Creosote Contamination Archive
This archive holds documents and oral histories related to the creosote contamination of Houston’s Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens. From 1899 to 1984, Southern Pacific Transportation Company used creosote as a wood preservative, leading to groundwater and soil contamination. The area was determined to be a cancer cluster in 2019, and community members have worked with the EPA, Houston Health Department, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and other organizations to address the harm caused by the contamination. This collection aims to preserve information and, importantly, highlight personal narratives from community members.
The materials in this archive are sourced from the EPA, the City of Houston, Harris County Commissioners Court, Houston City Council, the Houston Health Department, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Department of State Health Services, and other agencies.
Members of the Fondren Fellows gathered and described these materials.
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