Memory Cups of the Texas Panhandle

“...by turning our memory cups this way and that as we gaze into their depths, we might catch glimpses of things that were, back when the Panhandle was young.” —Millie Jones Porter

This revised 2nd edition of Millie Jones Porter’s “Memory Cups” makes available a treasure-trove of firsthand Texas history too long out of print — a compelling portrayal of the old frontier as told by the pioneers themselves. In 1936, Porter began traveling the Texas Panhandle to sit with fellow pioneers for interviews that led to the publication in 1945 of "Memory Cups of Panhandle Pioneers" — Porter’s earnest effort to record for posterity the truth of an era as she knew it.

This new edition develops what was essentially a rough manuscript by imposing a sense of order and of time, correcting errors, and clearing up confusion — all to shed new light on the pioneer experience. Now portraits and Memory Cups are presented sequentially, alongside timely topics like wolf scalps, dancehall girls, cowboys, brands, and more. Porter herself is always present, shaping the discussion, adding a touch of dry humor, a thoughtful aside, or a poem. Her singular voice — shaped by a singular childhood — is expansive, discerning, and precise. In its new configuration — and with several appendixes, a thorough Bibliography, and a comprehensive Index — "Memory Cups of the Texas Panhandle" offers readers, scholars, and area genealogists the rare chance to begin in the beginning, “back when the Panhandle was young.”

Ruth Rogers Beasley, upstart editor and reverent grandniece, hopes loyal fans of the original will find favor in this revitalized edition of her great aunt's magnificent "Memory Cups."