FRIENDS OF THE HOUSTON HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER

“The Julia Ideson Building –Celebrating 100 Years,” is the 2026 documentary film telling the story of trailblazing Houston librarian Julia Ideson (1880 -1945) and the beautifully restored 1926 downtown library building, an architectural masterpiece, named after her. The documentary focuses on Julia Ideson’s life, the design and uses of the building, the restoration, the value of maintaining records of Texas and local history, and the importance of historic preservation. Directed by James Bailey, the documentary was funded by the Friends of the Houston History Research Center and co-produced by Nancy Burch and the Texas Foundation for the Arts.

Julia Ideson graduated from the University of Texas in 1903 and was hired to plan and open a public library in Houston in 1905 at a time when few libraries existed in Texas. She was a pioneer for women’s rights and civil rights in Texas, and she helped start libraries in other parts of the state.

Now fully restored, the Julia Ideson Building features beautiful exotic Spanish Renaissance architectural details. It is one of the few still-existing buildings in this style in the state. No longer a library, the Julia Ideson Building now houses valuable extensive archives, such as the African American and Hispanic Collections, as well as art galleries, history exhibits, and public spaces. The landmark building attracts visitors from all over the world.