ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ

Center for Resiliency First SETX Resiliency Digital Collection (2026)

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the First SETX Resiliency Digital Collection consists of 250 items, including digital images, photographs, documents, and personal letters dating as early as 1878. This collection, catalogued online, represents photographs for which printed copies exist, including 75% original images never digitized before.

This digital collection is a manifestation of the resilient spirit of Southeast Texas and its people. The images offer a look at struggles overcome and sacrifices made, as much as the successful recovery and celebration of life, in a region notable for natural disasters and significant resources. Our hope is that this collection will generate curiosity about the context of these images and result in awareness of what it takes to be resilient anywhere.

The First SETX Resiliency Digital Collection is designed and led by Dr. Nina Gjoçi, as part of the Center for Resiliency’s Historical Research Project. The collection is made possible by Judson Ripper and Mathew Ard, both undergraduate honors students at ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ University. Matt and Jud traveled throughout the region, from Jasper, Hardin, Orange, and Jefferson counties, collecting images and then editing and preparing them for cataloguing. Dr. Theresa Hefner-Babb led and finalized online cataloguing of the images.

This collection is made possible by our remarkable contributors, as follows: Margaret Toal (Historian & Journalist, Orange County), Julia Napper (Women’s Civic Club, Jasper Historical Museum), Gayle Meigs (Jasper County Historical Commission), Pastor Billy Kilpatrick (Freedom Fellowship Silsbee), Lisa Kotz (Jasper County Historical Museum), Susan Kilcrease (Ice House Museum, Hardin County), Christina Babcock (Dow Sabine River Operations and the Orange House Museum), Adam Conrad (Heritage House Museum of Orange County), Jeff Loftin (Pine Ridge Baptist Church), Dr. Theresa Hefner-Babb and Charlotte Holliman (LU Library), Shelby Brannan and Jayden Franke (Beaumont Heritage Society), and William Grace and Sarah Grimm (Tyrrell Historical Library).

Copyright: The First SETX Resiliency Digital Collection is to be used for academic research and strictly for non-commercial purposes. Any other use of these images is illegal. This is a product of the Center for Resiliency at ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ University.


View the full collection of 250 pictures

To listen to the LU Moment, visit  or wherever you get your podcasts.

For the full transcription of this episode, visit .

Hero image was made possible by Judson Ripper and Mathew Ard


 

dc setx plant

Man Looking at Refinery Infrastructure at DuPont Sabine River Works

Photograph of a man in a hard hat looking up at plant infrastructure at DuPont Sabine River Works.

dc men working on the road

Peachtree Street Paving WPA Project

Photograph of a group of WPA workers paving Peachtree Street in Jasper, TX.

dc  Laurence Winfree on Horse in front of Du Pont Sabine River Works

Laurence Winfree on Horse in front of Du Pont Sabine River Works plant

Photograph of contractor Laurence Winfree on a horse, pointing at DuPont Sabine River Works (now Dow Sabine River Operations).

dc men after a jasper fire

Aftermath of Attempted Robbery Fire Jasper, Texas

Photograph taken by Eulis Hancock of men gathered around rubble in downtown Jasper, TX, after a fire caused by the detonation of a large amount of dynamite used in an attempted robbery.

dc men standing infront of a building

New Jasper State Bank Building

Photograph of the Jasper State Bank on the north side of the courthouse square in Jasper, TX.

dc setx downtown flood

Flooding in downtown Beaumont, Texas November 1902

Photograph of floodwaters and residents in downtown Beaumont, Texas.

dc naval ships

Texas Group - Atlantic Reserve Fleet - U.S. Naval Station-Orange, Texas

Photograph of a fleet of ships at the U.S. Naval Station in Orange, TX. Note HHM 1337.

dc setx bridge

Postcard of the Rainbow Bridge between Orange and Port Arthur, TX

Photograph of the Rainbow Bridge, constructed in 1936 over the Neches River.

dc firefighters

DuPont Fire Brigade Trainees and Instructor

Photograph of members of the Sabine River Works DuPont Plant Fire Brigade seated under a covered area during training.

