Spring 2013 - Texas State Historical Association

R I D I N G
L I N E
Spring 2013
The Newsletter of the Texas State Historical Association
board of directors
Welcome Officers and New Members
A
t the Annual Meeting’s business
meeting on March 1, the 2013–
2014 officers of the Association
were installed. Gregg Cantrell was inaugurated as the Board President, John
L. Nau III became First Vice President,
and Lynn Denton was elected Second
Vice President.
Cecil E. (Eddie) Weller Jr. was announced as Secretary. The membership
elected four new board members: Jessica Brannon-Wranosky of McKinney,
W. Marvin Dulaney of Arlington, John
Miller Morris Jr. of Austin, and Jean A.
Stuntz of Canyon. Walter L. Buenger
of College Station was made an Honorary Life Board Member. Four Board
members agreed to serve a second term:
Mary Margaret McAllen Amberson,
Carlos K. Blanton, Jeffrey D. Dunn, and
Rebecca Sharpless. The Association
thanked Benjamin Johnson, Mary Kelley
Scheer, and Dianne Garrett Powell as
their terms concluded.
Details about the new board
members will appear in the Collection
section of the July issue of the Southwestern Historical Quarterly. Biographical
information about all board members is
posted at www.TSHAonline.org.
2013 Board of Directors
Gregg Cantrell
President
Fort Worth
John L. Nau III,
First Vice President
Houston
Lynn Denton
Second Vice President
Austin
Watson C. Arnold
President
Fort Worth
Mary Margaret McAllen Amberson, San Antonio (2013–2016)
Jane Cook Barnhill, Brenham (2012–2015)
Carlos K. Blanton, College Station (2013–2016)
Jessica Brannon-Wranosky, McKinney (2013–2015)
James H. Clement Jr., Dallas (2012–2015)
Stephen C. Cook, Houston (2011–2014)
W. Marvin Dulaney, Arlington (2013–2016)
Jeffrey D. Dunn, Dallas (2013–2016)
David A. Gravelle, Dallas (2011–2014)
Albert “Boo” Hausser, San Antonio (2011–2014)
President Gregg
Cantrell, Fort Worth
Jessica BrannonWranosky, McKinney
W. Marvin Dulaney,
Arlington
Merline Pitre
Past President (2011)
Houston
Cecil E. (Eddie)
Weller Jr., Secretary
Houston
Kay Bailey Hutchison, Dallas (2012–2015)
Richard B. McCaslin, Denton (2011-–2014)
John Miller Morris Jr., Austin (2013–2016)
Rebecca Sharpless, Fort Worth (2013–2016)
Jean A. Stuntz, Canyon (2013–2016)
Emilio Zamora, Austin (2012–2015)
J. P. Bryan, Houston, Honorary Life Board Member
Walter L. Buenger, College Station, Honorary Life
Board Member
John W. Crain, Dallas, Honorary Life Board Member
John Miller Morris
Jr., Austin
Jean A. Stuntz,
Canyon
Walter L. Buenger,
College Station
annual Meeting
Highlights of 2013 Meeting in Fort Worth
President Watson Arnold makes a point during
his address at the Presidential Banquet.
Mike Campbell (holding book), with his current and former students at This Corner of Canaan
event in his honor.
N
early 700 history scholars
and enthusiasts gathered for
the 117th Annual Meeting
on February 28–March 2, 2013 at the
Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort
Worth. The 42 informational sessions,
3 workshops, and an array of events
made for a memorable meeting.
Festivities began at noon on March
1 with the Women in Texas History
Luncheon as Laura McLemore
presented Adele Looscan and the TSHA,
and Elizabeth Turner announced the
two Carpenter Award winners—Jan
Reid and Mary L. Scheer. Later that
afternoon, graduate students and
TSHA Fellows mingled at the Graduate
Student Mixer. Thursday evening,
attendees were welcomed to Ashton
Depot by the Shoot Low Sheriff band
for the Presidential Reception to honor
incoming President Gregg Cantrell.
Friday’s events began with the Book
Lovers’ and Texana Collectors’ Breakfast
as Thomas H. Kreneck and Gerald D.
Saxon presented Collecting Texas. At
noon, the Association honored those
who have excelled in Texas history
research, teaching, and scholarship as
2
2013 Fellow Ty Cashion (l), with Paul Carlson
(r), Fellows Committee chair.
