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Gribble Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: A-0264

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

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

Roger M. Olien, “Oil and Gas Industry,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed August 19, 2026, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/oil-and-gas-industry.

Julia Cauble Smith, “East Texas Oilfield,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed August 19, 2026, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/east-texas-oilfield
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

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