The Denton County Museums is honored to host authors Tona Batis Payne, Helen Seely Bounds and Nancy Campbell Smith for a presentation of their book, Images of America: Sanger.

 Via photos from each chapter in their book, the authors will take us back to 1886 as Sanger was “put on the map” when the railroad allowed for a better avenue to transport cattle to market rather than drive them via the Chisholm Trail. The guest speakers will present a history of Sanger, including the school system, businesses, early families and physicians.  

Tona Batis Payne lived in Sanger from birth until graduating from high school.  Tona and her husband Bobby, also a Sanger native, resided in the Dallas area with their daughters, Amber and Tracy.  Tona lives in Murphy, Texas and is active in the Sanger community with the Sanger Area Historical Society and is currently President of the association.

Helen Seely Bounds' family moved to Sanger when she was a young girl.  She and her husband, the late Willard Bounds, and their son, Bill, have been Sanger residents except for a short time while Willard was serving his country in the military. Helen has always been active in the community and was Treasurer of the Sanger Area Historical Society for many years and still an active member of the association.

Nancy Campbell Smith was born and raised in Sanger.  She and her husband Millard lived in the Fort Worth area for several years with their daughter, Laurie, before returning to Sanger.  Nancy is active in the Sanger community with Friends of Library and is currently Treasurer of the Sanger Area Historical Society.

The lecture is scheduled for Friday, March 23, 2012 from 12:15-1:00 in the afternoon, in the Courthouse-on-the-Square Commissioners Courtroom.

The Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum is located in the historic Denton County Courthouse at 110 W. Hickory in Denton, TX. All exhibits and lectures are free and open to the public and are handicapped accessible. Books will be available for sale.