Michael Monticino, UNT Vice President for
Advancement, honors Mike Campbell at book
signing event.
Chief Historian Randolph B. “Mike”
Campbell presided at the Fellows
Luncheon. He announced the 2013
Fellows chosen by Paul Carlson, Fellows
Committee chair, along with committee
members Richard Lowe and Frances
B. Vick. They were Ty Cashion of Sam
Houston State University and Joseph G.
Dawson III of Texas A&M University.
Campbell went on to announce five
awards and five fellowships before
J. P. Bryan presented the Leadership in
Education Award to Garna Christian of
the University of Houston-Downtown.
Information about the 2013 Fellows
and a full list of recipients of the awards
and fellowships appear on the TSHA
website and will be featured in the
Collection section of the July issue of
the Southwestern Historical Quarterly.
After the award presentations, Char
Miller discussed Water Conservation
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annual Meeting
in Texas. During the business
meeting that followed, Executive
Director Kent Calder and Chief
Historian Campbell reported on
the Association’s accomplishments
during the past year.
On Friday afternoon, a book
signing for This Corner of Canaan:
Essays on Texas in Honor of Randolph
B.Campbell, edited by Richard B.
McCaslin, Donald E. Chipman,
and Andrew J. Torget, became a
celebration of Campbell’s influence and career. Michael Monticino, Vice President for Advancement at the University of North
Texas recognized many of Campbell’s contributions to UNT. Art
Goven, UNT Dean of Arts and
Sciences, recounted the professor’s academic accomplishments. The most direct stories of Campbell’s influence came
from the contributors to the festschrift.
Jerry Thompson (r) presents the Tullis Award to
Jan Reid (l) for his book, Let the People In:
The Life and Times of Ann Richards,
which also tied for the Carpenter Award.
Eagerly anticipated, the Live
Auction, sponsored by Heritage
Auctions, was held after Friday’s
sessions. Proceeds from the
spirited bidding will benefit
TSHA. Bidders hurried to place
final bids on Silent Auction
items for a half hour after the
Live Auction ended. Then, the
Presidential Banquet followed
as the year’s accomplishments of
President Watson Arnold were
celebrated. Introduced by Gregg
Cantrell, Dr. Arnold spoke on
Home Remedies, Folk Medicine, and
Mad Stones: History of Medicine in
Texas, 1840–1860.
After the sessions ended on
Saturday, optional tours of Fort
Worth were offered.
Be sure to mark your calendars for
the 118th Annual Meeting on March
6–8, 2014, in San Antonio.
advertisement
Join us at the Houston History Association’s Third Annual Houston History Conference
ROGUES, RASCALS, AND ROLE MODELS:
Famous and Infamous Residents of the Bayou City
May 4, 2013, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Julia Ideson Building—Houston Public Library,
550 McKinney
Keynote Speaker: Rick Casey, award winning journalist and host of Texas Week
Morning speakers: James L. Haley, author and historian; Joseph A. Pratt, Ph.D.,University of Houston; and Melissa Kean, Ph.D., Rice University
Registration: Visit www.houstonhistoryassociation.org for registration fees and special pricing for
teachers, students, seniors, exhibitors and sponsors.
Major sponsors:
Humanities Texas,
The Summerlee Foundation,
Texas Historical Foundation, with
additional support from (as of March 1, 2013) University of Houston Center for Public History, Houston History Magazine, The City of Houston, Houston Public Library, The Lancaster Hotel & The Lusk Family, The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park, Texas State Historical Association, and Houston Independent School District. The Lancaster Hotel is the official hotel partner for HHA;
contact for special rates.
Photo credit: Houston Metropolitan Research Center. The Houstonians in the photograph are not necessarily representative of the conference topics, but may be included.
texas almanac
New Great Texas Land Rush Website
S
take your claim in the Great
Texas Land Rush 2013, the
popular Adopt-A-County and
Adopt-A-Town programs that help
support the Texas Almanac by allowing individuals to put a name on
the Texas town or county of their
choice. Use an adoption to highlight
a special person or group, a school
or class, a business, or even yourself.
Adoptions can now be made for up
to five years, and custom messages
can specify if the adoption is “in
honor of ” or “in memory of ” someone special.
