William Curry Holden
| William Curry Holden | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 19, 1896 Coolidge, Limestone County, Texas, USA |
| Died | April 21, 1993 (aged 96) Lubbock, Texas |
| Occupation | Historian, Archeologist, Educator |
| Spouse(s) |
(1) Olive Holden née Price (1926–1937, her death) |
| Children | Jane Kelley Holden (from first marriage) |
| Parent(s) | Robert Lee Holden and Grace E. Holden née Davis |
(1) Olive Holden née Price (1926–1937, her death)
William Curry Holden (July 19, 1896 – April 21, 1993), also known as Curry Holden, was an historian and archaeologist. In 1937, he became the first director of the Museum of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. During his tenure, the museum gained regional and state recognition for excellence. Holden also guided the plans for a new museum building, which was dedicated on November 11, 1970. The museum includes the main building, the Moody Planetarium, the Natural Science Research Laboratory, the research and educational elements of the Lubbock Lake Landmark, and the Val Verde County research site.
Holden was one of three sons born to Robert Lee Holden and Grace Holden née Davis in Coolidge, Texas. Both families moved west to Colorado City, Texas, and after 1907 the Holdens farmed near Rotan, Texas, where William completed high school in 1914.
In summer 1914 he obtained teacher certification at the now-closed Stamford Junior College in Stamford, Texas. At first refused jobs because he was "too spindly", in 1915 he became the only teacher for 47 students in nine classes at the one-room schoolhouse in Pleasant Valley. He organized a literary club and basketball teams and led the students to victory in the county interscholastic meeting.
Holden studied Texas history under Professor Joseph A. Hill at West Texas Normal College (now West Texas A&M University) in Canyon, Texas, during the summers of 1917 and 1918. During World War I, Holden served in the Eighty-sixth United States Army Infantry at San Antonio.
...
Wikipedia