Center for Glenwood Archival Collection

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.

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.

This printed booklet outlines the foundational regulations governing Glenwood Cemetery, originally known as the Houston Cemetery Company, which was incorporated on May 12, 1871. It includes rules regarding lot ownership, maintenance, interments, and board operations. The pamphlet is printed in black ink on beige paper and exhibits signs of wear, including tape repairs and torn corners, suggesting its use in administrative settings during the late 19th century. As one of the earliest governing documents of Glenwood, this booklet serves as a historical record of cemetery management practices during the Victorian era, reflecting the broader rural cemetery movement that aimed to integrate landscape design with civic organization. It is considered one of the oldest administrative records in the Glenwood Cemetery Archives.

The document contains a plat map dated November 24, 1905, for Section H of Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas. It is certified by John F. Dickson, the President of the Glenwood Board of Trustees. The inscription on the map reads: "This is to certify that the Board of Trustees of Glenwood Cemetery has adopted the following plot of Section H in Glenwood Cemetery, located in the City of Houston Harris County Texas on November 24, 1905. John F. Dickson President of the Board of Trustees." Additionally, there is an inscription indicating that a notary public served as a witness to the certification of this plot.

This collection of 1907 photographic postcards provides visual documentation of Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas. The images present key elements of the cemetery's design and landscape, including: - Main Entrance - Allen 1081 - Main Drive Way - Allen 1082 - Park Fronting Washington Avenue with Res of Supt - Allen 1083 - Entrance to Glenwood Cemetery from Park Fronting Washington Ave - Allen 1084 - Looking North from the Office - Allen 1085 - Looking East through Glenwood Cemetery - Allen 1087 - Office of Glenwood Cemetery - Allen 1088 - The Bayou As It Passes Through Glenwood Cemetery - Allen 1089 - In The New Additions - Allen 1089 - A Shady Lane - Allen 1090 - Approach to Glenwood Cemetery from Kane St. Entrance - Allen 1091 - Kate St. Entrance to Glenwood Cemetery - Allen 1092 Each postcard includes printed captions that describe the scenes and prominently feature the name "Allen" in its typography. The cards were never mailed, suggesting they were likely created for local sale, tourism, or promotional purposes.

This item features a circa 1910 postcard showcasing the original entrance to Glenwood Cemetery. The postcard serves as a visual record of Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas, highlighting significant aspects of its design and landscape. Notably, the postcard bears the number "12718" at the top. As the cards were never mailed, they were likely produced for local sale, tourism, or promotional purposes.

These pressed Annual Vinca flowers are displayed with their petals spread out to show their base and star-like appearance. The pressing process preserves the smooth look of its leaves, which face the opposite direction. The flowers have been carefully attached to a special type of paper using a safe glue and are kept safe in a sealed holder.

This pressed Blue Mistflower specimen features a beautiful bunch of small, bright blue to violet flowers at the top of the stem. The pressing process has also showcased the unique, jagged leaves along the stem that sits below the flower cluster. The sample has been thoughtfully attached to special paper for preserving plants using a safe glue and kept in a sealed holder to protect it.

This pressed Blue Sage plant features a tall flower spike filled with small blue to violet flowers that grow along a square stem. The pressing process highlights its slender, gray-green leaves. The specimen is securely placed on a special type of paper with safe glue and kept in a sealed holder for protection.

This preserved Carnation flower has slim, gray-green leaves and flattened blooms with frayed edges, all connected to a sturdy stem. Pressing the flower keeps its unique shape and details intact. The plant has been carefully glued to special preservation paper and placed in a protective holder to keep it safe.

This pressed Chrysanthemum flower showcases a beautiful, flat flower head that reveals its intricate petal design. The pressing process also highlights the rich, fragrant leaves that grow along the stem. The flower has been carefully secured to special paper with safe glue and kept protected in a sealed holder to preserve its beauty.

This English Ivy leaf has been pressed and preserved to show its unique shape, which has three to five lobes or segments. Pressing the leaf highlights the light-colored veins that stand out against the darker green surface. The leaf is securely attached to a special piece of paper designed to preserve plant specimens and is kept safe in a sealed holder to protect it.

This pressed Fewleaf Sunflower specimen shows a cluster of wide, pointed leaves at the bottom and a tall, thin stem rising above. At the top, you can see a flattened yellow flower that has been preserved. The specimen is securely attached to special paper with a safe glue and is kept in a sealed holder to protect it.

These preserved Lily-of-the-Incas flower petals have unique dark spots on their inner petals. Pressing flattened its long stems and curved leaf bases. The specimen is carefully attached to special paper designed for preserving plants and is kept safe in a sealed holder to protect it.

This handwritten index serves as a reference for administrative purposes at Glenwood Cemetery. Compiled in the late 19th century, the document organizes the names of lot owners and interments in both alphabetical and numerical order. Each entry includes details such as section and lot numbers, names of the owners, and notes regarding transfers or family plots. The ledger illustrates the record-keeping practices within Glenwood's administrative framework, featuring handwritten columns and annotations that suggest frequent use by staff or superintendents to locate gravesites before the establishment of formal ledgers and plat maps. The Index to Glenwood reflects the operational needs of a cemetery in post-Reconstruction Houston. By the 1880s, Glenwood experienced significant growth, making it necessary to maintain accurate burial records for managing lot ownership and family interments. This volume likely originated around the same time as the Board of Directors Minutes Book (1886–1976) and the Bylaws established in 1888, both pivotal components of the foundational documents produced by the Houston Cemetery Company.