Now easier to use, the Great
Texas Land Rush’s new website allows searches for available counties
and towns. With just a few clicks,
users can Adopt-A-County in the print
Texas Almanac 2014–2015 or on the
Texas Almanac website for $200, or
Adopt-A-Town on the website for $25.
Hurry to reserve your favorite county
or town before another name is all
over it.
Stake your claim today on the new
Great Texas Land Rush website at
www.greattexaslandrush.com. Online
adoptions that expire May 31, 2013,
will be available June 1.
Contact TSHAonline@TSHA
online.org or call (940) 369-5200
for more information or to adopt by
telephone.
Left: The Great Texas Land Rush website is
now easier to use.
Reserve Advertising Space in Texas Almanac 2014–2015
W
hen you advertise in the
Texas Almanac, you reach
customers who love all things
Texan. The Texas Almanac 2014–2015—
The Source for ALL Things Texan
Since 1857—offers print advertising
and the opportunity for individuals or
businesses to Adopt-A-County in the
print edition.
Prime ad spots opposite section
openers are still available in the Texas
Almanac 2014–2015, but space must be
reserved by May 31, with print-ready
ads submitted by June 10. Ad prices
start at $200 for an Adopt-A-County
text ad. Display ads are offered in three
sizes: $600 for a quarter page, $1,250 for
a half page, and $2,500 for a full page.
Print and web packages begin at $3,060,
and a corporate ad package, which
includes print and web ads and 10 Texas
Almanacs, is $5,000.
Ads on the Texas Almanac website,
which received more than a million
page views in the past year, can begin
immediately. Single month web rates
4
Texas Almanac 2014–2015, available
November 1.
range from $300 for a banner ad to $400
for a panel ad.
The next edition of the 156-yearold publication will feature articles
on western art and artists of Texas,
written by TSHA board member J. P.
Bryan, and the historical ranches of
Texas, written by Texana writer Mike
Cox. Both articles draw on the cover
artwork: “Scene on the Brazos” by Frank
Reaugh, which is from the collections of
the Texas/Dallas History and Archives
Division, Dallas Public Library.
Updated biennially, the Texas
Almanac includes 736 pages of color
photographs, state and county maps,
articles, and data on topics ranging from
the environment to government and
from culture to business.
For more information about
advertising in the Texas Almanac and
ad specifications, visit www.
TexasAlmanac.com/advertising or
contact Terri Killen at (512) 3000772 or [email protected].
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handbook of texas online
Hollywood Stars in the Handbook
W
hat did Hollywood actors
Greer Garson, Cyd Charisse,
and Noble Willingham have
in common? They were all from Texas.
The Lone Star State has contributed
more than its share of movie stars. Delve
into the Handbook of Texas Online for
fascinating information on silver screen
actors from Texas.
Florence Bates, the actress cast as a
vain American dowager in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 film Rebecca, was born in San
Antonio in 1888 and received a degree
in mathematics from the University of
Texas in 1906. In 1914 she became one
of the first woman lawyers in Texas and
practiced law for four years in San Antonio. She made her movie debut at age
52 and became a well-known character
actor who went on to roles in more than
fifty films.
Dooley Wilson could not play it
again; in fact, he could not play at all.
That did not stop the Tyler-born actor
from his best-known role—that of Sam,
the pianist–singer in Casablanca who
performed “As Time Goes By.” Director Hal Wallis allowed Wilson to sing,
but the piano playing was dubbed. In
a career that spanned more than forty
years, he also appeared in Beulah, one of
the first television series starring black
actors, in 1951.
Born in Waco in 1897, Jules Bledsoe
graduated valedictorian from Central
Texas Academy and earned a B.A. from
Bishop College in Marshall. While attending medical school at Columbia
University, he took voice lessons that
changed his destiny. In 1924, he made
his musical debut as a concert artist
and toured the U.S. and Europe, where
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he was praised for his ability to sing
in several languages. His best-known
achievement was his portrayal of Joe in
Florenz Ziegfeld’s 1927 production of
Showboat and the film version of Showboat in 1929. His interpretation of “Ol’
Man River” made the song an American
classic. In his versatile career of nearly
twenty years, Bledsoe performed with
symphonies and opera companies, and
also appeared in a number of Hollywood
films. Buried in Waco, Bledsoe died in
Hollywood after a 1943 war bond tour.
