Municipal Archives

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Fair Park, 1905-1918, 1930-1952

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Collection 1995-027

Overview

Repository	Dallas Municipal Archives Office of the City Secretary 1500 Marilla Street, 5D South Dallas, Texas 75201
Creator	Dallas Park and Recreation Department
Title	Fair Park
Dates	1905-1918, 1930-1952
Quantity	5.7 linear feet
Abstract	Documentation of the daily operations of Fair Park from 1905 to 1952.
Identification	1995-027
Language	Records are in English

Scope and Content

Fair Park is a 277-acre City of Dallas park located in east Dallas that is the permanent site of the annual State Fair of Texas. Acquired by the City of Dallas in 1904, it is not only the city's second public park but also a National Historic Landmark composed of the largest collection of cultural facilities in Dallas and the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the United States. The park is home to attractions such as the Cotton Bowl stadium, the State Fair of Texas, the Music Hall at Fair Park (Municipal Auditorium), city-owned radio station WRR-FM, and the Hall of State. It features cultural events and festivals throughout the year. Fair Park was the site of both the 1936 Texas Centennial and Exposition and the 1937 Pan American Exposition.

Collection consists of correspondence and memoranda, contracts, plans, maps, and photographs documenting the operations history of Fair Park from 1905 to 1918 and from 1930 to 1949. The bulk of the records documents the planning, construction, and operation of the 1936 Centennial and Exposition and the 1937 Pan American Exposition.

Organization

The collection is arranged first by the following subjects and second by date.

• A-Band shell
• Band Shell bids-Domestic Arts Museum
• Bids-Centennial Exposition
• Centennial Exposition-Contracts
• Cotton Bowl-E
• Electrical-Fences and basins
• Fine Arts Museum
• Fire alarm system-floodlighting
• Floodlighting-fountains
• Fountains-L
• Landscaping-Q
• Materials-Museum of Natural History
• Soil-Wortham
• Sanitary and Storm Sewers
• Storm Sewers and Street Illumination
• Street Illumination And Specifications
• Specifications and Paving Proposals
• Paving
• Tests

Access

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from the Dallas Municipal Archives. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.

Citation

Fair Park, 1905-1918, 1930-1952 (Box <x>, Folder <y>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related Material

1991-024—WRR Municipal Radio, 1921-2020
1995-023—Dallas Department of Park and Recreation General Subject Files, 1911-1960
2002-001—Dallas Park and Recreation Department Plans and Drawings, 1911-1960

Index Terms

Dallas -- Texas -- History
Fair Park (Dallas, Tex.) -- History
Dallas (Tex.) Texas Centennial Exposition, 1936

