Gribble Family Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the private papers of the Gribble family of East and Southeastern Texas. The first box contains various letters and correspondence between members of the family with other members or with various institutions such as banks or businesses. The letters range in time from 1870 to 1979, with the majority coming from the first half of the twentieth century. Box 2 contains many tax records, stock certificates, and receipts, along with personal ephemera such as postcards and holiday cards. Of particular interest is a scholarly paper entitled “International Conflict Over Oil” written by C.G. Gribble in 1933, presumably as part of his graduation from Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College that same year. Box 3 contains letters and documents related to the life and estate of R.D. Gribble (died c. 1907). Box 4 contains various photographs of family members, unknown individuals, and homes of the family, along with a continuation of the records of R.D. Gribble’s estate. Many of the land deeds and stock certificates are in relation to oil/petroleum, and it is presumed that the family made their money off of the East Texas oil fields. The collection will be of interest to researchers looking for information on the East Texas oil boom, or the genealogy of East Texas families.
Dates
- Creation: 1870-1989
Creator
- Unknown Creator (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research.
Biographical / Historical
The Gribble family has had members living throughout East and Southeast Texas, including Nacogdoches, Bryant, and Houston. The family is descended from Edwin Gribble, (1822-1909) who came to America in 1834 from England, eventually settling in the St. Paul, Minnesota region where he became a lawyer and judge, according to newspaper clipping in the collection. It is unclear when the Texas branch of the family came to the state, although there is a letter in the collection from a J. Moody of Jefferson, Texas, from 1870.
The Texas oil boom began in earnest with the discovery of oil in Beaumont, Texas, in 1901. Various booms followed with the discovery of other deposits across the eastern and southeastern portions of the state. The East Texas Oil Field, the largest contingent oil field in the United States, was discovered in 1930.
Full Extent
6.00 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Gribble family is descended from Edwin Gribble, (1822-1909) who came to America in 1834 from England, eventually settling in the St. Paul, Minnesota region where he became a lawyer and judge. One branch of the family arrived in Texas around 1870 with members living throughout East and Southeast Texas, including Nacogdoches, Bryant, and Houston.
Arrangement
This collection consists of four hundred folders and housed in four bankers boxes. It is organized at the folder level.
Bibliography
Julia Cauble Smith, “East Texas Oilfield,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed August 19, 2026, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/east-texas-oilfield
Cultural context
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Gribble Family Papers
- Author
- Craig Fuchs
- Date
- 2026
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the East Texas Research Center Repository

