By ALLISON HARRELL
Texian Time Machine & Outreach Coordinator

We featured the Blue Ridge murder-along activity a few weeks ago that detailed the first case solved by fingerprints in Fort Bend County. But what was used to identify people before fingerprints were commonplace?
​
Alphonse Bertillon was a French police officer who wanted a better way to identify criminals. Soon after the rise of photography, he standardized the use of the mugshot. He also popularized a series of measurements (called "anthropometry") that could be taken to identify an individual. These measurements could include height, length of arms, trunk, cheek width, right ear length and others.

Several police forces all over the world used his system of identification for years until problems with the system couldn’t be ignored. In 1903, Kansas police found that a person they had just arrested had the exact same measurements as another person who was already in jail. This type of mistake led many police departments to search for a better way to identify and differentiate people.

Jane first came to Texas in 1819, following
her husband James who was fighting to free
Texas from Spanish rule. Just two months after she arrived, advancing Spanish troops forced the pioneers to flee for their lives; they later regrouped at Bolivar Point. James and many of the other settlers headed back into the heart of Texas in September 1821, intending to be gone only a month. However, James was captured and imprisoned. He went to Mexico City in March 1822 to plead his case, but was mysteriously shot and killed by a guard the following month.

Why was there just one book per child, not one book per subject or grade?
In the 1800s, paper was an expensive product, so books were also expensive. Pioneer parents often didn't have the kind of money available to supply a book for every topic or grade, so the all-in-one primer functioned as a solution.​

Geography​
Geography would have been one of the last subjects covered every day at school. The primer we use with our Texian Time Machine program has two maps on the very last page. One shows the United States in 1820 and the other shows the United States 10 years later in 1830.

• How many states were in the United States in 1820?*
• What about in 1830?*

Initial training for the WASPs took place here in the Houston area and later moved to Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. To apply for service, a woman had to have a civilian’s pilot license, logged 500 hours of flight time, be between 21 and 25 years old and pass an Army Air Corps physical. 

The squadron’s wide variety of aviation duties included ferrying planes to airbases across the country, towing targets for air gunner training, transporting equipment and even testing newly-repaired planes before the men were allowed to fly them again. They were trained to fly every aircraft in the military’s arsenal, including the B-26 and B-29 bombers. However, even though these women were serving their country and piloting military aircraft, they were considered civilians. In June 1944, Army Air Forces Commanding General “Hap” Arnold sought to designate the WASPs as members of the United States military, but the request was denied. Following the end of the war, the WASP squadron disbanded and the women returned home to their families. In 1977, the WASPs were finally granted military status and recognition for their efforts during World War II.

​In Dahl’s story, Gus Gremlin understands the world situation during World War II. Instead of tampering with aircraft, Gus urges his fellow gremlins to help the RAF by learning about plane engines to help Britain win the war. Dahl even created fairy-like female counterparts to the gremlins known as fifinellas. The name came from a very popular racehorse that “flew” around the racetrack. Dahl’s book became very popular and was eventually optioned by Disney Studios to make into an animated film. One of the WASPs, Byrd Howell Granger, was seeking a way to boost morale, and in 1942, wrote to the Disney company to ask for permission to use the name “Fifinella.”  Not only did she receive permission, but Disney also sent along an illustration from pre-production that they thought would be perfect!  

By JESSICA AVERY
Programs Coordinator

Test your Fort Bend County history knowledge with today's crossword puzzle! Download the clues and puzzle in PDF form by clicking here. Let us know if you solve them all!

Before the invention of the camera, there were basically two options for having a portrait made of a friend or family member: you could pay for an expensive painted portrait or you could visit a local silhouette artist for a more economical option.

From 1790 to 1840, silhouettes were an extremely popular art form in America. Usually cut from black paper and placed on a white background, silhouettes typically depict a side view or profile of the subject. A skilled silhouette artist could finish the portrait within minutes, carving specialized details using only a pair of scissors.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In an 9x13 glass baking dish, add 2 tbls. butter, put dish in oven and melt butter.

In a saucepan, heat 1 quart ripe berries, 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 2T butter. Then add 2T flour to thicken. Simmer on low heat until desired thickness. Stir often to avoid scorching.

In a large bowl, sift together 1 cup flour and 2 tsp baking powder. Add 3/4 cup sugar and 3/4 cup milk. Mix well and pour into 9x13 baking dish with melted butter. Pour the berry filling over the entire surface. Do NOT stir.

Bake at 350 about 30 minutes until the crust on top is golden brown.

​This is great with a dip of vanilla ice cream of top.

• 2 pints fresh dewberries
• Juice of ½ a lemon
• ¼ c. sugar
• 1 ½ cups half and half
• 1 c. sugar
• 5 large egg yolks
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream

In a saucepan, mix berries, ¼ c. sugar and lemon juice. Cook covered over low heat for 20 to 25 min. Drain using fine mesh strainer, pressing berries to get as much juice as possible. Set aside.

Heat half and half and 1 c. sugar in a separate pan over low heat. Turn off when mixture is totally heated. Add cream to a separate bowl. Beat egg yolks until they are pale yellow and slightly thick. Slowly drizzle yolk mixture into ½ and ½ mixture.
​
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, ‘til very thick. Pour into bowl with cream. Stir to combine. Add dewberry juice to custard mixture. Chill completely then freeze in an ice cream maker until thick.