Container List

Box	Folder	Title, Date
		A-Band shell
1	1	A-General, 1912; 1935-1937
	2	Administration Building heating and ventilating, 1935
	3	Alamo-Fair Park, 1909-1949 [OS]
	4	Aquarium-pump-roof specifications, 1941-1947
	5	Architect portfolios, 1930
	6	Auditorium-landscape architects contract, 1936
	7	Automobile Aviation Recreation (AAR) Building, 1948-49
	8	Automobile Building, 1922-43 (burned 1942)
	9	Band Pavilion and Shell, 1935-1936
	10	Band Shell Addition request for materials, 1941
	11	Band Shell Addition, 1941
	12	Band Shell Addition receiving records, 1941
		Band Shell bids-Domestic Arts Museum
2	1	Band Shell Addition payroll, 1941
	2	Benchmark record, undated
	3	Bids-advertisements, 1935-1936
	4	Bids-Aquarium, mechanical, 1936
	5	Bids-Aquarium, mechanical, 1936
	6	Bids-Aquarium, mechanical, 1936
	7	Bids-Municipal Substation, 1935-1936
	8	Bids-Domestic Arts Museum and addition and competition, 1937
	9	Bids-Domestic Arts Museum (Texas Natural Resources Building), 1935
	10	Bids-Domestic Arts Museum (Texas Natural Resources Building), 1935
		Bids-Centennial Exposition
3	1	Bids-WRR, municipal substations, 1935
	2	Bids-Museum of Natural History, 1935
	3	Bids-Museum of Natural History, 1935
	4	Bids-clearing, salvaging and grading, 1935
	5	Bids-Drinking fountains, 1936
	6	Bids-Horticulture Museum specifications, 1936
	7	Bids-Landscaping and planting, 1936-1937
	8	C-General, 1935-1936
	9	Comfort stations, 1935 -1936
	10	Centennial and Pan American Exposition, 1935-1938
	11	Exposition breakdown contract, 1937
	12	Texas Centennial Central Exposition, 1935-1936
	13	Pan American Exposition, 1937
	14	Contract-Greater Texas and Pan American Exposition, 1937
		Centennial Exposition-Contracts
4	1	Centennial contracts, undated
	2	Centennial breakdown contract, undated
	3	Buildings-26 acres-Texas Centennial construction, 1936
	4	Buildings-26 acres-Texas Centennial construction, 1936
	5	Civic Center-Centennial, 1935-1937
	6	Centennial contracts, 1935-1936
	7	Centennial breakdown, 1935
	8	Centennial-removal of buildings, fountains, and memorials, 1935
	9	Greater Texas and Pan American contract, 1937
	10	Chattel mortgage-Centennial and Pan American Exposition, 1937
	11	Chestnut, George L. [Park Board member], 1935 -1936
	12	Claims-damages to Fair Park paving by U.S. Government, 1943-46
	13	Contracts-concessions (State Fair) 1907-1914
	14	Contract drafts, 1924-1936
	15	Contracts for construction 1905-1913
		Cotton Bowl-E
5	1	Cotton Bowl enlargement, 1948-1949
	2	Cotton Bowl, 1930-1936
	3	Cotton Bowl Stadium, 1935-1936
	4	D-General, 1935-1936
	5	Dallas Gas Company, 1936
	6	Dallas Power and Light Company, 1935-1936
	7	Dallas Railway and Terminal Company, 1935-1936
	8	Derrick size trees, 1935-1937
	9	Derrick size trees, 1935-1937
	10	Derrick size trees, 1935-1937
	11	Directors, curators, and city buildings, 1935-1936
	12	Domestic Arts Museum and addition (Natural Resources Building), 1937
	13	Domestic Arts Museum-addition (Natural Resources Building), 1936-37
	14	Domestic Arts Museum-alterations and additions, 1937
	15	Domestic Arts Building-Institute of Natural Resources, 1937-1946
		Electrical-Fences and basins
6	1	Electrical Communications Building [Varied Industries Building], 1935
	2	Entrance gates-general, 1935-1936
	3	Entrance gates-specifications, 1936
	4	Entrance gates-bids, 1936
	5	Expenditures reports, 1935-1936
	6	F-General, 1935
	7	F-Fish Hatchery, undated
	8	Fences and basin contract-W. H. King Construction, 1937
	9	Fences and basin contract-Frank Parrott, 1937
	10	Fences, 1937
	11	Fences and basins, 1937
	12	Fences and basins-specifications, 1937
	13	Fences and basins, 1937
	14	Fences and basins, 1937
	15	Fences and basins, 1937
	16	Fences and basins, 1937.
		Fine Arts Museum
7	1	Fine Arts Museum-architects, 1935-1938
	2	Fine Arts Museum-bids, 1936
	3	Fine Arts Museum-contracts, air conditioning, and plumbing, 1936-1942
	4	Fine Arts Museum-contracts, air conditioning, and plumbing, 1936-1942
	5	Fine Arts Museum-contracts, display cases specifications, 1939-1940
	6	Fine Arts Museum-construction work within building-C. A. Guess and Company, 1936
	7	Fine Arts Museum-contract, 1909-1938
	8	Fine Arts Museum-A. J. Rife Construction Company, 1936-1937
