The Hogg Family and Houston: Philanthropy and the Civic Ideal (review)

41 8 Southwestern Historical QuarterlyJanuary nomic history ofLatin America; it is a must read for anyone interested Mexico and the age of Don Porfirio. Oklahoma State UniversityMichael M. Smith TL· Hogg Family and Houston: Philanthropy and tL· Citric Ideal By Kate Sayen Kirkland . (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2009. Pp. 396. Illustrations, notes, works consulted, index. ISBN 9780292718654, $65.00 cloth.) For many die Hogg name is synonymous with Texas, especially the city of Houston.James S. Hogg became the state's first native-born governor and is often limned as "one of the four great statesmen in Texas." Sons Will and Mike guided the family's diversified business empire, including many ofHouston's industries of oil, cotton, and real estate. Daughter Ima pursued multiple interests in music, art, volunteer work, and philanthropy. In TL· Hogg Family and Houston, historian Kate Sayen Kirkland of Houston weaves togedier the story of these prominent philanthropists who pursued an urban ideal amidst aggressive economic expansion and dejure segregation. Rather dian a biography of the Hoggs, the volume examines how civic activism, voluntarism, and family philanthropy shaped Houston's development . In an era ofJim Crow, Kirkland argues that Houstonians "favored philanthropies that nurture humanitarian values, build community, and encourage inclusivity" (xiv). Through community involvement and private giving the Hogg family left an indelible mark on their city, their state, and future generations. Growing up in the Hogg household, Will, Mike, and Ima absorbed a sense of noblesse oblige and civic engagement from their parents that they carried forward in their adult lives. As stewards of great oil wealth, they believed that their good fortune brought a heavy responsibility to use their proceeds wisely for all Texans. Will therefore established a UT alumni organization and funded student loans at institutions of higher learning. Mike supported his sister's vision of a "wholesome life" for all Houstonians through a Child Guidance Center and the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. A musician and avid collector of decorative arts, Ima founded the Houston Symphony and transformed Bayou Bend, her home and gardens, into a museum and park. Later in life she also undertook several preservation projects, including Winedale, a grouping of historic properties that served as "a laboratory for the revival and restoration ofa way of life" (p. 262). By taking seriously the lessons of their parents, the Hogg siblings enriched the community that had enriched their lives. Well written and extensively researched, TL·HoggFamily and Houston chronicles the important role that individuals ofall socio-economic levels play in building and sustaining communities. It further enlarges our understanding ofProgressivism as a humanitarian impulse, notjust a political or social phenomenon. If the volume suffers from any flaws, it is its laudatory account at times of the Hogg family and a tendency to gloss over their shortcomings. For example, while Will may have believed that "the colored population is . . . entitled to civic and economicjustice," he never seriously challenged the status quo in race relations. (65). Further, by its very nature private philanthropy is elitist; therefore, the goals and recipients 2010Book Reviews41g determined by the Hogg family tended to reflect their values rather than other perceived needs of the community. Nevertheless, Kirkland has provided an engaging and insightful look into the often private world ofphilanthropy. By placing the Hogg family within the context of progressive reform and urban development, she explains the lasting impact they had in pursuit of a civic ideal. Anyone interested in the Hogg dynasty, urban Texas, or philanthropic studies will benefit from this volume. After putting die book down, it will be hard to imagine Houston or Texas widiout the many institutions and philanthropies that have long survived the Hogg family. Lamar UniversityMary Kelley Scheer Sacred Memories: TL· Civil War Monument Movement in Texas. By Kelly McMichael. (Denton: Texas State Historical Association, 2009. Pp. 128. Illustrations, maps, appendix, notes, index. ISBN 97808761 12380, $9.95 paper.) This short volume will be of interest to the casual student of Texas history as well as the scholar. Most of the book is dedicated to interesting and informative short discussions of the histories of each of the sixty-eight known Civil War monuments in Texas. These include three dedicated to...