As we are preparing for a busy summer at Old Red, we are also launching an all-new

membership program with new categories and enhanced benefits. We’ve listened to your suggestions about Old Red membership. There are now lower cost memberships for students and volunteers; as well as other categories that provide helpful discounts. Please see the article in this newsletter for more details. Then, support Old Red and become an Old Red member.

In June, we will re-launch our monthly Old Red Family Days. On the second Saturday of each month, visit Old Red with your extended family for crafts, performances and other activities. See the article in this newsletter for the schedule of upcoming topics.

Our next special exhibit, Lee and Grant, on view June 12 through August 11, comes to us from the National Endowment for the Humanities On the Road traveling exhibit program and the Mid-America Arts Alliance. Lee and Grant was organized by the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, Virginia. Last year’s exhibit, The Civil War: Through the Eyes of North Texans, proved to be very popular. This exhibit takes an in-depth look at the two iconic Civil War generals and compares their sometimes controversial lives and careers. The impact that these two men had on this tragic time in American history is still evident today. Visitors will see items that the men owned, used and wore as well as many documents and letters. There will be a special members preview of this exhibit so look for this in your email in-box.

We look forward to seeing you at Old Red this summer. Look for our next newsletter in mid-July.

Sincerly,
  
 COMING SOON

Ferris, Let Us Have Peace, 1865, c. 1920, oil on canvas, from the exhibition Lee and Grant; courtesy Virginia Historical Society.
 LEE AND GRANT  

June 12 – August 11, 2009

By the end of the Civil War, most Americans considered either Robert E. Lee or Ulysses S. Grant to be a hero. Since then, their reputations have risen and
fallen, often in direct contrast
to each other. Although much has been written about the Civil War careers of both men, few efforts have explored their lives over an extended period of time. How should we evaluate these two crucial figures in the twenty-first century? Lee and Grant presents photographs, paintings, prints, coins, reproduction clothing,



Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant

accoutrements owned by the two men, documents written in their own hands. Biographical and historical records reveal each man in his historical and cultural context, allowing visitors to compare the ways each has been remembered for almost 150 years.

 
EXHIBIT PROGRAMS
Summer Saturdays at Old Red

The Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture is proud to present its Family Day Series on the second Saturday of each month in June, July, and August. Summer Saturdays give Museum visitors a unique opportunity to REDiscover Dallas through a variety of drop-in Family workshops, activities, and exhibit openings.

Each Family Day Program includes discounted Museum admission, themes from Dallas County’s history, guided building tours of the Old Red Courthouse, gallery scavenger hunts, crafts, and hands on activities for kids ages 4-16.

Summer Themes Include:

Saturday, June 13, 11am to 3pm
Lee and Grant Civil War Exhibit Family Day

• Join us as we celebrate two of history’s most noted leaders and the grand opening of our summer exhibit, Lee and Grant. History comes to life for children and adults alike with Civil War reenactors, demonstrations, historical music, children’s games, crafts, and activities.
Children can relive history by trying on historical clothes, investigating artifacts, and listening to stories from long ago.

Saturday, July 11, 11am to 3pm
From Lincoln Logs to Hula Hoops: Children’s Games Through the Decades Drop-in Workshop and Family Day

• Early childhood favorites such as marbles, dominoes, Toss Across, Lincoln Logs, and Spirograph return as Museum visitors learn about the various toys that entertained children over the years. Kids will enjoy
participating in a hula hoop contest and making their own toys like whirly gigs, button spinners, and clothespin dolls.

Saturday, August 8, 11am to 3pm
Downtown Detectives: Uncovering the Hidden Treasures in Architecture Drop-in Workshop and Family Day

• The Dallas skyline comes to life as children and adults uncover the unique features and characteristics of the Old Red Courthouse and its surrounding buildings. Kids will
enjoy creating their own stained glass window, uncovering historical features through architecture rubbings, and discovering architectural details that make Dallas buildings unique. Special guided tours of the Old Red Courthouse will offer visitors a chance to learn about the restored courtroom, the Restoration Room, grand staircase, and clock tower.

