summerly

Summerly and the historical foundation partnered to create a lecture series about the plague, and her interest in the event helped solve a mystery for the historical foundation, Jones said.

“There was civil unrest on the port side, and bathing beauties on the seawall,” Summerly said.

“The poor young man was buried just five hours after the autopsy at 10 at night because they were absolutely terrified,” Summerly said.

The plague outbreak happened at a fascinating time in the island’s history, said Paula Summerly, a medical historian at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Summerly has worked since 2015 to uncover Galveston’s plague history, much of it by searching the extensive medical history archives at the library.