The Gant Family
historical marker
This historical marker in Austin, Travis County, Texas, commemorates The Gant Family. The Texas Historical Commission erected it in 2011. George and Maggie Gant, with their seven children, arrived in Austin in 1932. They were migrant Southern farmers, affected by the Great Depression. The family's musical talents were recognized. They performed at local folk festivals, and oldest son Nephi sang on local radio. From 1934 to 1936, folklorists John and Alan Lomax recorded fifty traditional songs by the Gant family for the Library of Congress. Five of these songs were published. The family performed at the Texas Centennial celebration in 1936. Nephi Gant was murdered in Austin that same year. This led the family to stop recording and eventually leave Austin. The Gant family's recordings remain a significant part of Austin's music history.