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Description

A superb cartographic archive of a Texas locale, covering land ownership and oil development on High Island over the course of more than 50 years -- from the 1880s onward.

The collection represents the accretion of the working map libraries of several Galveston-based surveyors whose careers spanned the very end of the 19th century into the beginning of the 20th.  It includes numerous important original surveys, both of individual tracts and of High Island as a whole.  The printed maps are mostly ephemeral in nature, having been prepared as part of land sales, lease agreements, and other interactions involving only a handful of parties, as such, the one or two copies in the present collection probably represent the only extant examples. The collection includes blueprints, and, in many cases, the original manuscript maps from which the blueprints were taken.

Through this collection, one can observe the development of an early, major Texas oil field in incredibly fine detail. Maps that are contemporary to the earliest development of Texas oil are extremely rare individually. It is almost unimaginable to find a map archive that covers an oil field from before its first exploratory wells into decades of heavy exploitation. This archive does just that.

For instance, the collection includes a large map (51 x 51 inches) of High Island, showing all of the oil leases and tracts as of August 1931. This map was produced by the Yount-Lee Oil Company, the lead developer of the area at the beginning of the first great oil boom there, and it was published just as their productive wells were coming online. 

To illustrate the breadth of the collection, it also includes an oil-related manuscript map from December 1901, just after the discovery at Spindletop, which shows the subdivisions of the "High Island Land & Oil Co."

High Island Oil Field

The modern history of High Island begins with Martin Dunman (1806-1852). Depending on the account, Dunman either obtained a headright grant to the land from the Mexican government in 1834, or obtained a league of land after Texas Revolution, settling there in 1845. According to other sources, the Martin Dunman Survey was granted in 1837. Dunman raised cattle on the salt dome with a few other settlers. Most of the maps in the present collection make reference to the original Martin Dunman Survey and trace their lineage to it.

Little took place on High Island until the Gulf and Interstate Railroad laid a track to Beaumont along the Bolivar Peninsula in 1886.  With the railroad connection, a community began coalescing and hotels, stores, and other businesses were established.

The history of High Island was forever changed by the discovery of oil at Spindletop, another nearby salt dome.  Initial exploration of the oil field was difficult and often abortive, but successive discoveries from 1916 onward led to a boom in 1931.

In the Handbook of Texas, Julia Cauble Smith says of the High Island Oilfield:

However in 1931 the promise of flush production moved towards reality when Yount-Lee took over the leases held by Marrs McLean and Sun companies and assumed control of the most of the producing acreage in the field. The Yount-Lee No. 21 Cade was spudded on April 30, 1931, and completed on July 30, 1931, for initial production of 700 barrels of oil per day from a total depth of 5,077 feet. The No. 21 Cade was a significant discovery because it proved the presence of an overhang of caprock and salt in the dome that delivered good production from the underlying sands. The new discovery set off a drilling campaign in High Island that developed it into a prolific salt dome field. In the fall of 1931 Yount-Lee laid a ten-inch pipeline from the field to its Spindletop tank farm to handle the increased production, but some crude was transported from the field by barge. Between 1931 and 1935 Yount-Lee drilled forty-six productive wells at High Island. Eight wells were worked over and seven were drilled deeper to find overhang production. Yearly totals increased markedly through 1934, when 2,747,000 barrels of oil were recovered. In response to the new production, the Railroad Commission set the field allowable at 6,614 barrels of oil per day on a per-well basis and twenty-acre spacing. Under proration the field decreased production in 1935 to 2,509,974 barrels of oil. Production after 1935 and throughout the second phase of field development continued generally downward. By the end of 1938 the field covered 300 proved acres with sixty-two wells, producing from an average depth of 6,710 feet. At the end of 1940, when the annual yield was just under 970,000 barrels of oil, the field consisted of nineteen flowing and forty pumping wells managed by three operators. At the end of 1946 High Island reported to a yearly yield of 992,042 barrels of oil.

Contents

The collection includes the following maps, some of which are illustrated here, as well as additional documents related to court cases over land ownership and leases.

  1. Coast Chart No. 203 Coast of Texas From Sabine Pass Westward to High Island. 1896

  2. [Manuscript pencil survey, including a tract owned by the Galv Standard Land & Oil Co.]

  3. [Sub-Division of F. Harrington 15 Acre Tract in Original Lot 3, M. Dunman Survey.] (An iteration on number 2.)

