By Kate Sayen Kirkland
The stirring story of the legendary Hogg family’s philanthropic contributions to Texas, and the pivotal trends of urban growth and civic support exemplified in their lives.
Series: Focus on American History Series
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Book Details: 401 page, 6 x 9 inches, illustrations
ISBN: 978-0-292-71866-1
Publication Status: On Demand
Progressive former governor James Stephen Hogg moved his business headquarters to Houston in 1905. For seven decades, his children Will, Ima, and Mike Hogg used their political ties, social position, and family fortune to improve the lives of fellow Houstonians.
As civic activists, they espoused contested causes like city planning and mental health care. As volunteers, they inspired others to support social service, educational, and cultural programs. As philanthropic entrepreneurs, they built institutions that have long outlived them: the Houston Symphony, the Museum of Fine Arts, Memorial Park, and the Hogg Foundation. The Hoggs had a vision of Houston as a great city—a place that supports access to parklands, music, and art; nurtures knowledge of the “American heritage which unites us”; and provides social service and mental health care assistance. This vision links them to generations of American idealists who advanced a moral response to change.
Based on extensive archival sources, The Hogg Family and Houston explains the impact of Hogg family philanthropy for the first time. This study explores how individual ideals and actions influence community development and nurture humanitarian values. It examines how philanthropists and volunteers mold Houston’s traditions and mobilize allies to meet civic goals. It argues that Houston’s generous citizens have long believed that innovative cultural achievement must balance aggressive economic expansion.
Kate Sayen Kirkland holds a Ph.D. in History from Rice University, where her dissertation on the Hogg family was awarded the Longcope Prize in 2004. She has been an active participant in Houston’s nonprofit sector for thirty years.
