James H. Chillman was the first director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and one of the first faculty members of the Rice Institute, now known as Rice University. In the 1950's Chillman aired a very popular radio show called "Art is Fun" which discussed art relating to Houston, popular currents, and new art, all aimed at getting the Houston community interested in art. He was the first director of the Museum of Fine Arts until the early ’50s, and he also was Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Fine Arts (part of the Department of Architecture) at Rice from the formative years into the early ’70s. He worked half time as the director and half time on the faculty at Rice. He died in 1972 after 55 years of service to the Rice community.
From the guide to the James H. Chillman, Jr. papers MS 482., 1891-1972, (Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX)
John Wyatt Moody was the first auditor of the Republic of Texas and owned much of the land which is now part of the City of Houston. As auditor of the Republic of Texas he continually was faced with reimbursing the soldiers and diplomats that served the Republic in its infancy. Born 65 miles southwest of Richmond, Virginia and moved to Alabama, then to Indian Territory, and finally settled in La Grange, Texas. Moody eventually bought fifteen acres along Buffalo Bayou from the Allen Brothers, noted land speculators in the Houston area, and subdivided the property. What is commonly called the Moody addition, is 15 acres of subdivided land that has access the Buffalo Bayou and what is now extremely valuable downtown real estate. John Wyatt Moody's real estate in Houston and other parts of Texas is comprised of some of the most central parts of Houston and the Moody family still has ties to the Houston area.
From the guide to the John Wyatt Moody Biographical Papers MS 181., 1946-1967, (Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX)