dc red cross car

Du Pont Employees in Front of Red Cross Vehicle

Photograph of two DuPont plant employees standing in front of an American National Red Cross vehicle, sipping from paper cups.

dc setx downtown

Cornerstone laid at the First Baptist Church of Orange ,Texas

Photograph of Cornerstone laid for First Baptist Church of Orange, TX.

dc Toal Industrial Oil Company Men

Toal Industrial Oil Company Men

Undated photograph of men standing on the platform of an oil derrick at the Toal Industrial Oil Company in Orange, TX. The man second from the left is Tom Toal Sr.; the seventh man from the left is Oscar Winfree; the eight man from the left is Charlie Schrieber; the eleventh man from the left is Dave Craft. The caption at the bottom right reads, "WARD JAYCOX / BEAUMONT TEXAS."

dc Dupont mowing the grass

Man and Mules Mowing Grass in Front of Tank at DuPont Plant

Photograph of T.G. Warren guiding mules, Bess and Kate, along a field in order to cut the grass.

 

dc jasper jail

New Jasper County Jail Unveiled

Photograph of the exterior of the Jasper County Jail following its completion in 1937.

dc setx ladies

The Woman's Civic Club of Jasper, TX

Photograph of the Woman's Civic Club Clubhouse and members.

dc first flight

Civilian Pilot Training Class

Photograph of a Civilian Pilot Training class from ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ State College standing in front of an airplane.

 

dc setx home

Jasper Community House Exterior Photo

Photograph of the exterior of the Jasper Community House, on the corner or North Bowie Street and West Milam Street.

dc map of street markers in jasper Texas

Map of Proposed Street Markers in Jasper, Texas

A map detailing the locations of concrete street marker locations in Jasper, TX.

 

 

dc setx house

Front-Right Corner of the Chambers House Before

RestorationPhotograph of the exterior of the Chambers House prior to the restoration project.

 

dc red cross car

Red Cross Kit Bags

Photograph of a car with a banner attached to the door reading, "RED CROSS KIT BAGS / Come on Good People For that Kit / A Dollar Please For Overseas."

dc city of setx

Aerial view of Levingston Shipbuilding Company

Undated photograph of an aerial view of the Levingston Shipbuilding Company in Orange, TX. Warehouses and shipbuilding equipment extend along the coastline. Several boats are stationed along the docks, and one boat sits in a dry dock. Downtown Orange is visible in the background.

dc steers baseball team

The Jasper Steers

Photograph of the Jasper Steers semi-professional baseball team based in Jasper, TX.

 

dc setx  the silsbee newspaper

A Bigger, Better Hardin County Fair

The Silsbee Bee issue dated August 12, 1927, headline article detailing the improvements to the upcoming Hardin County Fair.

dc setx orange leader

The Orange Leader Front Page reading Texas Salutes New Du Pont Plant Here

An article from the Orange Leader details the start of production at the newly constructed DuPont Sabine River Works plant in Orange, TX.

 

dc congressional recognition

Congressional Recognition of Pine Ridge Baptist Church 150th Anniversary

Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition to Pine Ridge Baptist Church, congratulating them on their 150 year anniversary.

 

 

dc freedom fellowship

Freedom Fellowship Sign Building Because Jesus Saves

Photograph of the sign in front of the newly completed church building. It reads, "Building because Jesus saves."

 

 

dc lamar football field flood

Provost-Umphrey Stadium Flooded after Hurricane Rita

Photograph of the Provost Umphrey Stadium, showing a flooded field and scattered debris in the distance.

 

dc at lu

ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ Quadrangle with Tree Debris after Hurricane Rita

Photograph of the ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ University quadrangle from the Setzer Center, showing fallen trees and scattered debris across the area.

dc flag in tree

Withered Ol' Glory

Photograph of a torn American flag caught in the branches of a tree on ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ University campus after Hurricane Rita. Five white stars and two distinct red and white stripes are visible.