This December, we are excited to share our newest selection of films from the KHOU-TV Collection, donated by the Houston Metropolitan Research Center. The series of news clips from the 1960s and 1970s provides a fascinating entry point into Texas history, allowing us to revisit both top news stories as well as forgotten cultural moments. While the first part of the collection—released in 2012—focuses primarily on political figures such as Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, this new group also features stories about professional athletes and local civil rights demonstrations. Piqued your interest? Here is a sample of what you might discover:

 

One reel, broadcast in 1971, includes news segments related to the developing Sharpstown scandal that implicated a number of state officials, such as Texas Attorney General Waggoner Carr, Texas House Speaker Gus Mutscher, Jr., and even Governor Preston Smith. The reel also captures a speaking appearance by the late civil rights activist Julian Bond at Texas Southern University.

 

Another, broadcast in 1974, features stories about Democratic primary candidates Frances "Sissy" Farenthold and incumbent Dolph Briscoe during the 1974 gubernatorial election. Farenthold—a native of Corpus Christi—was the first serious, and third ever, woman nominated for the Vice President of the United States by either major political party.

 

A third reel, broadcast in 1975, marks the passing of former Houston Astros pitcher Don Wilson. Consisting of two segments, the first features a talk with fellow Astro Bob Watson, who shares memories of his friend and teammate. In the second, KHOU-TV reporter Bill Balleza covers the probe into the cause of Wilson's death. Wilson died on January 5, 1975 at his Houston home as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

 

These three reels capture only a fraction of the collection, however. Check out the entire series here!

 

All of these films were donated to the Texas Archive of the Moving Image by the Houston Public Library and are part of the Houston Area Digital Archives.  Many more films from the KHOU-TV Collection are available on the Houston Public Library Houston Area Digital Archives website.