Municipal Archives


​W. W. Samuell Estate, 1886-1977

​Collection 1995-031

​Overview

Repository​Office of the City Secretary
Dallas Municipal Archives
1500 Marilla Street, 5D South
Dallas, Texas 75201
Creator​Dallas Park and Recreation Department
Title​W. W. Samuell Estate
Dates​1886-1977
Quantity​7.3 linear inches
Abstract​Correspondence, legal documents, receipts, financial records and reports, abstracts, maps, and photographic prints.
Identification​1995-031
Language​Records are in English

Scope and Content

Correspondence, legal documents, receipts, financial records and reports, abstracts, maps, and photographic prints documenting the real estate of Dr. W. W. Samuell, Dallas, Texas physician and philanthropist, the transfer of the estate to the City of Dallas, and the establishment of a philanthropic foundation.

William Worthington Samuell was born in Georgetown, Kentucky, to Hazael O. and Sallie Worthington Samuell on June 13, 1878.  His family moved to the New Hope, Texas, area and he was educated in Dallas public schools.  He attended the University of Texas in Austin and took his medical degree from Tulane University in New Orelans, Louisiana.  A nationally respected surgeon, Samuell established the Samuell Clinic in Dallas and died December 11, 1937 at 59.  He was married twice, first to Anne Lovell and then to  Adelaide Mary Keating.  He had no children.
 
Upon his death a handwritten will on a prescription blank was discovered, reading simply, “Real estate to the City of Dallas Park Board for park purposes – not to be sold.  Balance to Park Board as permanent foundation.  First National Bank, administrator.” 

After the will’s probation, $1,222,000 was awarded to the Dallas Park and Recreation Department, along with approximately 900 acres of developed and undeveloped property.  Samuell’s gift is the largest single donation to the Park Department and was for many years one of the largest bequests ever made to the City of Dallas.  The W. W. Samuell Permanent Foundation generates funds for park maintenance, upkeep, and beautification.  In later years, the Park Board, with court consent, sold or leased some of the smaller properties to add to the Foundation’s funds.  Dallas parks bearing Samuell’s name include Samuell-Grand, Samuell-Beaumont, Samuell-Garland, Samuell-New Hope, and Samuell Farm. 

Of particular interest are photographs of Samuell and photographs of several blocks of the Dallas Central Business District documenting real estate properties.

Organization

The collection is arranged by subject.  

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

W. W. Samuell Estate, 1886-1977 (Box <x>, Folder <y>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related Materials

Collection 2003-002—Dallas Park and Recreation Department Photographs [Addition], 1942-2003

Index Terms

Dallas -- Texas -- History
Dallas (Tex.). Park and Recreation Department
Dallas (Tex.). Samuell Farm

