Center for Glenwood Archival Collection
Mission Statement
Reflective of Glenwood Cemetery’s long history of serving the public are voluminous archival records and original source holdings that document its residents and operations for over 150 years. These records contain the day-to-day business of the Cemetery and serve to memorialize the people interred there, revealing a vast store of genealogical and historical information.
Our mission for the Glenwood Cemetery Archive is to acquire, preserve, and maintain these unique and original records. These documents are primary sources of information and cannot be found in any other repository around the world.
Vision and Values
Glenwood Cemetery archives serve as the institutional memory of the unique lives that have impacted Houston’s history.
We value our collections power to motivate learning, preserve history, connect lives, and inspire wonder. We are dedicated to the long-term stewardship of the resources entrusted to our care.
The Collections connect people with historical artifacts of physical and digital materials in support of a wide range of teaching, research, and learning.
Research our Records
Browse Visual Archives
1800s Hearse Mule Shoes
Object/Artifact
The artifact consists of a set of heavily oxidized iron mule shoes, mounted on a custom wooden display base. A brass plaque identifies it as "Glenwood Cemetery – Mule Shoe of a Late 1800s Hearse." These mule shoes are believed to have belonged to a draft mule used to pull funeral hearses in Glenwood during the late 19th century. They were discovered during construction work at the cemetery. The curvature and dimensions of the shoes are consistent with typical examples from that era, designed for draft animals that towed heavy carriages and processional vehicles.
This artifact serves as a key reference for the study of 19th-century funerary equipment in Glenwood.
Glenwood Cemetery Walking and Archive Tour Highlights
unknown
19th Century
Wooden display base.
"Glenwood Cemetery – Mule Shoe of a Late 1800s Hearse."
English
Etched
horseshoes (animal equipment)
muleshoes
cemeteries
Horseshoes
Horseshoes
Muleshoes
Glenwood Cemetery
Hearse
Equipment
1800s
Iron Mule Shoes and Wood Base
8-3/4 in
10-1/4 in
3-5/8 in
Metal
Wood
This artifact consists of a set of heavily oxidized iron mule shoes, mounted on a custom wooden display base. A brass identification plaque states: "Glenwood Cemetery – Mule Shoe of a Late 1800s Hearse."
Brown
Black
Orange
Book Shelf
Permanent
Exhibition
Poor
Oxidation
Rust
Discoloration
Flaking
Oct 3, 2025
The item exhibits significant oxidation and rusting attributable to the environmental conditions in which it was discovered. The item is also flaking and is in a fragile condition.
The use of or access to certain materials may be restricted for legal reasons or due to donor stipulations. Written permission to publish or display reproductions of Glenwood Cemetery, Inc. archive materials must be secured from the Foundation prior to use of the material. The following credit must be printed under each reproduction: “Reprinted with the permission of Glenwood Cemetery, Inc. & Glenwood Cemetery Historic Preservation Foundation”. Clearance of any copyrighted material is the responsibility of the person wishing to publish or display said material.
Restricted Collections
The following collections are restricted and require approval for viewing, please get in touch to learn more about viewing items in these collections.
Collection 2 Meetings and Administrative Files
Collection 14 Digital Materials
Most of this material is cross referenced from other collection. Ex: Veteran dedication photographs are put on a CD, or internment lot records that were copied onto film.
Collection 18 Fundraising Campaigns/ Donor Information
Collection 19 Financial Information (Completely Restricted)
Educator's Resources
Schedule a Field Trip / Visit
To schedule a field trip or visit, please contact Glenwood Cemetery. Our tours can accommodate up to 80 students at a time
Visit Us
Archive viewing and research is available by appointment only.
2525 Washington Avenue, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 864-7886
How to Donate to the Materials Archive
The Glenwood Cemetery Archive welcomes gifts of archival materials that fall within the scope of itscollecting activities, that will enhance the strength of our collections, and that support the historicalintegrity of Glenwood’s history
Reproduction Policy
The Archival collection is available for study and research; however, to preserve original documents and photographs and to maintain the integrity of the collection, none of the materials are allowed to leave the archives or to be reproduced without authorization.