Star-struck readers can discover the
Texas roots and connections of legends
such as Mary Martin, Zachary Scott,
Dale Evans, and Joan Crawford in the
Handbook of Texas Online.
advertisement
So how did Texas get into this shape?
San Jacinto Symposium 2013
“Wars, Treaties and Boundaries—A Look at the Shape of Texas”
Saturday, April 13, 2013, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The University of Houston, Hilton Hotel & Conference Center
4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204
$55 covers speakers, lunch, parking, exhibits, book dealers and
fellowship with friendly Texas history buffs.
For additional information, call (713) 237-8997, Email [email protected],
or visit www.sanjacintoconservancy.org
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education
Garna Christian Receives Bryan
Leadership in Education Award
He has been a Walter Prescott Webb
Historical Society sponsor since 1977
and coordinated one of the Houston
Area regional History Day programs for
23 years. Most important to Garna is
the impact he has had on his students,
as evidenced in the following passage
from one of the letters of support
accompanying his nomination:
T
he Association takes great pride in
recognizing outstanding educators
whose contributions have had a
significant impact on history education,
especially Texas history. Thanks to the
ongoing generosity of Mary Jon and
J. P. Bryan, the award includes a $5,000
monetary prize, the largest of all TSHA
prize amounts. Of the many outstanding
nominees the committee considered,
this year it selected Garna Christian of
the University of Houston-Downtown
to receive this prestigious award.
Garna’s service of more than fifty
years to the field of education includes
a number of notable accomplishments
and a lengthy record of service to
his community and to TSHA. The
East Texas Historical Association,
Texas Historical Commission, and
American Association of State and Local
History, among others, have previously
recognized his teaching and service. In
2004, he was selected as a Fellow of the
Association. He serves on numerous
advisory boards and committees of the
TSHA and other organizations. Judges Needed at Texas History Day
Old Stories, New Voices Intercultural Youth Camp Accepting Applications
T
exas History Day
is just around the
corner and judges are
still needed in all categories and for both on-site
judging in Austin and
remote judging of papers and Web sites.
As another record-breaking contest approaches, TSHA needs more judges
than ever. This year, we will need 200+
judges onsite and from their homes to
evaluate projects. If you can be in Austin
on May 3–4, we need judges for documentaries, performances and exhibits.
If you prefer to judge from your office
or home, please sign up to judge papers
and Web sites. Papers are shipped to
judges with a pre-paid return envelope
and Web sites are sent electronically. To
sign up online, visit http://tx.nhd.org/
ud/templates/register.php or contact
Kate Hopfer at (940)369-5245 or
[email protected].
6
Garna Christian (l) receives the Mary Jon
and J. P. Bryan Leadership in Education
Award from J. P. Bryan (r).
Dr. Christian modeled for me
how to be successful, how to
have a passion for learning,
how to be prepared, and how to
fearlessly step through the door
of opportunity. I am a walking
testimony of his contribution to
education, to our society, and to
the power of one great professor.
TSHA thanks the selection committee
chaired by John L. Nau III, with
Caroline Crimm and Robert Edison,
for their time and effort in reviewing
the numerous fine nominations for this
year’s award.
T
he Old Stories, New Voices Intercultural Youth Camp is now accepting
applications from students in the Austin, San Antonio, and Menard areas
for summer camp 2013. Students who are currently in fourth, fifth, or sixth grade
may apply for this
award-winning, lifechanging program.
Old Stories New
Voices will provide
opportunities for
children from
diverse backgrounds
to learn about
American Indian,
Hispanic, African
American, and Anglo
contributions to the
history and culture
of Texas. In addition to educating about our shared cultural heritage, the Old
Stories, New Voices Intercultural Youth Camp is designed to improve the personal
confidence of everyone who participates. Physical challenges, team building
exercises and daily responsibilities are included in each day’s schedule, along with
strong anti-gang, anti-drug, and stay-in-school messages. Learn more at http://www.
tshaonline.org/education/students/osnv-youth-camp.
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education
2013 Spring Webb Society Meeting in Fort Worth
T
he Walter Prescott Webb Historical Society met February
28th–March 2nd, in conjunction
with the TSHA Annual Meeting in Fort
Worth, for the Spring Business Meeting
and Awards Ceremony. The Business
Meeting, chaired by Alex Mendoza of
the University of North Texas, was attended by chapter representatives from
Northeast Texas Community College,
Jacksonville College, San Jacinto College-South Campus, Lee College, Texas
A&M University-San Antonio, and the
University of Houston-Downtown.