	9	Fine Arts Museum-A. J. Rife Construction Company, 1936-1937
	10	Fine Arts Museum bid tabulations, 1936
		Fire alarm system-floodlighting
8	1	Fire alarm system, 1935
	2	Fire alarm system, 1935
	3	Auxiliary fire alarm systems, 1936
	4	Auxiliary fire alarm systems, 1936
	5	Floodlighting building exteriors, 1935
	6	Floodlighting building exteriors, 1935
	7	Floodlighting building exteriors, 1935.
	8	Floodlighting contracts, 1935 -1936
		Floodlighting-fountains
9	1	Floodlighting building exteriors-Eugene Asche, 1936
	2	Floodlighting building exteriors-N. E. Busby and Company, 1936
	3	Floodlighting building exteriors-N. E. Busby and Company, 1936
	4	Floodlighting building exteriors-Forney Engineering Company, 1936
	5	Fountains, reflecting basins and pools, 1936
	6	Fountains, reflecting basins and pools, 1936
	7	Fountains, reflecting basins and pools, 1936
	8	Fountains, reflecting basins and pools, 1936
		Fountains-L
10	1	Drinking fountains-contracts, 1936
	2	Drinking fountains-Goodwin and Tatum, 1935-1936
	3	Forest Avenue widening, 1936
	4	G- General, 1935-1936
	5	G-Gates, 1935-1936
	6	Globe Theater (Fair Park), 1937-1946
	7	Government leases, 1943-1946
	8	H-General, 1935-1936
	9	Hall of State, 1935-1936
	10	Hall of State, 1935-1936
	11	Horticulture Museum-General, 1936-1937
	12	Horticulture Museum-proposal bids rejected, 1935
	13	J-L General, 1935-1936
		Landscaping-Q
11	1	Landscaping, 1935-1937
	2	Landscape architect-Van Valkenburgh and Vozel, 1937
	3	Landscaping and planting specifications for park improvements, 1936
	4	Landscaping-furnish of plant materials, 1936
	5	Landscaping-furnish of plant materials, 1936
	6	Levy Plumbing Company, 1936
	7	Lighting, 1935-1937
	8	M-Q General, 1935-1936
		Materials-Museum of Natural History
12	1	Materials equipment files, 1940-1942
	2	Municipal Service Building-Police, Fire and Hospital, 1935
	3	Municipal Substation-WRR, Police, Fire and Hospital, 1935
	4	Municipal Substation-WRR, Police, Fire and Hospital, 1935
	5	Museum Buildings-specifications, 1935-1937
	6	Museum of Natural History-architects, 1935-1936
		Museum of Natural History-Softball diamond
13	1	Museum of Natural History, 1936
	2	Museum of Natural History-contract-R. F. Ball, 1935-1936
	3	National Youth Administration, 1939
	4	Naval Resource Building-WPA Building, 1937-1948
	5	Oliensis test, 1935
	6	Property maps, 1935
	7	Department of Public Works-A. P. Rollins, director, 1935-1936
	8	Race track, 1935-1937
	9	Rest stations, 1935-1936
	10	Rest stations, 1935-1936
	11	Rest stations, 1935-1936
	12	Salvaged materials, 1935-1936
	13	Service connection, 1936
	14	Sheils, R. T., Park Board member, 1935-1936
	15	Sidewalks and paved areas, 1935 -1936
	16	Sidney Lanier School-wading pool receiving records, 1941
	17	Sidney Lanier School-wading pool payroll, 1941
	18	Sidney Lanier School-wading pool requisition for materials, 1941
	19	Sidney Lanier School-wading pool data, 1941-42
	20	Simpson, A. L., 1936 [operations manager]
	21	Softball Diamond Fence plans-specifications, bids, 1945-1946
		Soil-Wortham
14	1	Soil, 1935.
	2	Starlight Operetta, 1941-1952
	3	Supervisor of Public Utilities, 1936
	4	Texas and Pacific Railway, 1936
	5	Texas and Pacific. Railway, 1936
	6	U General, 1935-1936
	7	W General, 1933-1936
	8	Water mains, 1935-1936
	9	Water mains, 1936
	10	Water Department-meters, 1935
	11	Water mains specifications, 1935
	12	World War I-contract with U. S. Government to use Fair Park, 1918 [Camp Dixie, also called Camp Dick]
	13	Wortham Riding Device Company contract, 1935
		Sanitary and Storm Sewers
15	1	Sanitary sewers-bids, 1935-1936
	2	Sanitary sewers-contract, 1935-1936
	3	Sanitary sewers, 1936
	4	Sanitary sewers-specifications, 1935-1936
	5	Storm sewer, 1936
	6	Storm sewers-construction, 1935
	7	Storm sewers-construction, 1935
	8	Storm sewers-construction, 1935
		Storm Sewers and Street Illumination
16	1	Storm sewers specifications, 1936
	2	Storm sewers specifications, 1936
	3	Street Illumination, 1936
	4	Street Illumination, 1936
	5	Street Illumination, 1936
	6	Street Illumination, 1936
	7	Street Illumination, 1936
		Street Illumination And Specifications
17	1	Street Illumination, 1936
	2	Street Illumination, 1936
	3	Street Illumination, 1936