Container List 

BoxFolderTitle, Date
11Budgets, 1954-1960
 2Budgets, 1960-1965
 3Budgets, 1965-1966
 4Budgets, 1966-1967
 5Budgets, 1967-1968
 6Budgets, 1968-1969
 7Budgets, 1969-1970
 8Budgets, 1970-1971
 9Budgets, 1971-1972
 10Budgets, 1972-1973
 11First National Bank, Trustee - W. W. Samuell Permanent Foundation, 1970-1974
21First National Bank, Trustee - W. W. Samuell Permanent Foundation, 1939-1969
 2First National Bank W. W. Samuell trust reports, 1974
 3First National Bank Samuell properties, improvements, reports, and maps, 1939-1969
 4First National Bank Permanent Foundation, statement letters, 1940-1956
 5First National Bank financial statements, January 1960-December 1961
31First National Bank financial statements, January 1, 1958 - December 1959
 2First National Bank statements 1940-1959
 3First National Bank financial statements, January 1956 to December 31, 1957
 4Fiscal Reports W. W. Samuell Trust Fund, 1941-1973
 5Samuell Park Fund work project for Bennett, 1944-1975
 6Samuell Park Fund, 1941-1975
41Mrs. W. W. Samuell, 1959-1977
 2Taxes - Samuell properties, 1940-1961
 3Summary Status of Real Property W. W. Samuell Estate
 4Summary Status of Real Property W. W. Samuell Estate
 5Soil conservation - Samuell farmlands, 1952
 6Tenant Farmer O. C. Hanby crop reports
 7Tenant farmer Emory Walker
51Dr. W. W. Samuell Estate appraisement, real estate, livestock and machinery, 1938
 2Appraisement of W. W. Samuell estate, 1938-1941
 3Financial study, 12/17/65 to 4/25/68 (dittos)
 4Samuell Fund Account 907, 1968-1969 (ditto masters)
 5Samuell Permanent Foundation 20 year report, 9/1/62
 6Samuell 20 Year Report, 1969-1970
 7Samuell 20 Year Report, 1969-1970
 8Work Copy of Samuell Report (never completed), 1962
 9Bureau of Labor Statistics (U. S. Dept. of Labor), 1969
 10Consumer Price Index (U. S. Dept. of Labor), 1967-1968
61Samuell Properties, undated
 2Samuell Beaumont Park, 1974
 32015 Bryan - sold to Insuromedic Life Insurance Company, 1954
 42015 Bryan - sold to Insuromedic Life Insurance Company, 1954
 5Central Expressway, Samuell Property and Griggs Park, 1945-1952
 6Colb & Central (sold), 1920-1940
 7Samuell Colorado Park (Colorado, Blaylock, Marsalis), 1941-1974
 8Commerce and St. Paul Property, including sale and exchange of properties, Statler Hotel, 1939-1959
711915-1917 Commerce Street, 1958-1972
 21915-1917 Commerce Street, 1950-1957
 33324-6-8 Commerce Street, 1940-45
 4Easements - Samuell-Mesquite, 1956
 5Samuell-Elam U. S. Highway 175 right of way parcel 42, 1958-1959
 6Samuell Property, adj. Tenison Park parcels 59 and 61 required for East West Expressway, 1958-1959
 72400 Elm Street, purchase of right of way Highway 345, 1966-1967
 82400-04 Elm Street, lease Fred Reisberg, 1962-1964
 9Elm Street property, 1940-1960
 102400-04 Elm Street, lease Doran Chevrolet, 1963-1967
 11Glenrose Lot, 1940-1962
81Samuell-Garland Park (dedication of street right of way), 1977
 2Samuell-Garland Park (court decree on street right of way), 1971
 3Samuell-Garland Park (court decree for sale of 2 tracks), 1964
 4Garland Farm - McCree Road (Safeway Stores, M K & T and County), 1953-1955
 5Samuell-Garland (No. Texas Muny. Water District - Easement), 1967-1969
 6Garland Dallas Power and Light, 1956
 7Samuell-Garland Park, 1954-1970
 8Garland Road and Northwest Highway, 1934-1953
91Samuell-Garland, Easement Lone Star Gas Company, 1949-1964
 2Samuell-Garland Park State Highway right of way, Garland Road widening, 1963
 3Samuell-Garland Park, City of Garland proposed easement, 1962
 4Garland Farm Santa Fe Right of way, 1953-1955
 5Samuell-Grand Park, Winslow Street extension-fire station, 1969-1970
 6East Grand, Beacon, Wayne Street, 1938-1944
 7Samuell-Grand Service Center irrigation system, 1972
 8Samuell crypt, 1964
 9Hall-Thomas, Central Building lease, 1959-1971
 10Hall-Thomas, Central Building, American Time Company Sign, 1973-1974