  4. Map representing Subdvision of part of the P.C. Biglin survey _ East and adjoining Martin Dunman Survey also Northwest part of N. Fitzsimons tract west and adjoining Mart. Dunman Survey... [Blueprint]

  5. Sketch of The Great Western High Island Oil Company. [Blueprint]

  6. Map of Portion of the Martin Dunman Survey Showing Fence Lines of Peyton, Leustalot, Sullivan, Kahla and Minot. June 1922 [Blueprint] (Plus black and white photo transfer of the above.)

  7. Map of the Partition of a portion of the original lots numbered 2&3 Martin Dunman Sur. High Island Galveston Co Texas... April [19]06 R.W. Luttrell Co. Surv. [Ink manuscript on drafting cloth] (Plus a black and white photo transfer of the above)

  8. Survey Blocks 26, 27, 28 & 29 In Orig. Lot 2, Martin Dunman Sur... August 1930 C. A. Holt, Surveyor. [Ink manuscript on drafting cloth] (Plus a black and white photo transfer of the above)

  9. Map of the Partition of a portion of the original lots numbered 2&3 Martin Dunman Sur. High Island Galveston Co. Texas... April [19]06 R.W. Luttrell Co. Surv. [Ink manuscript on drafting cloth]

  10. [Blueprint of number 9]

  11. Plat Showing Part of M. Dunman Survey. Tract for Tom C. Patten. April 1930. C.C. Washington County Surveyor. [Blueprint]

  12. [Two early photographic transfers of surveys of the Nicholas Fitzsimmons and Martin Dunman Surveys. Dated 19 September 1913. Surveyed by H. A. Lane.]

  13. See Case 23211: High Island Mineral and Oil Co owns undivided 5 Acre interest in Lots 15, 16, 17-18-26 and 27 (Lots Shaded) [dot] Indicates stakes set by C.C. Washington June 12, 1922 [Blueprint]

  14. Fences in Part of Lot #1 Martin Dunman High Island June 7, 1922 C.C. Washington [signed] County Survey, Galveston County [Ink manuscript on drafting cloth]

  15. [Blueprint of number 14]

  16. Map Showing Surveys Made For Young-Lee Oil Company by C.C. Washington, County Surveyor in the Martin Dunman Survey Galveston County, Texas... May 1923 (on laid certification by C.C. Washington) [Blueprint with significant manuscript additions and over-coloring]

  17. Plat of Martin Dunman Survey of 15 1/2 Labors Galveston Co., Tex. [Ink manuscript on drafting linen]

  18. [Blueprint of number 17]

  19. Survey For B. Kahla 10 Acres martin Dunman League Galveston County Surveyed Oct. 5 and 6 1920... Coustenay C. Washington County Surveyor [Blueprint with over-coloring]

  20. West Line Martin Dunman Survey Galveston Co. Texas... 9-15-22 [Blueprint]

  21. [Blueprint of a section of East Bay Bayou]

  22. Survey of 200 Acre Tract in the Southwest Corner of the Martin Dunman League Galveston County, Texas April, 1945 Paul A. Milligan Engineer & Surveyor Galveston, Texas. [Blueprint]

  23. Survey of Tract in Martin Dunman Survey Geo. E. Smith to J. N. Votaw. Recorded Vol. 216 Page 612 Galveston County, Texas June, 1940 C. C. Washington [Printed]

  24. W. 1/2 Martin Dunman Survey High Island, Tex... April 1902 R. W. Luttrell [Ink manuscript on drafting cloth] (Shows C.T. Cade & Co. land along with the Seaview Hotel)

  25. Survey of 235.54 Acres made for Marrs McLean by Virtue of his application filed in Book H, Pages 322 & 323, Co. Surveyor’s Records, Galveston County, Texas. “Dm Rios” (?) County Surveyor Galveston County, Texas. April 1918

  26. Survey for Mr. H.W. Gilvert To Show Location of Derrick Erected In W 1/2 of E. Hamshire 300 Acre Tract, Martin Dunman Survey, Galveston Co. Texas. C.A. Holt Jr. Surv. Sept 24, 1918 [Ink manuscript on drafting cloth] (illustrates an oil derrick at the center of the map)

  27. [Blueprint of number 26]

  28. Special Sub-Div of Original Lot 28, Block “D” High Island [Pencil on drafting cloth]

  29. Stanolind Oil & Gas Co. Tulsa. Okla. Repair - Gas System High Island Field 1-19-50

  30. Plat of the Martin Dunman Survey of Fifteen and One Half Labors & Land Between Gulf of Mexico and East Bay Bayou Galveston Co. Tex. [Blueprint]

  31. January 21, 1965 Survey of a part of Lot 3 of Martin Dunman Survey... Jack A. Hall Reg. Public Surveyor No. 95

  32. Joe Revia High Island, Texas Post Office Box, 64... November 18, 1944... Evan P. Johnson

  33. High island & Adjacent Acreage Galveston County, Texas. [Blueprint with over-coloring]

  34. Exhibit “A” Plat Showing Approximate Acreage in the South Part N. Fitzsimmons, All of C.T. Cade and Chas. Wilcox Surveys... May 1915... C.A. Holt Jr., C.E. [Blueprint with manuscript. Long tape repair.]

