Heritage, Volume 10, Number 1, Winter 1992 Page: 14

Faith Bybee
Gives Texas a Part of Its Past

By David J. Bebout
Photographs by Damian Hevia

T he father wanted to let his
daughter see the old log house that was still
standing in good condition after so many
years. He showed her how smooth the worn
portions of the woodwork had become.
The young girl was impressed with the large
opening in the fireplace; it was big enough

that she could stand upright in it. The little
girl felt that the old cabin was a wonderful
place, and her father told her that it was
indeed a wondrous place, that he and his
mother were both born there, and that
people should take care of such places.
The people of Texas owe a debt of grati

tude to that man. His name was Perry A.
Poorman of Katy, in Fort Bend County,
Texas, and he had just endowed his daughter
Faith with a mission in life. She grew up
to become one of, if not the most prolific
collectors of American decorative arts, and
the historic preservation efforts of Faith

14 HERITAGE * WINTER 1992