Brownsville museum opens private collection to the public

BROWNSVILLE — What once was old is new again at one of downtown Brownsville’s historical museums.

Educators and organizers at the Brownsville Heritage Complex are digging into their decades-old permanent collection to celebrate the Brownsville Historical Association’s 60th anniversary.

The collection, made up of donations by community and Brownsville Historical Association members, includes a number of vintage photographs, postcards, clothing and even toys that help bring Rio Grande Valley history to life.

This summer, BHA members invite the community to view two exhibits that draw from the collection, “A Walk Back in Time: From Hippies to Flappers” and “Wish You Were Here: Brownsville Postcards.”

“Time,” on display until June 30, spans forty years of lower Valley fashion with a display of vintage clothing worn by locals from the 1920s to the 1960s.

"This is really a walk back through time," said Jessica Villescaz, curator of archives and special collections for the BHC.

The display includes a rhinestone-studded 1930s flapper dress with matching dress shoes, a vintage fur coat, a sunny 1960s mini dress and a number of items from the 1950s and 60s.

The dresses and accessories work as stimulating, visual reminders of the past, Villescaz said.

"In this day-and-age when everything is computer-oriented, an exhibit like this can bring us back to a time when Brownsville was very different," she said. "Clothing captures periods and it capture feelings, from the freeness of the 60s to the well-to-do 30s and the roaring 20s.

The clothing comes from the BHA’s large collection of textiles and was made possible in part by a recent grant from the Texas Historical Commission. The grant allows the BHC to preserve the textiles for future generations.

”These are threads of history for people and we’re here to preserve that."

The “Wish You Were Here” exhibit features sixteen ealry-1900s era photo postcards commercially produced in the Brownsville area.

“All of these postcards were bought and mailed from Brownsville to other parts of the country,” Villescaz said.

Some of the black-and-white cards served to promote the border town as a lush, tropical site blooming with exotic greenery.

Others capture life scenes from the area, including children playing and an early Charro Days parade, complete with marichias and young girls wearing charro dresses.

The BHA’s postcard collection includes a number of images by border photographer Robert Runyon. Runyon, a noted border photographer, captured dramatic images and everyday life in the area from 1910 to the mid-1920s.

Most of the postcards on display are cataloged and dated by Dr. Tony Knopp, a history professor at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.

The current exhibits underscore the Brownsville Historical Association’s commitment to educate the community and to preserve historical artifacts from the area.

The BHA, located in downtown Brownsville, will continue to celebrate its anniversary with more exhibits that draw from its vast permanent collection.

The complex is open from Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHAT: “A Walk Back in Time: From Hippies to Flappers” and “Wish You Were Here: Brownsville Postcards”

WHEN: Ongoing through July 30. Complex hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Brownsville Heritage Complex, 1325 E. Washington St., Brownsville

INFO: (956) 541-5560.