Fort Worth Boat Club McGown Family Collection

Historical Note

The Fort Worth Boat Club (FWBC) was formed in 1931. The new organization purchased land from John I. and Lennie J. Burgess on Eagle Mountain Lake. The Burgess’s daughter, Louise Logan, later became a member of FWBC. One of the founders George Q. McGown Jr., an attorney who died in 1977, remained an active member through most of his life, serving in leadership positions not only in the club but other boating associations as well. The documents in this collection originate mostly from him, his son Grey McGown, and his grandson George Quentin McGown IV, who were both also active members. In addition to donors from the McGown Family – G. Quentin McGown IV, Grey McGown, and Laura McGown – other past and present members added to the collection, including Karen Duay Smith, the first woman Commodore, and Edwin Johnston Youngblood, who served as Racing Fleet Captain for several years. Other materials from members were added to the collection during the Fort Worth Boat Club History Roundup held on March 2, 2019 in the Commodore's Room of the FWBC.

Scope and Contents

The Fort Worth Boat Club - McGown Family Collection, comprised of sixteen series, spans 48 boxes and 30 linear feet.

Series I: McGown Personal, 1934–1994; undated

The McGown Personal Series contains the personal records and correspondence of the McGown family, chiefly George Quentin McGown Jr., during the 1940s. The majority of McGown's personal correspondence is dated from 1942 to 1946, the period during which he served in and returned home from World War II. Much of the correspondence was to and from his brother, Harry McGown. Items within this series may relate to other Boat Club members, especially from 1942 to 1946, but as they were mostly personal in nature, they were grouped with McGown’s personal series. 

Series II: Correspondence, 1929–2013; undated

The Correspondence Series contains four large categories of correspondence: club members, non-club members, George Quentin McGown and William F. Crosby and the auxiliary fleet as well as a few other groups. The club members’ correspondence often relates to issues such as membership and the maintenance and improvements of the club. The non-club correspondence includes several letters with boat experts outside of the FWBC. Several concern the construction of boats, notably in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Also common within the non-club member correspondence are letters with members of other clubs and from other organizations such as the Texas Yachting Association, notably in the 1960s and 1970s. George Q. McGown Jr. corresponded often with New York City resident William F. Crosby, boat designer and the longtime editor of The Rudder magazine. The auxiliary fleet’s correspondence is from a period during which George Q. McGown Jr. served as their leader.

Series III: Meeting Minutes, 1958-1977

The Minutes of Meetings Series contains the records from meetings, including the Board of Governors, annual meetings, and the meeting of the harbor committee.

Series IV: Business Records, 1915-2019; undated

The Business Records Series contains records of the everyday dealings of the FWBC, including legal and financial documents, bulletins, newspaper clippings, information about races, construction of boats, and membership. It also includes records from additional internal groups, such as the Skipperettes, as well as items that were donated during the Fort Worth Boat Club History Roundup held on March 2, 2019.

Series V: Classes, 1935–2019 

The Classes Series contains materials related to some of the classes of boats the club specialized in, such as Longhorns, Snipes, Rhodes 19’s and Falcons.

Series VI: Boat Club History, 1941–2019; undated

The Boat Club History Series contains oral histories and historical notes of the FWBC, such as a 1972 round table with George Q. McGown Jr. and other founders describing the Boat Club’s origins. This series includes items that were donated during the Fort Worth Boat Club History Roundup held on March 2, 2019.

Series VII: Ledgers, 1977-2001

The Ledgers Series consists of two ledgers: T.I.S.A. Laser Equipment Sales and Billing, from 1977, and a Skipperettes Account book of various receipts and handwritten tallies, 1994-2001.

Series VIII: World Youth Sailing Championship, 1978-1980

In September 1980, the FWBC served as the host for the World Youth Sailing Championship, an annual competition of the International Youth Racing Association. The championship included young sailors from several countries. The World Youth Sailing Championship Series consists of materials related to hosting the championship, including team registration forms, newspaper articles, and sponsorship. 

Series IX: Outside Clubs and Associations, 1930–1985; undated

The FWBC formed relationships with many other state and national boat clubs and associations. The Outside Clubs and Associations Series contains documents from these clubs and organizations, such as their races, guidelines, and some correspondence.

Series X: Memorabilia and Sail Samples, 1968–1989; undated

The Memorabilia and Sail Samples Series contains artifacts, such as plaques and sail samples, sent to George Q. McGown Jr. and other members as they planned the construction of their boats.

Series XI: Logbooks, 1933–2011

The Logbooks Series consists of the yearly report of the FWBC, alternately called “year books.” These books include information such as photographs, lists of officers, and updates on activities and events. While the collection contains almost a complete set of logbooks, some books are missing from the 1950s and the 2000s. The series also contains two yearbooks of the North American Dinghy Association.

Series XII: Newsletters, 1934–2019

The Newsletters Series consists of the newsletters of the FWBC, as well as a few newsletters from other boating organizations. The Boat Club utilized two titles for their newsletters, Breeze and Fueler (alternately spelled Breeze ‘n Fueler) and Full and By. Though the collection contains almost a complete set of newsletters from 1973 to 2019, some issues are missing.

Series XIII: Oversize Materials, 1934-1984; undated

The Oversize Materials Series contains a variety of documents including financial accounts, bulletins, map overlays and magazines.

Series XIV: Photographs, 1931–2019; undated

The Photographs Series contains photographs and images of various sizes and formats including collages, snapshots, negatives, slides, and transparencies. These photographs focus on boating, activities on the grounds and at the club house, pictures of the FWBC property, construction projects, floods, and the activities of the Skipperettes. Some items were scanned during the Fort Worth Boat Club History Roundup held on March 2, 2019, and are available only as digital images.

View the Fort Worth Boat Club - McGown Family image gallery of photographs.

Series XV: Scrapbooks, 1938-2007; undated

The Scrapbook Series consists of twelve scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, photographs, programs, letters, and news releases. Five of the scrapbooks are digital copies only and were scanned as part of the Fort Worth Boat Club History Roundup event held on March 2, 2019.

View the Fort Worth Boat Club - McGown Family Scrapbooks.

Series XVI: Maps and Boat Schematics, 1933-1978; undated

The Maps and Boat Schematics series contain maps of the FWBC and Eagle Mountain Lake, as well as boat design drawings.

Fort Worth Boat Club sailboat, The Ranger, with sail raised, 1930s-1940s

Construction of the club building, circa 1938

E. P. Haltom and George McGown on Lake Worth, circa 1931