Dallas Municipal Archives

This week is National Drinking Water Week. Each year since 1985, Dallas Water Utilities water conservation program has sponsored a poster contest to highlight this vital resource.
_
The Dallas Municipal Archives has historical and permanently valuable records of Dallas Water Utilities, from the 1880s to the present, in the form of photography, maps, architectural plans, publications, and ephemera. More modern records include a complete set of National Water Drinking Week posters. From the Save Dallas Water website, enjoy these fantastic older posters: https://savedallaswater.com/poster-winners/

OTD - April 28, 1980, Reunion Arena opened as the city's largest venue for music, sports, political, cultural, and a host of other events. The first concert featured Parliament-Funkadelic. It closed in 2008 when the American Airlines Arena opened. Reunion was demolished in November 2009.

Enjoy this sample of musical acts—LeAnn Rimes, Rush (Geddy Lee), Luciano Pavarotti, the Go-Gos (Belinda Carlisle), Randy Travis, Rod Stewart, Robert Plant, and Stevie Wonder.

All images are from the Reunion Arena collection and are the property of the Dallas Municipal Archives.

April 19-25, 2026 is National Library Week, an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries and library professionals play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. The Dallas Municipal Archives celebrates Library Week with images and documents relating to the history of our esteemed institution, the Dallas Public Library.

On this date in 1956, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached the Youth Day Sunday sermon at Good Street Baptist Church, 902 North Good Street.
According to the church's website and other sources, "On July 19, 1934, the Good Street Baptist Church was organized, out of the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. T.M. Chambers was the first pastor under the new name and served for fourteen years. On December 29, 1946, the entire church was burned to the ground. The church held its Sunday services at the Booker T. Washington High School while the new building was built at the same site. The church held its first service in the new building on May 23, 1948. Dr. Chambers served as pastor for two more years before moving to Los Angeles, California to become the pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church. On September 10, 1950, the legendary Reverend C.A.W. Clark began his pastorate."
This postcard from the early 1950s shows the reconstructed Good Street Baptist Church. The church moved into new quarters on Bonnie View Road in 1970. Postcard from the Dallas County Heritage Association Collection.

If you attended AudeliaFest a few weeks ago, you would have heard some great old time string band music. For a repeat dose with a full band, come hear the stylings of the White Rock Ramblers this saturday at the Audelia Road branch library!

The Dallas Municipal Archives pauses to remember the life of trailblazing Councilmember Anita Martinez, who has died at the age of 100.
Anita Nañez Martinez was born December 8,1925. She was the first Hispanic and Latina member of the Dallas City Council, serving two terms, 1969-1973.
Martinez' efforts on the city council included reducing juvenile crime, the implementation of streetlights, paved roads, and sidewalks in her constituents' neighborhoods.
A tireless advocate for volunteering, she was a charter member of the Center for Voluntary Action. In 1975 she established the Anita Martinez Ballet Folklorico, a groundbreaking arts program in Dallas. The Anita Martinez Recreation Center was built in 1974 and named in her honor.
-
Color image: Dallas Municipal Archives; all other images courtesy Al Martinez.

OTD in 1992 – WRR 101 and former station KZPS held another "Rock vs. Bach" charity event. Insiders suspected some underhandedness by KZPS its entrant in the competition was pro wrestler Kerry Von Erich.

These images are from the weigh-in before the match—Jeff Street from WRR and Kerry Von Erich for KZPS. Local celebrity Barney was in attendance for the auspicious occasion.

Play ball! Today is opening day for the 2026 season of Major League Baseball.
The Dallas Municipal Archives contains the records of our over 100-year old radio station, WRR-FM, which went on the air in 1921. This advertisement demonstrates the long relationship between WRR and sports, which were once broadcast before the station changed to a classical music format.

Thank you Lake Highlands Advocate for shout out!
Event: 10am
Dallas History and Archives/DPL Scanning station 10am-1pm
Featured Speaker: 11am
Bowie Knife Demonstration - Victorian Fencing Society: 12:00
Tour of Historic McCree Cemetery (Come visit Ardelia!): 12:30
Exhibits, kid crafts, scavenger hunt - Free fun for all!

AudeliaFest is a celebration of everything Audelia — from the long street running straight through the heart of Lake Highlands to the history to the woman who (sort of) lent her name to the whole shootin’ match. https://lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/2026/03/24/audeliafest-2/

Happy 170th to the chartered Town of Dallas! John Neely Bryan settled here and named Dallas in 1841, but it was not until 1856 that the town received its first, official charter.

On February 2, 1856, the Texas legislature granted Dallas a town charter. Dr. Samuel Pryor, elected the first mayor, headed the town government. William Burtle, James Latimer, William Halsell, Burrill Wilkes, [?] Williams, and George Baird served as aldermen. Samuel Jones was recorder; William Murphy was treasurer, and Andrew Moore served as marshal. Unfortunately, records from these earliest days of Dallas government were lost to time, building fires, or both.

[Image is from an 1855 map of the town and is filed with Dallas County.]

The Dallas Municipal Archives remembers the life and legacy of Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, which is celebrated this year on January 19th.
The Archives pays tribute to Dr. King with images from the City Photographer Collection, documenting the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr Community Center, June 8, 1975. Dallas City Councilmembers and civic leaders, including Juanita Craft, were in attendance. The dedication's highlight was a speech by Rev Martin Luther King, Sr.
We've also included photos of a presentation at the MLK Center with Mayor Wes Wise and Councilmember George Allen at the podium.