George Banks collection

This collection consists of printed materials and photographs related to the music venue Liberty Hall.

In 1968, George Banks began leasing an old two story church at the corner of Bagby and McGowan in Houston, TX. After forming friendships with Mike Condray and Lynda Herrera, he let them convert the upstairs of the church into a music venue, which featured local and regional talent. Local musician John David Bartlett named it Jubilee Hall. The trio added an eating establishment neary named The Family Hand Restaurant.

Around 1971, they stopped holding concerts at Jubilee Hall and shifted them to The Family Hand, while also looking for a larger music venue. The Family Hand's cook, Thera Neumann, discovered an old VFW Hall for lease located on Chenevert Street and proposed it as the new venue, later named Liberty Hall.

At this time, George Banks turned his attention away from managing the new venue, and instead designed and erected the Liberty Hall sign with James "Ham" Hamblin. Along with Hamblin, he created and printed the early posters, postcards, and tickets. In addition, he designed the venue's back patio.

In the mid-70s, he moved away from Houston with his wife to Humble, TX. Eventually, Banks founded the architectural firm George Banks + Associates in Humble, where he designs residential, multi-family, and light commercial buildings.

The original materials are held by the Woodson Research Center in Fondren Library. Search the finding aid/inventory for the George Banks collection, MS 745.