  35. [Map of High Island and parts of Chambers and Jefferson Counties] General Land Office Austin Texas Nov. 23rd 1897 R.W. Luttrell Galveston Texas [Blueprint]

  36. Martin Dunman 15 1/2 Labors. Sketch Showing Proposed Right of Way State Highway 124 Thru Property of Cade Estate [Pencil on paper, stapled to other documents]

  37. Stanolind Oil & Gas. Co. Tulsa, Okla. Portion of Intracoastal Canal North of High Island [Pencil on paper within printed form]

  38. Plat of “Cade Lands” in Galveston, Chambers & Jefferson Counties, Texas. [Blueprint. Key notes “J.M. Guffey Petroleum Co. Wells”]

  39. [Blueprint of land just to the west of High Island] R.W.L. 1905 Tracing Revised Oct. 1953.

  40. [“Young Lee Oil Co. | Yount Lee Oil Co. ~ Surface rights reserved by Henry Sullivan”] [Pencil and color on paper]

  41. Map Showing Survey to Establish S.W. Corner and West Line Martin Dunman Sur. And South Line Of Bolton-Devereux 200 Acres Galveston County, Tex. September 1923... C.C. Washington County Surveyor Galveston County [Large blueprint with over-coloring]

  42. Map of Part of Martin Dunman 15 1/2 Labors situated in Galveston County, Texas as Reflected By Cause No. 17,857 Cade et al vs Joseph Revia et al June 14th 1899... Compiled May 8, 1926 [Blueprint]

  43. Martin Dunman Survey -- High Island, Galveston Co. Tex. Jno. Dailey et al vs E. Peloquen et al -- Jan. 1902... R.W. Luttrell C.E. Galv’n. [Blueprint]

  44. [Blueprint of number 24]

  45. Survey of the N.W. Quarter (1/4) of Joseph Richer 200-acre tract in Martin Dunman Survey, Galveston County, Texas. C.A. Holt, Surveyor

  46. [Blueprint of number 14]

  47. Location of Stanolinds Cade “A”-”F” #78 [Ink manuscript on printed paper form]

  48. [Another example of blueprint number 6, with additional manuscript and over-coloring]

  49. Map of Parts of Sub-Divisions 6-7-8 of Martin Dunman League Sur. Galveston Co. Texas High Island C.B. Daniell Del May 28 1922 Copy of Map Recorded in Book 341 Page 294 Galveston County Deed Records Recorded June 7, 1922 Traced July 12, 1923 C.C. Washington [Blueprint]

  50. See Case 23211: High Island Mineral and Oil Co owns undivided 5 Acre interest... C.C. Washington June 12, 1922 [Ink manuscript on drafting cloth]

  51. Survey of a Tract of Land located in the Martin Dunman Survey, Galveston County, Texas, described by metes and bounds as follows... Jany. 29, 1932... C.A. Holt, Surv. [Printed]

  52. Survey For B. Kahla 10 Acres martin Dunman League Galveston County Surveyed Oct. 5 and 6 1920... Coustenay C. Washington County Surveyor [Blueprint with over-coloring]

  53. Survey of 1.8 Acres +- out of the Martin Dunman League, Galveston County, Texas... Surveyed June 1 & 5, 1968 Paul A. Milligan [Printed]

  54. Map Showing Survey to Establish S.W. Corner and West Line Martin Dunman Sur. And South Line Of Bolton-Devereux 200 Acres Galveston County, Tex. September 1923... C.C. Washington County Surveyor Galveston County [Large blueprint with over-coloring and manuscript]

  55. [Large printed map covering a portion of High Island, circa 1950]

  56. Survey of 14.0 Acres of. Henry Sullivan In Sarah Reeves 79.45 AC. Martin Dunman Survey Galveston Co. Tex. June 23, 1923 C.C. Washington [et al] [Blueprint]

  57. Survey of a Fence Enclosure within the Guidry 84 Acre Tract in the Martin Dunman League, Galveston County, Texas... Surveyed during the months of April & May, 1966 Paul A. Milligan

  58. Plate and Description for Tract of Land Mrs. Kirkpatrick, at High Island... May 1938... C.C. Washington [Ink manuscript and printing on paper]

