W. B. Travis Class Photos

William Barret Travis Elementary School, Pampa, Texas

William Barret Travis, (1809–1836) was the Texas commander at the battle of the Alamo. He arrived in Texas early in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal. He arrived at San Felipe de Austin, and on May 21 obtained land from Stephen F. Austin. He listed his marital status as single, although he was still married. He established a legal practice in Anahuac, a significant port of entry located on the eastern end of Galveston Bay. He traveled the country doing legal work and became associated with a group of militants who opposed the Law of April 6, 1830. Eventually this group became known as the war party as tension increased between the Mexican government and American settlers in Texas.

Travis directed the preparation of San Antonio de Valero Mission, known as the Alamo, for the anticipated arrival of Santa Anna and the main command of the Mexican army. He wrote letters to officials requesting reinforcements, but only the thirty-five men came from Gonzales to his relief, thus raising the number of the Alamo's defenders to approximately 183. Travis's letter addressed "To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World," written on February 24, two days after Santa Anna's advance arrived in San Antonio, brought more than enough help to Texas from the United States, but it did not arrive in time. When Santa Anna had his forces ready, he ordered an assault on the Alamo. This occurred just before dawn on March 6, 1836. The Mexicans overpowered the Texans within a few hours. Travis died early in the battle from a single bullet in the head. His body and those of the other defenders were burned. The nature of Travis's death elevated him from a mere commander of an obscure garrison to a genuine hero of Texas and American history.

To learn more about William B. Travis go to: https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ftr03

If you attended William B. Travis Elementary School, you can submit class photographs to me at pamprice1965@gmail.com. Please submit them in .jpg format with the grade level and teacher of the photograph. If you know the year, that would be helpful. Also, please send a document, along with the grade level and year, listing the students in the photographs starting with the bottom row - moving up to the top row. (Write unknown for those you cannot identify.)