Restlawn Cemetery, Edinburg, 1997

File — Container: ELIBR-0154, other: Drawer 1, Folder: 36

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Photographs of Restlawn Cemetery as it appeared in 1997. Images depict primitive markers and crosses including Jacob D. White, Ada Branch (mother of Earl and Thurman Booker), Ollie L. Heliton, Mary Thomas (mother of Melina Durden), Haywood West (reburied at Hilcrest), Joseph Callis, Rev. Levi Williams, Robert L. Taylor, D. Edwards.

Dates

1997

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is NOT open for research use due to ongoing processing. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

This property is believed to be the only graveyard in Hidalgo County dedicated for African American burials. Prior to its founding in 1928, blacks were allowed burial space only in private ranch cemeteries. In the 1920s, Edinburg had a growing black community of domestic and agricultural workers and entrepreneurs. A.Y. Baker, county sheriff and director of the Hillcrest Cemetery Association, designated a half-acre in the undeveloped northwest corner of Hillcrest for a "Black Cemetery," which was renamed Restlawn in 1993. The oldest grave, unmarked, is for Leonard Bass (d. 1928). World War II veteran Jacob White (d. 1945), for whom local American Legion Post 884 was named, is also among those interred here. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2004

https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/5507013989

Extent

27 Photographic Prints : Color photos ; 4x6"

Language of Materials

From the Record Group: English

Subjects

African Americans -- Black Americans Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Edinburg (Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Edinburg (Tex.)--History. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Hidalgo County Cemeteries Subject Source: Local sources
Photographs Subject Source: Tgm