  59. Plat Showing Part of M. Dunman Survey. Tract for Tom C. Patten. April 1930. C.C. Washington, County Surveyor.

  60. Survey of Lot 7, East Line of Lot 6 & West Line of Lot 8 of Martin Dunman Survey, Galveston Co. Texas Survey By Frank W. De Lange Nov. 7. 1940

  61. Survey of 10 Acres out of Lot 4 in the East One-Half of the Martin Dunman Survey in Galveston County, Texas... November 6, 1955 L&H Engineers L L Lowery (?) [Pencil and printed on paper]

  62. [Blueprint of number 8]

  63. Nebout Tract in Lots 1 and 2 M. Dunman Survey. Surveyed Feb. 19, 1925 C.C. Washington County Surveyor Galveston Co. [Ink manuscript and printed on paper]

  64. High Island Galveston County, Tex. Scale 1/10000 C. A. Holt Jr. Galveston [Blueprint] 

  65. High Islands Plat of the Martin Dunman Survey C. E. Smedes 1896 [Blueprint]

  66. [Survey of land just east of High Island] C.A. Holt 2201 Ave B. [circa 1940-’50]

  67. Survey of Jas. Cronra Survey Jefferson County, Texas [East of High Island] May 1947 Paul A. Milligan [Blueprint]

  68. Map of High Island Galveston County Texas [Blueprint of number 64 with additional title]

  69. High Island & Adjacent Acreage Galveston County, Texas... C.A. Holt Jr. Galveston, Texas. [Blueprint with manuscript]

  70. High Island Oil Field Galveston County, Texas. Yount-Lee Oil Co Beaumont, Texas. August _ _ _ _ 1931 Drawn by: W.X.B. Checked [ditto] E.U.H. [A large, detailed, and very important map, representing the High Island at the real beginning of the oil boom there.]

  71. High Island Oil Field Galveston County, Texas Stanolind Oil and Gas Company Gulf Coast District. “Received from R.G. Bechtel of Stanolind Oil & Gas Co Houston Texas- March 24, 1937” “Young-Lee Aug 1931” [Blueprint]

  72. [Blueprint of a survey along the Dunman-Biglin line]

  73. Map of High Island Galveston Co. Tex. E.A. Hensoldt C.E. [Blueprint]

  74. Plat Showing Lands Commonly Known as “Cade & Co.” Located on Bolivar Peninsula, Between Roll Over and County Line Galveston County, Tex. Nov. 1923 [Ink manuscript on drafting cloth]

  75. Map Showing Right of Way & Easement for Proposed [sic] Intracoastal Canal in Galveston County From The Galveston-Chambers County Line to Galveston Bay at Port Bolivar... Dec. 1928... Coustenay C. Washington [Blueprint]

  76. Map of the Gulf and Inter State Ry [Massive blueprint map]

  77. Galveston County Chambers County Right of Way Map of State Highway No 124 From 1.8 Mi South High Island to 1700’ North Mud Bayou N R.S. 749... Office of Division Engineer Houston, Texas. October 1933 [Blueprint]

  78. [Blueprint map of the border of Galveston and Chambers Counties, with an inset of High Island]

  79. Plate of High Island Galveston County, Tex. Showing Acreage of “Cade Lands” [Blueprint]

  80. Plat of High Island Galveston County, Tex. Showing Acreage of “Cade Lands” [Ink manuscript with pencil and red ink manuscript on drafting cloth]

  81. Map of High Island Land & Oil Co’s. Subdivision of Fractional Section No. 2 -- C.T. & M.G.R.R. Co. Jefferson Co. Tex. R. W. Luttrell, Engineer, Galveston. Dec. 1901 [Ink manuscript on drafting cloth]

  82. Map of High Island No: 1 & 2. [Ink manuscript on drafting linen, with additional pencil and red ink]

  83. Cade’s Subdivision of South 240 Acres in N. Fitzsimmon Survey Galveston County, Texas. C.A. Holt Jr. C.E. Jany 1914.

Map Makers

According to the previous owner, a local surveyor, the maps in this collection were gathered from the collections of R.W. Luttrell, Galveston County Surveyor; C.C. Washington, Galveston County Surveyor; and C.A. Holt Jr., also a Galveston County Surveyor. They present public and private projects on High Island, as these surveyors worked both for the county and in private practice.  Luttrell was the earliest of the surveyors, and C.C. Washington seems to have been practicing the latest.

Condition Description
Condition varies but is generally quite good. Some maps are affected by dampstaing. Some have old folds and creases. Images are available.