Harris and Eliza Kempner Collection

About the Kempner Family

One of Galveston's most iconic families, the Kempner family influenced the social and philanthropic landscape of Galveston, and its members created an expansive economic empire. The Kempner family of Galveston began with Harris Kempner (1837-1894), who emigrated from Poland in 1854 and settled in Cold Spring, Texas. In 1858, he opened a general store and established the firm that still bears his name. Harris, foreseeing the growth of Galveston, moved his business to the seaport around 1868 and enlarged his interests as a cotton factor and commission merchant. He also entered a partnership with M. Marx to build a wholesale grocery business. Marx withdrew from the business in 1886, but Harris continued the firm and extended his range of operations into finance. He served as the president of Island City Savings Bank. Harris organized and directed some thirty-five banks throughout Texas, especially in smaller cities that lacked adequate banking facilities.

After Harris Kempner's death in 1894, his widow, the former Miss Eliza Seinsheimer of Cincinnati, preserved the estate. The line of trusteeship passed to Harris and Eliza's four sons: Isaac H. Kempner, Daniel W. Kempner, Robert L. Kempner, and Stanley E. Kempner. Isaac Kempner and his family purchased controlling interest in what later would become the United States National Bank in 1902. Isaac, who was born in Cincinnati in 1873 but received his early education in Galveston, later became president of the bank. He also served as president of the Galveston Cotton Exchange from 1905 to 1919.

The trusteeship later passed on to Harris and Eliza's two grandsons: Harris L. Kempner and Isaac H. Kempner, Jr. The Kempner family built a fortune not only through ventures in cotton and banking, but also in railroading, land development, ranching, oil, and sugar. The Kempner family partnered with William T. Eldridge and bought plantations in the area southwest of Houston between 1906 and 1908. This area, known as Sugar Land, became the base of production for the newly formed Imperial Sugar Company. The Kempner family became the sole owners of the sugar firm in 1946. Sugar Land, Texas operated as a company town for employees and became incorporated in 1959.

About the Physical Collection

The Rosenberg Library in Galveston maintains an extensive amount of Kempner family business records and personal papers The collections include a wealth of documentation relating to the Kempner family's involvement in business and industry, especially regarding the H. L. Kempner Company and the Imperial Sugar Company. Personal papers from dozens of Kempner family members may also be found in the collections. These papers reflect the family's extensive philanthropic activities and engagement in local, national, and international affairs.

Some additional materials are held by the Kempner Foundation.

About the Digital Collection

This digital collection contains a selection of materials drawn from the larger tangible collections.



At a Glance



Cite This Collection

Here is our suggested citation. Consult an appropriate style guide for conformance to specific guidelines.

Harris and Eliza Kempner Collection in The Portal to Texas History. University of North Texas Libraries. https://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/KEMP/ accessed June 10, 2023.


