Item and its design depicted in this image may be protected by copyright, patents, trademarks, or other related rights. You are free to use this image in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. Unless expressly stated otherwise, Texas State Library and Archives Commission makes no warranties about the Item and cannot guarantee the accuracy of this Rights Statement. You are responsible for your own use. Please contact the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for more information. You may need to obtain other permissions for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy or moral rights may limit how you may use the material.
Size or duration:
not yet measured
Language:
English