Huddleston Donates Albums of History To Museum

A 32-year project of the high school librarian found a permanent home Monday at the Quinlan Community Library and Museum Center.

Joy Huddleston donated a large number of albums at the museum board’s meeting, filled with newspaper clippings that featured Quinlan Independent School District (QISD) students. The albums spanned the years from 1977 to the present.

Huddleston said she clipped everything about students — even births and marriages as well as deaths. Stories about activities, sports and more filled the pages. The librarian stitched the laminated album pages together for an enduring binding.

Board President Wanda Thompson gave an update of the accomplishments for the months of April and May. She said three museum signs had been installed in the city; several additional volunteers were acquired; a computer desk was donated by Patty McDaniel; additions were made to the museum website; the bell that was originally located at Payne Town School that hung in front of Quinlan schools for many years was located.

Two display cabinets were built and donated by C.B. Thompson and files were organized to fill them; artifacts, photographs and family histories were added; and a piano stool was donated by Donna Smith.

"And most important, we have learned to work as a team," Thompson said. "I am sure some things have been left out of this list, but we all should pat ourselves on the back."

Librarian Lisa Gunter reported on costs charged for making copies and for scanning services.

Jacque Cobb noted that members needed to "put our heads together" on a new display.

Donna Smith said she had organized the files with one for Quinlan ISD, another for family information and a third to catalog items by alphabetical order.

Gunter called attention to the fragile nature of some of the museum’s items including the albums donated by Huddleston. She said that persons should not be allowed to "just flip through" them. She said a volunteer would provide them to visitors one at time. Gunter said one album in particular needed special care, one kept by the late Jack Cobb, and detailed the history of the local chapter of FFA.

Smith praised Supt. Micheal French for his readiness to assist. She related how she called his office with a request to find the missing bell. She said within two and a half hours, French and Students Services Director Byron Burk had located the bell that had been placed in storage.

Smith said possible uses would be to place it in front of the museum; locate it in front of A.E. Butler Intermediate School since it was donated by the late A.E. Butler; or put it on a trailer and create a tradition by ringing it when the Panthers scored a touchdown.

The museum is expected to acquire a phone with its own number when the new system is installed this summer for the entire school district.

Louise Young reported on a longtime effort by she and her daughter to add family photo albums to the website. She said the website work was an ongoing project.

Those attending included Judy Beattie, Carolyn Strickland, Linda Lilly, Jan Lowe, Joy Huddleston, Susie Whitehurst, Pat Stemen, Patsy Hanks, Jerry Forbes, Mary Woodley, Linda Mayberry, and

Barbara Norris, Donna Smith, Margaret Smith, Angie Villarreal, Joyce Barrow, Louise Young, Jean Renshaw, Wanda Thompson, Jacque Cobb and Zadie Luckett.