Samuel Bangs (ca. 1798–1854) was the first printer in Texas, west of the Mississippi, and three Mexican states. Trained in New England, he contributed greatly to the cultivation of a printing culture in the region. Documents printed under his oversight tell some of the story of a turbulent slice of history. Bangs faced a seemingly unending catalog of adversity over the years, from a seven-year imprisonment to being cheated out of his lands to being beset by highway robbers. Despite his tribulations, Bangs created technically impressive and lasting work. Several fine examples of his printed specimens are on display in the museum’s Texas Gallery.

Continue reading →