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Title	Brennan-Thomas Collection
Shelf	B8
Description	Harry W. Brennan was born in Nashville in 1869. As a young man, his interest and ability in math led him to study engineering, and his first business venture was in the field of engineering and contracting. He moved to Memphis in 1904 with his sister Anna, and they joined their brother Joseph, who was working for the Commercial Appeal. Once in Memphis, Brennan discovered promising opportunities in real estate. With financial backing from his brother and other investors, Brennan developed a number of successful residential subdivisions, including Red Acres. He dedicated 120 acres from the land for Red Acres for construction of Galloway Park and Golf Course. -- Brennan provided leadership in many civic activities. For 15 years he actively promoted the Chamber of Commerce and published and edited the organization’s weekly journal Civic Affairs. An advocate of the state highway system, Brennan was appointed by Governor Malcolm Patterson to serve on the Tennessee Highway Commission. He also recognized the city’s importance in the national cotton market and supported the establishment of textile milling in Memphis. With his brother Joseph, he built and operated the ballroom and swimming pool in East End Park, which was a leading recreational facility for many years and the site of numerous annual festivals. -- James Albert Thomas, Jr., a native Memphian, was a realtor and served as Vice President of Boyle Investment Company for most of his business career. Later, he went into business with his son, James Albert Thomas, III, who organized Newsouth Capital Management. Thomas was an early resident of the Red Acres subdivision and took a leading role in forming the Red Acres Neighborhood Association. His interest in the history of Red Acres led him to research early deeds and land records of Shelby County. He was also concerned with zoning issues, crime prevention, University of Memphis expansion and Memphis Park Commission decisions that affected Galloway Golf Course. -- The Brennan—Thomas Collection incorporates two smaller collections related to these two individuals that each focus on the Red Acres Subdivision and Galloway Park. The papers span the years 1908 to 1993 and contain significant information on Chickasaw Gardens, including a historical account of the neighborhood written by James A. Thomas, Jr. Also in the collection is a directory of householders in Chickasaw Gardens covering the years 1926 to 1981. -- The collection includes audits and official documents associated with Brennan’s many real estate developments. The material also contains information on early Memphis subdivisions including Hyde Park, Belmont Park and Richland Place, which were developed by the Brennan Real Estate Company. A scrapbook compiled by Brennan includes newspaper clippings which describe his leadership roles in business, civic and government activities. The material related to James A. Thomas includes minutes of meetings of the Red Acres Neighborhood Association, correspondence, and zoning and planning studies. The Brennan—Thomas Collection provides a unique history of Galloway Park and Red Acres from their initial development on the outskirts of the city to their present-day position as a residential oasis in the heart of a major urban area.
Subject	architecture Belmont Park Boyle Investment Co. Brennan, Harry W. business Chickasaw Gardens clubs Galloway Golf Course homeowners Hyde Park neighborhoods parks public service real estate Red Acres Richland Place Thomas, James Albert, Jr. traffic
Processed by	Morris D. Klass, Leslie Wearb Hirsch
Contributors	Description by Gina Cordell; Scanned by Robert Cruthirds;
Date	2004
Materials	actuarial book aerial photo audits contracts correspondence deeds directory essays maps minutes neighborhood documents newsletters photographs planning studies plat maps publications scrapbook sketches zoning studies
Type	Collection
Note	This record serves as a collection description. To access this manuscript collection, please visit the Memphis & Shelby County Room on the 4th Floor of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library.
Size	1.5 linear feet
Coverage	1900s to 1990s
Physical Location	Memphis & Shelby County Room, MPLIC
Rights	Digital Image ©2010, Memphis Public Library & Information Center. All rights reserved. While the Memphis Public Library & Information Center may house an item, it does not necessarily hold the copyright on the item, nor may it be able to determine if the item is still protected under current copyright law. Users are solely responsible for determining the existence of such instances and for obtaining any other permissions and paying associated fees that may be necessary for the intended use. Any image from the library's collection published in any form must cite as the source: Memphis and Shelby County Room, Memphis Public Library & Information Center. For all requests, please contact the History Department at 901.415.2742 or hisref@memphistn.gov.
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