Lecture – Stories of the 1900 Galveston Storm: What We Have Learned

Name: Lecture – Stories of the 1900 Galveston Storm: What We Have Learned
Start: 2025-10-09T18:30:00-05:00
Location: McFaddin-Ward House Museum

Schedule

Thu, 09 Oct, 2025 at 06:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

McFaddin-Ward House Museum | Beaumont, TX

Join the McFaddin-Ward House Museum for “Stories of the 1900 Galveston Storm: What We Have Learned,” a free public lecture presented by Shelly Kelly, followed by community storm plan updates from Judge Jeff Branick, on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s Visitor Center Lecture Hall (1906 Calder Avenue, Beaumont).
Kelly, an independent researcher and author, will share stunning stories of the devasting hurricane that unexpectedly struck Galveston in 1900, reflecting on the lasting lessons it left behind and examining how the storm’s impact was magnified by a lack of preparedness. Judge Branick will follow with an overview of modern hurricane forecasting and current emergency response strategies in Southeast Texas.
A certified archivist with a master’s degree in applied history, Kelly began her archival career at the Galveston & Texas History Center, located in Galveston’s Rosenberg Library, where she worked closely with 1900 storm collections and researchers. She has co-edited an award-winning book on the notorious hurricane, Through a Night of Horrors: Voices from the 1900 Galveston Storm, and her archival outreach on the subject was recognized with a national award from the Society of American Archivists. Since 2020, Shelly has worked as an independent researcher, writer, and oral history consultant.
Judge Branick is a former attorney and partner at Provost Umphrey Law Firm. He has served as the elected county judge of Jefferson County since assuming office in 2011. Over the past 14 years, he has worked tirelessly on coastal erosion protection and hurricane storm surge protection for coastal residents. Judge Branick has helped lead the county through several hurricanes and disasters, and he will share his considerable insight into the importance of storm preparedness.
McFaddin-Ward House Museum lectures are admission-free and open to the public, but space is limited. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information, call 409-832-2134.
For those unable to attend, the full lecture will be available for viewing on the museum YouTube Channel (youtube.com/@mcfaddinwardhouse), Facebook (facebook.com/McFaddinWardHouse) and website (mcfaddin-ward.org/about/videos) after the event.