Edith and V. W. Boswell Collection

Pictured: Boswell Dairies milk delivery truck, undated

Biographical Note

One of 11 children, V. W. Boswell was born on July 4, 1901, to Margie Belle and W. E. Boswell, Sr. in their home behind the family-owned grocery store on Fort Worth's North Side. Edith Boswell, originally Edith Porter Funkhouser, was born on October 2, 1906. She and Mr. Boswell met in 1926 and were married on Christmas day 1929. W. E. Boswell, Sr. and V. W. Boswell, along with a second son, Lorin, started Boswell Dairies in 1924. They ran the business until 1958 when they merged with the national chain, Beatrice Foods.

Mrs. Boswell, aside from being the wife of a prominent local businessman, graduated from Texas Christian University and had an interest in poetry. She and Mr. Boswell were involved many community activities, such as boards, like the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce where Mr. Boswell played a role in the establishment of DFW Airport. They were also heavily involved in local philanthropic ventures, such as Cook's Children's Hospital, Heritage Hall, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind, as well as social organizations, like the Fort Worth Club and the Texas Christian University Frog Club.

V. W. Boswell died on August 21, 1998, and Edith Boswell died on May 31, 1996. The Edith and V. W. Boswell Collection was donated to the Tarrant County Archives in 2013 by the great-great-granddaughter of W. E. Boswell, Lisa Diffley, in the name of her mother Vivienne Boswell Williams and her grandfather V.W. Boswell.

Scope and Contents

The Edith and V. W. Boswell Collection encompasses materials related to a wide variety of topics in the Boswell’s personal lives and business ventures. Because of the range of topics represented in this collection, it has been divided into five series, some of which are broken down into additional sub-series. The date range for materials in this collection is 1913 to 1992, with some undated materials.

The following is a list of subjects represented within the collection, segmented according to the defined series.

Business Affairs

• Sub-series include: Airport Files, Boswell Dairies, Boswell Development Company, V. W. Boswell, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Investment Files, Property Files
  • Major subjects in these sub-series include: financial documents, legal documents, correspondence, communications, mailers, newspaper clippings, receipts, brochures, publications, postcards, promotional materials, land surveys, abstracts, reports
  • Major subjects represented in these sub-series include: Carter Field, Boswell Dairies, Boswell Development Company, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Beatrice Foods Co., Columbia Investment Corporation, ConAgra, Dixilyn Corporation, Eastern Airlines, H. H. Robertson Co., Interfirst Bank, First National Bank, Justin Industries, Lone Star Cement Corp., Pacific Railroad Co., National Airlines, Northwest Energy Co., REXNORECO Inc., Rexham Corporation, Seminary State Bank, Siboney Corporation, Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show, Texas Angus Association, Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Trinity River Authority of Texas, Indian Creek Condominiums, Jennings South Addition, R. R. Ramey Survey

Civic Affairs

• Major subjects represented include: Fort Worth City Council, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Gary H. Clayton, Eagle Mountain – Saginaw Independent School District, Edna Gladney Home, Fort Worth Children’s Hospital, Fort Worth Girl’s Club, Fort Worth School Board, Goodwill Industries, Good Government League, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Heritage Hall, Jim Wright (U.S. Congressman), Jewel Charity Ball, Junior Achievement, Texas State Legislature, March of Dimes, Mays Mission for the Handicapped, American Citizenship Center, Project Hope, Proyecto Huatesco, The Salvation Army, Radio and Television Commission, Free Radio Europe, Republican Party, Save the Soil and Save Texas, Texas Wesleyan College, Wayside School, Young American for Freedom

Personal Affairs

• Major subjects represented include: newspaper clippings related to the Boswell family, publications from various institutions, yearbooks from North Side High School (1922) and W. E. Boswell High School (1962 and 1976), Vivian Boswell’s personal papers, Woman’s Club

Social Affairs

• Major subjects represented include: Texas Christian University’s Century Club, First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth, First Christian Church, Fort Worth Boat Club, Fort Worth Knife and Fork Club, Fort Worth Opera Association, Exchange Club, International Good Neighbor Council, Metropolitan Dinner Club, Moslah Temple, Navy League of the United States, Press Club of Fort Worth, Redglea County Club, Rotary Club of Fort Worth, Royal Order of Jesters, Shady Oaks Country Club, Texas Christian University’s Alumni Association, Texas Christian University’s Frog Club

Photographs

• Major subjects represented include: Boswell Dairy, Boswell family