	4	Street Illumination, 1936
	5	Specifications, 1936
	6	Specifications-plants, 1935-1936
	7	Specifications-plants, 1935-1936
	8	Specifications-plants, 1935-1936
	9	Specifications-plumbing and electrical wiring, 1935-1936
		Specifications and Paving Proposals
18	1	General specifications-Livestock Building Unit 1 and Poultry Building Numbers 45 and 57 [George Dahl, architect] 1936
	2	Specifications-grading and paving, 1935
	3	Specifications-walks, paved areas, walls-Central Bitulithic and Uvalde Construction Company, 1936
	4	Specifications-walks, paved areas-Civic Center, 1936
	5	Specifications-walks, paved areas-Civic Center, 1936
	6	Paving proposals, 1935
	7	Paving proposals, 1935
	8	Paving proposals, 1935
		Paving
19	1	Paving proposals, 1935
	2	Paving proposals, 1935
	3	Paving-Civic Center, 1936
	4	Specifications for grading and paving, 1936
	5	Paving and walks-Vilbig Brothers, 1935
20	1	Bids for walks and pavings, 1936
	2	Paving and grading, 1935-1936
	3	Paving-26 acres, 1936
	4	Paved areas, 1936
	5	Park improvement proposal and specifications for the paving of roadways at Fair Park, 1935
	6	Park improvement proposal and specifications for the paving of roadways at Fair Park, 1935
	7	Park improvement proposal and specifications for the paving of roadways at Fair Park, 1935
	8	Park improvement proposal and specifications for the paving of roadways at Fair Park, 1935
21	1	Park improvement proposal and specifications for the paving of roadways at Fair Park, 1935
	2	Park improvement proposal and specifications for the paving of roadways at Fair Park, 1935
	3	Park improvement proposal and specifications for the paving of roadways at Fair Park, 1935
	4	Specifications for clearing and grading, 1935
	5	Paving and grading estimates, 1936
	6	Paving and grading correspondence, 1936
		Tests
22	1	Aquarium plaster sand tests, 1936
	2	Art Museum-concrete tests, 1936
	3	Art Museum-cement tests, 1936
	4	Band Shell-concrete tests, 1936.
	5	Band Shell-crushed rock tests, 1936
	6	Band Shell-sand and gravel tests, 1936
	7	Band Shell-tests-steel, 1936
	8	Comfort stations-cement tests, 1936
	9	Comfort stations-concrete tests, 1936
	10	Comfort stations-steel tests, 1936
	11	Domestic Arts Museum-concrete tests, 1936
	12	Domestic Arts Museum-sand and gravel tests, 1936
	13	Domestic Arts Museum-cement tests, 1936
	14	Domestic Arts Museum-steel tests, 1936
	15	Electrical and Varied Industries Building steel tests, 1936
	16	Electrical and Varied Industries Building concrete tests, 1936
	17	Electrical and Varied Industries Building cement tests, 1936
	18	Entrance gates concrete tests, 1936
	19	Entrance gates cement tests, 1936
	20	Entrance gates steel tests, 1936
	21	Federal Exhibit steel tests, 1936
	22	Federal Negro Building steel tests, 1936
	23	Federal Negro Building concrete tests, 1936
	24	Federal Building concrete tests, 1936
	25	Federal Building cement tests, 1936
	26	Foods Building cement test, 1936
	27	Foods Building sand and gravel tests, 1936
	28	Foods Building concrete tests, 1936
	29	Foods Building steel tests, 1936
	30	Gulf Building concrete tests, 1936
	31	Lagoon sand and gravel tests, 1936
	32	Livestock Building steel tests, 1936
	33	Livestock Building sand and gravel tests, 1936
	34	Livestock Building concrete tests, 1936
	35	Livestock Building cement tests, 1936
	36	Hall of Religion concrete tests, 1936
	37	Hall of Religion steel tests, 1936
	38	Horticulture Building cement tests, 1936
	39	Horticulture Building concrete tests, 1936
	40	Horticulture Building sand and gravel tests, 1936
	41	Horticulture Building steel tests, 1936
	42	Muny Substation hollow file, 1936
	43	Muny Substation steel tests, 1936
	44	Muny Substation sand and gravel tests, 1936
	45	Muny Substation concrete tests, 1936
	46	Muny Substation cement tests, 1936
	47	Muny Substation steel tests, 1936
	48	Museum of Natural History sample of roofing asphalt tests, 1936
	49	Museum of Natural History sample of plaster sand tests, 1936
	50	Natural History Museum sand and gravel tests, 1936
	51	Natural History Museum concrete tests, 1936
	52	Natural History Museum steel tests, 1936
	53	Reflecting basins-concrete tests, 1936
	54	Reflecting basins-cement tests, 1936
	55	Test holes, 1935