Your Dallas:
Carrollton Connections:
Through May 10
Lee & Grant:
June 12 – August 11, 2009
Lee & Grant Family Day:
Saturday, June 13, 2009
From Lincoln Logs to Hula Hoops Family Day:
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Downtown Detectives
Family Day:
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Your Dallas:
Lancaster:
September 12 - November 8, 2009
Your Dallas:
Lancaster Family Day:
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Deck the Halls:
November 13, 2009 - January 3, 2010
Deck the Halls Family Day:
Saturday, November 13, 2009

OLD RED MUSEUM
OF DALLAS COUNTY
HISTORY & CULTURE
100 S. Houston St
Dallas, TX 75202
Museum Info: 214-745-1100
The Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture is located in the West End of downtown Dallas in the beautifully restored Old Red Courthouse built in 1892. Dedicated to inspire and educate visitors about the rich and varied cultural, economic, political and social history of the Dallas County area, the second floor of Old Red is filled with exhibits, 41-touch screen computers, an educational learning center and four mini theaters. There is also a temporary exhibit gallery located on the first floor.



BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mr. David Biegler (chair)
Mrs. Lindalyn Adams
Mr. Raymond A. Basye, Jr.
Ms. Becky Bright (non-voting)
Mr. James R. Erwin
Mr. Boone Powell
Dr. Charles Tandy

MUSEUM STAFF
Terrell Falk
President
Susan Wojs
Office Manager & Executive Assistant
Jessica Jernigan
Collections & Exhibits Manager
Steffanie Evans
Education & Program Director
Linda Murdock
Sales Director
Brittany Davenport
Event Coordinator
Ross Crabtree
Building & IT Director
Wanda Gardner
Guest Services & Retail Director
Zac Harmon
Controller

FOUNDATION MISSION
The mission of the Old Red Foundation is to create a lively center of Dallas County civic life within the historic Old Red Courthouse and to present the rich history of the Dallas County area in the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture.

MUSEUM MISSION
The mission of the Old Red Museum is to inspire and educate people with the rich cultural, economic, political and social history of the Dallas County area, showcasing the many cultures that together have formed the Dallas of today.

OLD RED
MEMBERSHIP CHANGES

OLD RED STANDARD
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Individual $50
• Free annual admission for one person
• Discounts on all programs, lectures, workshops, events & classes for one person for a year
• Invitations to view special exhibits prior to the public opening for one person for a year
• Quarterly e-newsletter for a year
• 10% discount on Museum merchandise for a year

Dual/Couple $75
• All Benefits listed under “Individual” category, but for two people

Family $125
• All Benefits listed under “Individual” category, but for two adults and all children/grandchildren in the same household

Family Plus $150
• All benefits listed under “Individual” category, but for up to four adults and all children/grandchildren in the same household

Student/Senior/Volunteer $25
• Free admission for one person
• Discounts on all programs, lectures, events & classes for one person
• Quarterly e-newsletter

OLD RED HISTORY MAKER
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

History Maker Silver $250
• All benefits listed under the “Family” category (two adults plus all children/grandchildren in the same household)

PLUS the following:

• Invitation to History Maker events
• Subscription to Legacies: A History Journal for Dallas and North Central Texas
• Quarterly e-newsletter
• 20% discount on Museum merchandise

History Maker Gold $500
• All benefits listed under the “History Maker Silver” category but for up to four adults and all children/grandchildren in same household

History Maker Platinum $1,000
• All benefits of “History Maker Gold” category
• “Behind the scenes” personal tour of Old Red including Clock Tower and Vault

Building
Highlights

Pegasus

Glowing brightly on the Museum’s first floor, the “flying red horse” is one of the most recognizable symbols of Dallas. Originally built for the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City, this Pegasus eventually flew over the Casa Linda Mobil station near White Rock Lake. Pegasus was the symbol for the

Magnolia Oil Company (now Exxon-Mobil), headquartered in Dallas. When Magnolia placed a large, glowing Pegasus atop their downtown headquarters in 1934 (the then-tallest building in Dallas), residents and visitors alike began to equate the symbol with the growing City and County of Dallas.
When the Casa Linda shopping center was razed, the Pegasus was placed in warehouse storage and ultimately saved by the Old Red Museum to “fly” once again, fully restored and ready to greet visitors to the Museum.
Get
Involved!