 11Hall-Thomas Central Building lease, 1956-1965
101Hall-Thomas, Central Building, American Time Company Sign, 1953-1972
 2Hall, Thomas, Central, 1927-1955
 3Hall, Thomas, Central, New Building 1st Unit, 1952-1953
 4Hall, Thomas, Central, New Building 2nd Unit, 1952-1953
 5Hall, Thomas, Central, New Building 1952-1953
111Hall, Thomas, Central Building Lease, 2216 Hall Street, 1953-1965
 2Hall, Thomas, Central Building Lease 2218 Hall Street, 1953-1964
 3Hall, Thomas, Central Building Lease 2220 Hall Street, 1953-1969
 4Hall, Thomas, Central Building Lease 3304-3306 Thomas Street, 1955-1963
 51502 South Harwood (sold), 1946-1966
 6Harwood-Beaumont Streets, 1940-1972
 7Harwood-Beaumont Streets, 1940-1972
 8Harwood Beaumont Street sign, 1973-1974
 9Hickory Street Conveyed to Mrs. Williams, 1941
 10704-706-708 Horton Street, (1100 Royal Street), 1938-1945
 11Improvements since 1943 W. W. Samuell properties, c. 1957
 12"L", 1940 [correspondence]
 13Lindsley, J. W. and Co., 1940-1955
 14"M" 1942-1963 (correspondence)
 152827-2829 Main Street, 1940-1946
 161208 Main Street, Community Finance Corporation of Dallas downtown lease, 1964-1971
1211208 Main Street Property Mr. Phil Orr, 1970-1971
 21208 1/2 Main Street - Stewart Title Company, 2nd floor 1950-1971
 31208 Main Street 1st floor, James Tardy and H. J. Yarbrough, 1950-1964
 41208 Main Street, specifications and contract for reconstruction in 1950, 1949-1952
 51208 Main Street, specifications and contract for reconstruction in 1950, 1949-1952
 61208 Main Street, 1948-1952
 71208 Main Street, 1940-1947
131Samuell Farmland Mesquite
 2National Park Service Samuell Farms, 1954
 3New Hope Gas Easement, 1969-1971
 4Ross Avenue Property (V. C. Tharp Lease), 1939-1968
 5Ross Avenue Property (V. C. Tharp Lease), 1968-1976
 6Royal and Trinity St., Sold to City for downtown auditorium site, 1940-1958
141Abstract of title Colorado Street, Block 3421, 1909-1938
 2Abstract of title 1915 Commerce at St. Paul, 1886-1950
 3Abstract of title 1915 Commerce at St. Paul, 1886-1950
 4Abstract of title Northwest Highway and Garland Road, Samuell Garland Park, 1903-1938
 5Abstract of title Northwest Highway and Garland Road, Samuell Garland Park, 1927-1933
 6Abstract of title Block 2666 East Grand at East Pike 1923, 1924
151Abstract of title 1001-3 N. Marsalis, Lt. 4 and 5 Block 3002-21, 1903-1938
 2Abstract of title 1609-13 South Harwood Lt. 5, Lot 460, 7 parts 1886-1938
 3Abstract of title 1701-09 South Harwood, Block 460, 1924-1938
 4Abstract of title 2200-18 Hall Street, 3300-14 Thomas, 2223 Central, Block 633 B, 1908-1938
 5Abstract of title 2827-29 Main Street at Oakland Avenue, Lt. 18 Blk 481, 1899-1938
161Abstract of title 1208 Main Street, 1901-1938
 2Abstract of title 435 H Royal and Trinity Property, 1896-1938
 3Abstract of title Royal at Trinity Parkway, 1904-1913
 4Abstract of title 2400-02 Elm Street, 1916-1938
 5Abstract of title 2400-02 Elm Street, 1886-1909
 6Abstract of title 1209 Ross Lot 1 Block A/222, 1889-1938
  Photographs
1712015 Bryan at Harwood, 1953
 22015 Bryan at Harwood, 1953
 3Commerce Street, c. 1959
 41915-1917 Commerce, 1963
 51915-1917 Commerce, 1963
 61915-1917 Commerce, 1963
 71915-1917 Commerce, 1963
 82400-04 Elm, 1959
 92400-04 Elm, 1959
 102400-04 Elm, 1963
 112400-04 Elm, 1963
 122400-04 Elm, 1965
 132400-04 Elm, 1965
 142400-04 Elm, 1965
 152400-04 Elm, 1965
 162400-04 Elm, 1965
 172400-04 Elm, 1965
 182400-04 Elm, 1965
 192400-04 Elm, 1965
 20Samuell-Garland, 1963
 21Hall-Thomas-Central, 1966
 22Hall-Thomas-Central, 1966
 23Hall-Thomas-Central, 1959
 24Thomas at Hall, 1959
 25Thomas at Beaumont, 1959
 26Thomas at Beaumont, 1959
 27Thomas at Beaumont, 1959
 28Thomas at Beaumont, 1959
 29Thomas at Beaumont, 1966
 30Thomas at Beaumont, 1966
 31Thomas at Beaumont, 1966
 32Ross Avenue, 1955
 33Graph for Samuel Report, negative master