Oversized Materials

Drawer	Folder	Title, Date
B9	1	Bids Floodlighting building exteriors, 12/9/1935 Grading and paving, 2/3/1936 Paving for Natural History, Fine Arts, and Amphitheater driveway, 10/5/1936 Street illumination at Fair Park, 12/9/1935 Tabulation of bids, sanitary sewers, 8/2/1935 Tabulation of bids, storm sewers, 10/21/1935 Tabulation of bids, water mains at Fair Park, 10/21/1935 Walks and paving, 4/9/1937 Plans and Drawings Alterations to Dallas Band Shell, 1941 Animal shelter planting plan, 11/24/1941 Boxing ring hardware, undated Curb for island at Grand Avenue and the Midway, 2/24/1936 Design for a single light standard with GE Novalux Luminaire 14"x22" cylinder, 9/12/1935 Map showing street location in stadium clubhouse area, 9/30/1935 Office fence, 12/18/1940 Plot plan Texas Centennial Central Exposition, 9/21/1935 Proposed Arrangement of Police, Fire, Hospital, and Radio (WRR) buildings for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, 7/31/1935 Proposed chain link fence for Fair Park softball field, 2/29/1944 Seating plan, Fair Park casino, undated Sketch showing location of proposed Pullman tracks, 10/10/1935 Sketch showing proposed location of WRR, Police Fire, and Hospital facilities, 8/22/1935 Texas Building foundation test, 9/21/1935 Museum of Natural History - detail sheet for back and ceilings of exhibit cases, 4/22/1936 Museum of Natural History - plot plan, undated Exhibition case - Colorado Museum, undated Exhibition case - Colorado Museum, undated Proposals Walks, paved areas, walls, etc., 3/28/1936
B9	2	Fair Park - Aquarium pump elevation, 12/4/1946 Fair Park - Band Shell (amphitheatre) assemblies, 7/10/1941 Fair Park - Comfort station pencil drawing - elevation and cross-section Fair Park - Comfort station pencil drawing - interior including white and colored areas Fair Park - Comfort station pencil drawing - interior including white and colored areas Fair Park - Floor plan of Alamo, 7/11/1939 Fair Park - Master Plot Plan, 1943 Fair Park - News clippings on Alamo replica Fair Park - Toilets, 5/8/1936
D1	3	Plans and Drawings 60kv transmission system - Cedar Crest-Greenville Avenue transit line, Dallas Power and Light, 11/1/1939 Bandshell - Proposed elevation for first 15 rows, 4/29/1943 Bandshell - proposed flooring and drainage system, 4/29/1943 Fair Park - 12' horseshow storm sewer, 1935 Fair Park - Texas and Pacific Railway trackage and facilities adjoining Fair Park, 10/9/1935 Fair Park metal light standard design, 12/26/1933 Fair Park metal light standard design, 2/5/1931 Fair Park metal light standard design, 3/1/1930 Fair Park metal light standard design, 6/18/1935 Fair Park metal light standard design, 8/7/1929 Front elevation planting - Mr and Mrs T Flanagan, 9/6/1932 Property map of proposed addition of State Fair grounds, Sheet 4, 5/1935 WRR Fire Police building - preliminary Fair Park site description, 9/3/1935 WRR Fire Police building - tower anchors and foundations, 10/17/1935 WRR Fire Police building - tower anchors and foundations, 10/18/1935
D10	4	Fair Park - Addition to Museum of Fine Arts, undated Fair Park - Band Shell (amphitheatre) seating plan by George Dahl, 1936 Fair Park - Band Shell Comfort Station - Drain tile plans, undated Fair Park - Band Shell sketch by George Christensen, 2/1936 Fair Park - Cotton Bowl - letters over stadium toilets, Dept of Public Works, 4/23/1936 Fair Park - Dallas Railway Terminal Company Parry Avenue tracks, 2/12/1936 Fair Park - North stadium entrance, 6/16/1936 Fair Park - South stadium entrance, 6/16/1936 Fair Park - Union Metal trolley pole and lamp standard, 7/19/1935 Fair Park - Wall display case, 2/16/1939