Give to Old Red Through DonorBridge
on May 20

Old Red will participate in an all new online program called DonorBridge that will have its public launch on May 20, 2009. Sponsored by the Communities Foundation of Texas and The Dallas Foundation, hundreds of non-profits, including Old Red, will be listed with information about each so that potential donors can find the organizations they want to support. Key word searches such as “History” or “Education” or “Historic Landmark” will automatically take you to the non-profits--such as Old Red--that focus on these issues. On May 20, all donations made online through the DonorBridge program will be matched by the Communities Foundation of Texas. Donations must be between $25 to $2,500 per person. So be sure to visit www.donorbridgetx.org on May 20 and support Old Red through this new program.

The Story of Bonnie & Clyde

Clyde Barrow and his partner, Bonnie Parker, led an infamous life of crime. Chronicled throughout the early 1930s in newspapers and magazines, the fast life of stealing cars, shooting police, and robbing banks was a story that captivated the nation. The careers and lives of these two young criminals ended 75 years ago on May 23, 1934.
But who were these almost mythical figures? Much has been written about Bonnie & Clyde, and much has been exaggerated about their lives.

Clyde Barrow was born in West Dallas. Part of a poor family, he grew up robbing gas stations and stealing cars. Clyde earned a reputation with the police, and was sent to the Eastham prison farm near Houston. He was treated very poorly, and his hatred for the prison system fueled his criminal tendencies. Clyde was again in Dallas when he met Bonnie Parker, a married waitress.

Bonnie grew up two miles west of downtown Dallas, and in her teenage years worked at various cafes downtown to help support her family. She married a man named Ray Thornton, but he abused her, both verbally and physically, and they separated (though they never divorced). She had aspirations to become an actress, but found herself struggling to support herself and her family.

Clyde was a friend of Bonnie’s sister-in-law, and they met at Bonnie’s brother’s home. For the weeks following their meeting, they were, by all accounts, inseparable. A few weeks later, Clyde was arrested and sent to jail in Waco. Clyde convinced Bonnie to help break him out, and she smuggled a gun into the jail. Clyde escaped, but was quickly caught and re-sentenced to 14 years in the State penitentiary.

 

He soon broke out again, and the well-accounted saga of “Bonne and Clyde” began. Clyde, his brother Buck, Buck’s wife Blanche, Bonnie, and various others began a crime spree that stretched from Texas to Iowa. Killing at least nine police officers and several citizens who tried to protect their property and robbing a dozen banks and many more gas stations, the “Barrow Gang” took photos of themselves, posing with their stolen cars and guns robbed from armories. These photos ended up in newspapers all over the country. The public was fascinated by these young criminals.

For the most part, the "Barrow Gang" eluded the police. But in May 1934, Dallas officers joined forces with police in Arcadia, Louisiana to capture Bonnie and Clyde. Six lawmen ambushed the couple in their Ford V-8 on a country road near Arcadia, pouring over 100 bullets into their car. Gruesome footage taken immediately after this assault can be seen in Old Red’s Big D Gallery.

Thousands came to their funerals in Dallas to remember the couple who had terrorized much of the south. As Bonnie wrote in a poem: “To few it’ll be grief, to the law a relief, but it’s death for Bonnie and Clyde.”

 

 

GUEST SERVICES

Old Red Mugs
Old Red has just received a shipment of new Old Red latte mugs that will hold 16 ounces of your favorite beverage. Only $7.99, they come in white with a red logo or red with a white logo. Stop by Guest Services to purchase one on your next visit.

Parking at Old Red
Don’t forget to purchase a parking voucher when you visit Old Red. This $2 voucher is a big savings off of the $9 County underground garage parking fee. Just ask for it at Guest Services when you purchase your tickets.

New Gallery Guide
We now have a Gallery Guide with maps, descriptions of each gallery and some of the interesting items that can be found in each one. It is color coded for ease of use. You are welcome to take this home or place in the bins at Guest Services so that we may recycle them. A Spanish language version will be available soon.
 
 
 
Carrollton Connections Family Day 

The Your Dallas: Carrollton Connections exhibit kicked off on January 24 with Family Day activities and an opening day celebration. Over 100 Carrollton residents attended the exhibit’s opening reception, and visitors enjoyed activities throughout the day including performances by the Carrollton Wind Symphony, talks, tours, and family crafts.

Your Dallas: Carrollton Connections is the second exhibit in the Your Dallas series, highlighting Dallas County cities. Carrollton Connections can be viewed through May 10 in Old Red’s Special Exhibits Gallery, located on the first floor of the Museum.

