Jack Nolan—East Texas Oilfield Photographer

Jeff A. Spencer

Black Pool Energy, 12012 Wickchester Ln., Ste. 140, Houston, Texas  77079

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

 Jack Nolan (1889-1972) was a pioneer Texas photographer, newspaperman, land developer, and artist (Fig. 1).  In 1931, he visited East Texas and documented the early days of the oil boom with stunning photographs, many of which were made into real photo postcards (RPPCs).  These highly collectible postcards captured spectacular oil gushers, the bustle of the boomtown of Kilgore, oilfield workers and camps, and oilfield fires (Figs. 2,3,4,5, 6).  Many of the first photographs of the early East Texas oil boom, that reached people throughout the United States and the world, were probably Jack Nolan postcards.

The postcards often include highly descriptive captions for the oilfield scenes, such as:  “The fire picture of a hundred faces.  Could these mysterious and hideous faces in the death well flames mean something which is beyond human understanding (sic, no ending punctuation)  Three men were burned to death (sic, no ending punctuation)” (Fig. 6).  The handwritten notes on the reverse of the postcards also can add to the historical content of these glimpses into the early days of the oil boom.

Often the postcards of individual oil derricks identify the wells by name.  Scenes from several East Texas oilfield towns are documented in Nolan’s work, including Kilgore, Overton, Turnertown, Salmon, Tyler, Gladewater, New London, Henderson, and Arp.  Nolan also documented the enforcement of martial law by the Texas National Guard in the East Texas oil fields with several postcards.  Descriptive captions include “Hoof beats drown drilling din as cavalrymen patrol East Texas oil fields” (Fig. 7), and the “mounted petroleum patrolmen of the Texas National Guard.”

Jack’s name is often on the postcard, either on the photograph side, or on the reverse, and many of the postcards have a three-digit number on the photograph.  A complete listing of his East Texas oilfield photographic postcards has not been located, but a partial list of over sixty different postcards has been compiled with the help of several oilfield historians and collectors.  Based on the gaps in the numbering sequences, many more photographs probably exist.

Nolan’s early career included gold prospecting in Alaska at the young age of 18.  Two years later, he became a cub reporter and photographer for a Seattle newspaper.  He moved to Odessa, Texas, in 1925 and opened a photography studio, specializing in baby portraits.  He soon began photographing the West Texas oilfields and boom towns.  At various times, Nolan maintained offices or studios in the Texas towns of Kilgore, Wink, Monahans, and Odessa.  He also started Odessa’s first daily newspaper, The Daily Bulletin, in 1936.  Some of his oilfield photographs have been published in oilfield history books, including a popular view of a fiery blowout in Ector County, Texas.  Most recently, some of his photographs have appeared in a photographic history book of Kilgore, Texas.

 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 Special thanks to Sara Easley of Odessa, Texas, niece of Jack Nolan.  Fellow oilfield historians and collectors, Susan Svec, Wallace Chariton, and Terry Stembridge provided information and scans of some of their collection.  Thanks also to the Midland Petroleum Museum, especially to Leslie Meyer, Director of Archives and Collections, and Kathy Shannon, Executive Director.

Spencer, J. A., 2009, Jack Nolan—East Texas oilfield photographer:  Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, v. 59, p. 723-728.

	Figure 1.  Jack Nolan, circa 1927 (courtesy of Sara Easley).
	Figure 2.  At least twenty oil derricks are visible in this scene from the East Texas oil fields (courtesy of the Jeff Spencer collection).  Written on the reverse:  “This is a view of part of the field.  This field is about two hundred miles in length and almost as wide.”  Reverse is also stamped, “Photo by Jack Nolan, Kilgore, Texas.”
	Figure 3.  A view of the Joiner Field (courtesy of the Jeff Spencer collection).
	Figure 4.  A view of cars lined up “going to Kilgore” (courtesy of the Jeff Spencer collection).  Reverse stamped, “Photo by Jack Nolan, Wink, Texas.”
	Figure 5.  A long line of railroad tank cars transporting East Texas oil (courtesy of the Jeff Spencer collection).  This postcard was postmarked in Gilmer, Texas, on February 24, 1932.  A note on the reverse includes the comment, “3485 ft. deep.  Should complete in a week.”
	Figure 6.  An oilfield fire.  A similar postcard identifies this as the Paul Vitex No. 1 well near Overton, Texas (courtesy of the Jeff Spencer collection).
	Figure 7.  One of several Jack Nolan postcards documenting the Texas National Guard policing the East Texas oil fields (courtesy of the Jeff Spencer collection).  This postcard was postmarked in Henderson, Texas, on October 22, 1931, and mailed to an address in Argentina.

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90093 © 2009 GCAGS 59th Annual Meeting, Shreveport, Louisiana