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“The Julia Ideson Building – Celebrating 100 Years” is a new 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 library’s design and uses, the restoration, the value of maintaining records of Texas and local history, and the importance of historic preservation. Capturing the beautiful Spanish Renaissance architecture, the film also features art inside the building. Directed by James Bailey and co-produced by Nancy Burch and the Texas Foundation for the Arts, the documentary was funded by the Friends of the Houston History Research Center.
Join the Friends of the Houston History Research Center (Friends) as the organization gifts a historic 1912 Houston Trolley Map to the Houston History Research Center. The Center does not have this map in its collections, so this gift contributes to the Center's historic map collection and will be available for patrons to study and enjoy. To fulfill one of its core missions, the Friends supports the Houston History Research Center's archives and collections through material donations such as books and maps as well as equipment and services to help preserve them. On the map is the signature of the original owner Francis Wead. The Friends located Francis Wead's son, Jimmy Wead, who still lives in Houston. Mr. Wead, the descendant of several families who have made Houston and the City's first neighborhood Frostown their home for more than five generations, will attend and make some comments on his father.
Join the Friends of the Houston History Research Center on Thursday, May 7th, 2026, at 6:00 PM for the grand premiere of the new documentary "The Julia Ideson Building -- Celebrating 100 Years." More details about the event date to be made available soon.