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Galveston County, TX
11,403
Fort Bend County, TX
8,449
Harris County, TX
3,172
Grimes County, TX
662
Travis County, TX
586
Dallas County, TX
538
Cook County, IL
369
Hamilton County, OH
239
Greene County, AR
228
Bexar County, TX
183
Los Angeles County, CA
181
Limestone County, TX
158
Tarrant County, TX
157
Reeves County, TX
127
Orleans Parish, LA
124
Essex County, NY
110
Brazos County, TX
102
Hidalgo County, TX
97
Cameron County, TX
71
Brooks County, TX
64
Jefferson County, TX
61
Brazoria County, TX
57
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55
Nueces County, TX
50
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49
Philadelphia County, PA
47
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45
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45
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37
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36
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36
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35
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32
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31
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30
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27
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27
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27
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25
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25
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25
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24
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23
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23
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22
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21
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20
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19
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18
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18
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17
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16
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16
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15
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15
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15
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15
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14
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14
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14
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14
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14
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13
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13
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13
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13
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12
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12
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12
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11
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11
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11
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11
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11
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11
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10
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10
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10
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10
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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8
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8
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8
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8
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8
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8
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8
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8
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8
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8
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8
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8
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8
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8
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7
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7
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7
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7
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7
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7
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7
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6
Calcasieu Parish, LA
6
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6
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6
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6
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6
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6
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6
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6
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6
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6
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6
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6
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6
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
Parmer County, TX
2
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2
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2
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2
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2
Santa Cruz County, AZ
2
Santa Cruz County, CA
2
Shelby County, TX
2
Summit County, OH
2
Talladega County, AL
2
Warren County, MS
2
Washington County, OH
2
Winnebago County, WI
2
Wise County, TX
2
Wood County, TX
2
York County, ME
2
Adams County, CO
1
Albemarle County, VA
1
Alcorn County, MS
1
Allegany County, NY
1
Aransas County, TX
1
Arlington County, VA
1
Asotin County, WA
1
Bandera County, TX
1
Bastrop County, TX
1
Bee County, TX
1
Bernalillo County, NM
1
Blaine County, OK
1
Boulder County, CO
1
Bowie County, TX
1
Branch County, MI
1
Bristol County, MA
1
Broome County, NY
1
Brown County, WI
1
Buncombe County, NC
1
Burleigh County, ND
1
Burlington County, NJ
1
Butler County, MO
1
Calumet County, WI
1
Camden County, NJ
1
Camp County, TX
1
Cass County, TX
1
Cattaraugus County, NY
1
Champaign County, IL
1
Chautauqua County, KS
1
Cherokee County, KS
1
Cherokee County, TX
1
Clackamas County, OR
1
Clark County, OH
1
Clay County, MO
1
Cleveland County, NC
1
Cochran County, TX
1
Comal County, TX
1
Comanche County, TX
1
Crane County, TX
1
Cumberland County, ME
1
Cumberland County, NC
1
Dawson County, TX
1
Delaware County, IN
1
Des Moines County, IA
1
Douglas County, NE
1
Duval County, FL
1
Eau Claire County, WI
1
Elkhart County, IN
1
Ellis County, TX
1
Erath County, TX
1
Etowah County, AL
1
Franklin Parish, LA
1
Frederick County, MD
1
Frederick County, VA
1
Grafton County, NH
1
Grand County, CO
1
Grant County, OK
1
Gray County, TX
1
Grayson County, TX
1
Green County, WI
1
Greer County, OK
1
Guadalupe County, TX
1
Hancock County, MS
1
Hill County, TX
1
Hillsborough County, NH
1
Horry County, SC
1
Howard County, TX
1
Indian River County, FL
1
Iowa County, IA
1
Irion County, TX
1
Jackson County, WI
1
Jasper County, IA
1
Kauai County, HI
1
Kaufman County, TX
1
Kendall County, TX
1
Kent County, MI
1
Kenton County, KY
1
King County, TX
1
Kingfisher County, OK
1
Knox County, TX
1
La Plata County, CO
1
LaSalle County, IL
1
Labette County, KS
1
Lamar County, TX
1
Lane County, OR
1
Latimer County, OK
1
Leavenworth County, KS
1
Lee County, AL
1
Lee County, IA
1
Linn County, IA
1
Litchfield County, CT
1
Llano County, TX
1
Lucas County, OH
1
Lyon County, KS
1
Madison County, AL
1
Madison County, NY
1
Marin County, CA
1
Mason County, TX
1
McCurtain County, OK
1
McLean County, IL
1
Mecklenburg County, NC
1
Medina County, TX
1
Mercer County, WV
1
Meriwether County, GA
1
Mesa County, CO
1
Milam County, TX
1
Minnehaha County, SD
1
Montgomery County, IL
1
Montgomery County, KS
1
Moore County, TX
1
New Hanover County, NC
1
New London County, CT
1
Northampton County, PA
1
Okfuskee County, OK
1
Orange County, NC
1
Osage County, OK
1
Parker County, TX
1
Peoria County, IL
1
Pitkin County, CO
1
Polk County, IA
1
Ramsey County, MN
1
Refugio County, TX
1
Richmond County, NY
1
Riverside County, CA
1
Robeson County, NC
1
Rock Island County, IL
1
Rockingham County, VA
1
Rusk County, TX
1
Russell County, AL
1
Rutland County, VT
1
Sacramento County, CA
1
San Augustine County, TX
1
San Benito County, CA
1
San Saba County, TX
1
Sarasota County, FL
1
Scott County, IA
1
Scurry County, TX
1
Sebastian County, AR
1
Shackelford County, TX
1
Spokane County, WA
1
Stanislaus County, CA
1
Sunflower County, MS
1
Surry County, NC
1
Terry County, TX
1
Texas County, OK
1
Trinity County, TX
1
Tulare County, CA
1
Tulsa County, OK
1
Union County, NJ
1
Uvalde County, TX
1
Van Zandt County, TX
1
Vanderburgh County, IN
1
Vigo County, IN
1
Volusia County, FL
1
Warren County, NY
1
Warren County, VA
1
Washington County, AR
1
Washington County, MD
1
Washington County, OK
1
Washington County, PA
1
Washington County, TX
1
Washtenaw County, MI
1
Wayne County, IL
1
Webster County, IA
1
Whitman County, WA
1
Williamson County, TX
1
Woodbury County, IA
1
Woodward County, OK
1
Worcester County, MA
1

