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
1877 Concentric Circle Designs Flag
Textile
In September 2023, the flag was found inside a honeybee tree located in Section H-1 of the cemetery. While its authenticity hasn't been confirmed yet, it has been lodged in the tree for quite some time. The flag was located in a beehive during the extraction of honeycombs, following the tree's split and fall the previous autumn. The tree's natural antibacterial and moisture-reducing properties played a crucial role in preserving the flag over the years. The flag exhibits significant deterioration, characterized by frayed edges, discoloration, and a noticeable loss of fabric integrity, resulting from prolonged exposure. It is believed that the flag was placed at the grave of a veteran buried in Glenwood, as several veteran graves are nearby. Notably, the flag features one of the Concentric Circle Designs from 1877, showcasing 38 stars, a design widely popular during the Civil War and into the late 1800s.
Flag
The flag symbolizes the military and Civil War history connected to Glenwood Cemetery, honoring the significant events and figures associated with that era.
Glenwood Cemetery Walking and Archive Tour Highlights
unknown
19th Century
Square
English
flags
civil wars
veterans
Flags
Flag
Bees
Concentric
1800s
Civil War
Flag
1-5/8 in
18-1/2 in
12-7/8 in
Red
Blue
White
VAULT
Permanent
Exhibition
Dilapitated
Missing Areas / Holes
Tear
Discoloration
Frayed / Fraying
Oct 3, 2025
The textile shows extensive deterioration from exposure, with frayed edges, discoloration, and loss of fabric integrity.
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.