Lee College sponsor John Britt was
presented with the TSHA Exemplary
Service Award for almost forty years
of service. Lee College was named the
2012 College Chapter of the Year, and
the University of Houston-Downtown
was named the 2012 University Chapter
of the Year. Chapter representatives
discussed their past and upcoming
activities for the year and enjoyed conversation with one another about their
experiences.
At the Awards Ceremony on Saturday,
the C. M. and Cora Caldwell Memorial Awards for outstanding research
and writing were presented. Of the
numerous entries submitted in this year’s
Caldwell Writing Competition, the following received awards: in the Lower
Division, undergraduates with less than
60 hours, First Place went to Noah Grif-
Lee College Webb Society students with sponsor John Britt and their awards.
fin of Northeast Texas Community College, Second Place to Austin Eldridge
of Lee College, Third Place to Quinton
Berry of Lee College, and Fourth Place
to Brandon Keith of Lee College; in
the Upper Division, undergraduates
with 60 or more hours, First Place went
to Kristen Martin of the University of
Houston-Clear Lake, Second Place to
Robin Roe of Texas A&M University,
Third Place to Cassandra Seabourn of
the University of Houston-Clear Lake,
and Fourth Place to Susan Curry of the
University of Houston-Clear Lake; and
in the Graduate Division, First Place
went to Karen Wisely of the University
of North Texas and Second Place went
Steve Cure with representatives from Lee College and the University of
Houston-Downtown receiving their Chapter of the Year awards.
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to Hannah Ballard of The University
of Texas at Austin. All 2013 Upper and
Lower Division Caldwell Award entries
will be considered for publication in
the Society’s journal, Touchstone. Dianne
Heafer of San Jacinto College–North
Campus was the recipient of the 2013
David C. DeBoe Memorial Award for
her outstanding sponsorship of the chapter at her institution.
The Webb Society encourages ALL
college or university students to participate in the Caldwell Writing Competition. For more information about the
Webb Society or the Caldwell Writing
Awards, visit http://www.tshaonline.org
or call at (940) 369-5200.
Northeast Texas Community College students with sponsor Andrew Yox
and their Caldwell Writing Competition awards.
7
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The Riding Line is published quarterly by the Texas State Historical Association as an update for its members.
J. Kent Calder
Randolph B. Campbell
Chief Historian
Executive Director
Stephen Cure
Director of Educational
Services
Terri Killen
Riding Line Editor and
Communications Editor
David Degnan
Administrative
Manager
Elizabeth Cruce Alvarez
Editor
Texas Almanac
tsha press
New and Re-issued Books Available at Shop.TSHAonline.org
The newest book from the
Association is due to come
MATAMOROS AND THE
out in early May. Craig Roell’s
TEXAS R EVOLUTION
Matamoros and the Texas Revolution
Craig H. Roell
will bring attention to an
important expedition that has
long been overshadowed by
the engagements at the Alamo,
Goliad, and San Jacinto. A few
Texian leaders saw the capture
of Matamoros as a crucial prize
for winning Texas independence
from Mexico; however,
devastating defeats by the forces
120 pp., Paper, $15.95
of the brilliant Mexican General
Member’s Price $10.37
José de Urrea thwarted their
designs. Roell, author of Remember Goliad!, also published
by the TSHA, highlights the great appeal of Matamoros,
the ethnic jumble of revolutionary Texas, the failures of the
Texian campaign, and the effective Mexican response in this
groundbreaking, though brief and accessible, study.
W. D. Smithers’s Chronicles of the
Big Bend has been re-issued in
paperback. This classic account
features beautiful photographs
and firsthand observations of
pioneer life in this remote and
sometimes dangerous, but always
beautiful, region of Texas. As a
young teamster on a pack-mule
train, Smithers saw the Rio
Grande’s Big Bend for the first
time in 1916, and it captured his
W. D. SMITHERS | FOREWORD BY KENNETH B. RAGSDALE
imagination forever. For decades
thereafter he returned to Texas’
160 pp., Paper, $35.95
last great frontier—the great
Member’s Price $23.37
bend of the Rio Grande on the
Texas-Mexico border—chronicling the region and its people
in words and photographs.