Tom Monagan's High-Wheeled Bicycle

Tom Monagan’s 1887 Gormully & Jeffery “American Challenge” bicycle, was made by the Pope Manufacturing Company. At the Texas State Fair in 1899, Monagan won the state cycling championship using this bicycle.


Tom Monagan, Courtesy of the Dallas Historical Society

Monagan, an Irish-American living in Dallas, not only rode bicycles competitively but excelled in a variety of other sports as well. He played on the city football team, bowled, was an avid golfer, and even roller skated. Monagan was born in 1864 in Wheeling, West Virginia to Irish-born parents. His family soon moved to St. Louis,

Missouri, where Monagan attended public schools. He moved to Dallas in 1886. He worked as a clerk on the Texas and Pacific Railroad, held a job at an investment firm, and in 1889 opened his own independent fire insurance business.

Monagan’s business and athletic popularity afforded him high status in Dallas society. Well-known about town, Monagan appeared at many sporting events and sometimes even created a stir. In 1891, a crowd had gathered at the Texas and Pacific Railway station to welcome back the Dallas Artillery Company. The train was late, so Monagan entertained the crowd by “trying to stop his


High-Wheeled Bicycle in the Trading Center Gallery

bicycle without having to get off, a feat which he eventually succeeded in performing” (Dallas Morning News). At the “first important social event of the season” in 1888, a costume party, Monagan came dressed as Oscar Wilde. In 1927, he organized a special stunt entertainment program for a “Dallas Day” festival.

He was active in a number of clubs, including the Dallas Wheelmen, of which he was elected president in 1887. He organized and officiated numerous bicycling and sporting events throughout the 1890s and early 1900s. He also was active in social welfare organizations, serving as secretary of a relief committee in 1908. In 1919, he organized the exclusive Dallas Athletic Club, still in existence today.

Monagan’s activism in sports reflects the high esteem in which athletic events were held in American society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One reporter wrote in 1921 that Monagan’s Dallas Athletic Club would rank Dallas “high in the nation as a city.” Tom Monagan’s high-wheeled bicycle can be seen in the Old Red Museum’s Trading Center Gallery.

For more artifacts and information about sports in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,
visit our Trading Center Gallery!

Education Volunteers...
We need you!

The Old Red Museum hosts thousands of students each school year. During a visit to the Museum, students enjoy the Museum’s interactive exhibits, computer touch screens, the Children’s Education Center, Discovery Carts, and History Labs. Education volunteers engage students in activities, offer guidance in the Museum galleries with our student gallery worksheets, facilitate History Labs, and lead discussions on Dallas County History. If you enjoy working with students, talking about history or have teaching experience and miss the classroom setting, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Please contact Steffanie Evans at steffaniee@oldred.org or 214-757-1925 for more information.

Having An Event In A Historical Building



 Many event-planners are being creative in their venue selection, eschewing hotels for more original locations. That’s why historic landmarks like Old Red have become a popular choice. The price is reasonable and the “Wow” factor is high.

Historic buildings have impressive architecture and a one-of-a-kind, distinctive setting that can’t be replicated in a hotel. Restored historic landmarks are likely to have distinctive detailing and are beautifully decorated. Other unique features such as libraries, ballrooms, old courtrooms, grand staircases, towers and turrets make a historic location both unusual and memorable.

Another sought-after element is the privacy that historic locations offer. Most will only host one event at a time. Your event and your guests will receive the special treatment that will make them feel special and pampered. You can even add in a private tour to entertain your guests! What a fabulous way to make sure that your event is the one that will be the talk of the town all year long.
 
The Fashion Journey Is Coming To Old Red

Dallas, TX – Join El Centro College on this journey from fantasy to future; from Thailand to France; as the fashion departments showcase their second year student collections at the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture, 100 South Houston Street, on Friday, May 8, 2009, at 7 p.m. The Fashion Journey, the 35th fashion show produced by El Centro College, will feature designs from 15 students based on travel around the world now and in the future with an emphasis on eco-friendly materials and accessories.

A gallery collection of trend boards, store plans, advertising portfolios and brand development proposals created by the fashion marketing students will be available for viewing from 6-7 p.m. prior to the show.

The public is invited to attend the The Fashion Journey fashion show.

Tickets are $10 at the El Centro College Cash Office, 2nd floor of A Building, until Thursday, April 30, 2009. After that tickets can be purchased at the door beginning at 6:00 p.m.

For more information contact Michael Anthony at manthony@dcccd,edu.