Titles (expand list)

Personal Papers (MS 80-0002)
29,107
Kempner Family Papers and Business Records (MS 86-0008)
1,082
Business Papers (MS 80-0003)
325
Imperial Sugar Company Estimated Daily Cash Balance
131
Galveston Water Works Monthly Statement
82
Merchants & Planters Compress & Warehouse Co. Statements
82
Imperial Sugar Company Actual and Projected Operations
74
Imperial Sugar Company Sugar Stock and Sales Report
66
Lurie's Weekly Report
45
Southern Union Gas Company Monthly Statement
30
Texas Public Service Company Monthly Statement
25
Galveston Chamber of Commerce Financial and Operating Statement
18
Sugarland Industries Cattle Inventory
18
AWVS Official Monthly Progress Report
15
Congregation B'nai Israel Bulletin
13
The Imperial Crown
13
Houston Lighting & Power Company Monthly Statement
12
Sugarland Industries Cotton Operations
12
AWVS Secretary's Office Monthly Report
11
Imperial Sugar Company Aged Summary of Accounts Receivable
11
News and Views of Harvard Athletics
11
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company Monthly Statement
8
Texas Metroplitan Study Newsletter
6
AWVS Greater New York Region Monthly Report
5
AWVS Public Relations Department Monthly Report
4
Imperial Sugar Company Statement of Past Due Accounts
3
Galveston Scuttlebutt
2
It's Said and Done
2
News of the National
2
Right to Work National Newsletter
2
Rotunda Topics
2
Sugarland Industries Monthly Statement
2
The San Jacinto Times
2
AWVS National Quarterly Progress Report
1
AWVS Official Quarterly Progress Report
1
Big Bend Gin Company Actual and Projected Operations
1
Blue Cross - Blue Shield Bulletin
1
Briefly Speaking
1
Congressional Record
1
Cotton's Week
1
Country Club News
1
Doane Agricultural Digest
1
Field Organization News Letter
1
Fiscal Year 1965
1
Galveston Artillery Club Newsletter
1
Galveston Journal
1
Galveston Water Department Monthly Statement
1
Galveston Water Works Monthly Statement: November 1953
1
Galveston Water Works Monthly Statement: October 1956
1
Houston Lighting & Power Company Monthly Statement: January 1952
1
Imperial Sugar Company Actual and Projected Operations - 1972
1
Little Journeys to Farmland
1
Morgan Camera News
1
National Audubon Society Bird Leaflets
1
News and Notes from the FPA President's Office
1
Personal Papers (Ms 80-0002)
1
Report to Members of the National Campaign Council
1
San Antonio Light
1
Southern Union Gas Company Monthly Statement: April 1962
1
Southern Union Gas Company Monthly Statement: February 1962
1
TMA News and Views on Legislation
1
Tax Letter
1
Texas Public Service Company Monthly Statement: April, 1949
1
Texas Public Service Company Monthly Statement: August 1948
1
The Business Week Letter
1
The Chain
1
The Citizens' Bulletin
1
The Gillman Tax Letter
1
The State Observer
1
Trade Talk
1
Treasure Isle
1
U.T. Record
1
Washington Report
1
[Telegram from I. H. Kempner and Henrietta Kempner to G. G. Moore, October 17, 1944]
1
[Telegram from {{{name}}} to {{{name}}}, {{{date}}}]
1
{{{Subject line}}}
1

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