Ward Island Artifacts

Collection

Identifier: Coll-802

Staff Only

This collection mostly consists of various types and calibers of expended firearm projectiles found on Ward Island using a metal detector.

Dates

1995-4-13

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions

Conditions Governing Access

This material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to taking precautions against infringement of copyright and respecting the publication rights of reproduced materials. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Any materials used should be fully credited with their source according to the example given in the Preferred Citation note. Requests for assistance with citations and images of publication quality should be directed to specialcollections@tamucc.edu.

Extent

<1 Linear foot Linear Feet

Abstract

This small collection of metal artifacts was assembled after some fruitful metal detector work on Ward Island. Some items such as musket balls reflect Corpus Christi in its earliest western settlement days after it was incorporated in 1852.

Biographical / Historical

Chester “Chatter” Lee Allen was a well-known Corpus Christi resident that made a name for himself as a football coach and athletic director. He coached teams for La Grange, Overton, McAllen, Beaumont, Corpus Christi High School, the University of Corpus Christi, and never had a losing season. He was the focus of national attention in 1954 when he staunchly refused to play any team that racially discriminated against Corpus Christi’s integrated teams. After nearly wo decades of coaching he became the first Athletic Director for the City of Corpus Christi; a job he retained for the following 23 years. Allen uncovered the artifacts in this collection using a metal detector at an unknown date. He later passed them on to Claude D’Unger, who donated the collection to Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi in 1995. Allen passed away in 2003 at the age of 94.

Arrangement

This collection is organized by a single series with three folders. The folders are Musket Balls, Assorted Bullets, and Other Artifacts.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi by Claude D’Unger. It was gifted to him by Chatter Allen.

Related Materials

James Hawkins Sparks Diary

Processing Information

This collection was arranged by Eric Christensen, Archive Processing Librarian for Texas A&M University– Corpus Christi’s Special Collections & Archives Department.