Frank D. Quinn Papers

An Inventory of the Collection

Biographical Note

Frank D. Quinn (1894-1971) was born on October 21, 1894 in Ackerman, Mississippi to David H. and May Tims Quinn. He married Margaret Montgomery in 1915. Before moving to Austin, Texas he served as the general manager of Delta Pipe and Land Co., president of Sal-Mar Oil Corporation and manager of the Sequin Chamber of Commerce (1934-1939). In 1939 he moved to Austin where, most notably, he was Executive Director and later Chairman of the Texas State Parks Board. In this capacity he was involved with acquiring the land for Big Bend National Park. While in office, Quinn successfully kept the public informed and promoted good use of the Texas State Parks. Quinn was a supporter and promoter of Lyndon Baines Johnson starting in the late 1930s through his presidential campaigns in the 1960s. In addition he served as the chairman of the South Texas Chamber of Commerce Baseball Spring Training Committee, president of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, a member of the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Board, and was involved with the University Presbyterian Church, the Salvation Army and the United Fund. Margaret Quinn was also active in Austin civic and social life and centered her interest particularly with the Junior Helping Hand Home for Children.

Margaret Montgomery Quinn died on October 2, 1970. Frank David Quinn died on July 15, 1971 in Austin, Texas.

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Scope and Contents

The Frank D. Quinn papers (1865, 1886, 1896, 1902, 1913-1971) document both his personal and business affairs with the majority of the materials focusing on correspondence with his family members, his interest in researching family genealogy and his interest and involvement with various Lyndon B. Johnson political campaigns. The papers include personal and business correspondence, biographical materials and genealogical research, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, financial records and legal documents. The series is divided into two subseries: I. Personal and Civic Affairs and II. Business Affairs.

The Personal and Civic Affairs series (1865, 1886, 1896, 1902, 1913-1971) includes biographical information about Frank Quinn and his wife, Margaret Montgomery Quinn; correspondence with family members and close friends; genealogical research; family photographs; financial and real estate records; as well as correspondence and memorabilia associated with their involvement with social and civic organizations and their personal lives. Though he and his wife Margaret had no children of their own, Frank Quinn was a diligent correspondent with his extended family. Among the family members with whom he wrote are: his grandfather Houston Quinn, his parents David H. Quinn and May Tims Quinn, and their four sons and a daughter - Tims B. Quinn (wife Mary, son Tims Alford Quinn), Harry H. Quinn (divorced from Ola Quinn, two daughters Julia May and Sarah Quinn), James E. Quinn (wife Mary, son James Houston Quinn "Little Jimmy"), and his sister Evelyn Starcke (husband Max, daughter Mary Frances). In addition, Frank Quinn had an interest in compiling the family's genealogical record (paternal Quinn, maternal Tims) and corresponded heavily with both direct and distant family members to retrieve that data and collect family photographs dating back to 1865. Two cousins in particular were influential in gathering the family history, Eugene C. "Chap" Tims (wife Maud) and Austin Tims. It was Eugene C. Tims who published the Tims family history that is included in the collection. Correspondence, campaign ephemera and newspaper clippings provide insight into Quinn's relationship with Lyndon B. Johnson and his efforts to support Johnson's various election campaigns. Also of interest is the correspondence, notes, newspaper clippings, local (Austin Senators, Austin Pioneers, Babe Ruth League), statewide (Dallas Eagles, San Antonio Missions, Tyler Tigers), and national (Memphis Chicks, Denver Bears, New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers and Major League Negro All-Stars) baseball scorecards, programs and other memorabilia related to Quinn's efforts as chairman of the South Texas Spring Training Committee to bring baseball teams to Texas for spring training and his failed attempt to bring the Pittsburgh Pirates to Austin for spring training. The real estate records include abstracts of title for the Tobin & Johnson Addition and loan and deeds of trust documents. Assorted life insurance policies are included as well.

The Business Affairs series (1928-1968) contains a limited amount of materials regarding Frank's involvement with the Austin Motor Company, the Mid-South Lumber Company, Quinn Brothers Lumber, Sal-Mar Oil Corporation and the Texas State Parks Board. Included are newspaper clippings, expense reports, correspondence, company letterhead, charter of incorporation, resolutions and photographs. Of interest is a letter from the director of the United States Department of the Interior with the deed executed by Governor Coke Stevenson and Quinn conveying to the United States the land for Big Bend National Park.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

The Austin History Center (AHC) is the owner of the physical materials in the AHC collections and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the AHC before any publication use. The AHC does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners. Consult repository for more details

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Related Material

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Separated Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Frank D. Quinn Papers (AR.Y.003). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Texas.

Acquisition Information

Donor #: DO/1999/005

Donation Date: 1999

Donor information is only known for the Lyndon B. Johnson related materials. Donor for the remaining materials is unknown but appear to have been donated along with the Max Starcke Papers (AR.S.003).

Processing Information

Finding aid created and encoded by Molly Hults and Mallori White in 2016.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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