Dr. Ron Brown, dean of the University College at Texas State, is also a historian of the American West with a particular interest in oral history. For a number of years he has taught a graduate seminar in oral history, and lately has worked with the Center for Texas Music History to produce student-conducted historical interviews of Texas musicians. He has also been at work with Duane A. Smith on an oral history project concerning the Civilian Conservation Corps work at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado during the Great Depression. Please come celebrate the publication of Dr. Brown’s book on the subject, New Deal Days: The CCC at Mesa Verde, on Thursday, October 26, 2006, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Swinney Conference Room in Taylor Murphy Hall. Books will be available for sale and light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Dr. Frank de la Teja, at 5-2142 or delateja@txstate.edu

Dennis Dunn, Professor of History and director of the International Studies program at Texas State has been named a Visiting Research Scholar at Blackfriars College, Oxford University, England. Prof. Dunn will be working on a research project studying the role of religion on international politics by comparing the impact of Catholicism on Europe with that of Orthodoxy on Russia.

The various colleges of Oxford University have a visiting Research Scholar program that provides access to Bodley Library, to all the other university and faculty libraries, and to many university lectures and seminars. In any one term there may be between three and six such scholars associated with an individual college.

Visiting Research Scholars at Blackfriars are invited to three Senior common Room "desserts," to occasional meals in the Priory, as well as to major lectures and other events. In addition, they can put books on reserve and use the desks at Oxford's many libraries.

On Thursday, September 28, 2006, the Department of History formally dedicated the Everette Swinney Conference Room in Taylor-Murphy.  In addition to the guest of honor, those in attendance at the ceremony included Texas State University President Denise Trauth, University Provost Perry Moore, and Associate Provost and Professor of History Eugene Bourgeois.  Department chair Frank de la Teja officiated.  Many members of the Swinney family including Everette’s wife Donna, their four children and their spouses, plus a considerable number of grandchildren were also present.  Rounding out the attendees were members of the Department of History, former and current faculty senators, and faculty from across the university.  President Trauth, Frank de la Teja, and Ken Margerison, Professor of History, spoke of Everette’s long and valuable service to the university and thanked both him and Donna for establishing the Everette and Donna Swinney History Faculty Development Fund.

In 1957 Everette and Donna Swinney arrived in San Marcos, where Ev began teaching United States history at what was then Southwest Texas State Teachers College.  Donna served as a nurse in the San Marcos public schools, and she and Ev raised a family of four children, all of whom graduated from Texas State University. 

Ev’s career spanned forty-eight years, and during that time he made extraordinary contributions to the department, the university, and the profession.  As Department of History chair from 1967 to 1980, he set standards of excellence, collegiality, faculty governance, and integrity that continue to characterize the department today.   Simultaneously, he chaired the Faculty Handbook Committee, which established the principles of academic freedom and faculty rights at the university. As chair of the Faculty Senate for almost a decade during the 1980s and 1990s, he promoted and improved faculty governance.  In recognition of his service to faculty, the Senate created the Everette Swinney Teaching Award.  Specializing in the Civil War and Reconstruction, historiography, and historical quantification, Ev was a superb teacher and a respected scholar.  An excellent colleague, he eagerly assisted faculty in using personal computers, dealing with the university bureaucracy, and solving professional problems.  Ev also played a major role in securing Taylor-Murphy as the home of the Department of History and in developing one of the first departmental computer labs on campus.  

The important contributions of Ev and Donna to the Department of History and the university continue in the Everette and Donna Swinney History Faculty Development Fund, which they created to support faculty research, publication, travel, and other professional activities.

Phi Alpha Theta and the Department of History are proud to present a screening of the documentary “Sniper ’66” on Tuesday, September 26, at 7 p.m. in the Alkek Teaching Theater. This hour-long documentary—written, produced, and directed by Whitney Milam, a history graduate student at Texas State and an employee of KTBC (Fox 7 Austin)—examines the murders committed by Charles Whitman in 1966 from atop the University of Texas Tower. “Sniper ’66” contains never before seen footage of the tragedy as it unfolded. Filmed at original locations, such as Whitman’s former Austin residence, the film recreates a number of events that took place prior to the shootings.

Several eyewitnesses interviewed for this documentary will be present for a question and answer session following the screening. A short reception will follow.

Time: 7:00 – 8:30pm

Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Location: Alkek Teaching Theater

Cost: FREE (suggested donation of $3.00)

Welcome to the 2006-2007 academic year!  We in the history department hope that you are as excited about the coming year as we are.  We anticipate great things from you and your colleagues in the graduate program.  You are building on the successes of those students who have come and gone before you, some to prestigious institutions for further study, some to exciting jobs in Public History, some to pursue teaching careers at local community colleges.  We are ready to do our part to help you on your way.

As has become tradition, we will begin with our annual formal gathering of all graduate students on Monday, August 21st at 6:30 in Room 106 in Taylor-Murphy Hall.   This meeting gives all of us, both faculty and students, a chance to gather together before the craziness begins.  We will open with an introduction of the Graduate Faculty and then proceed with some important information.  This is one of the few times that we can go over the policies that govern the program.  It is essential, therefore, that everyone attend.  After this opening segment, we will retire to Room 105 for refreshments and mingling.  This is a great opportunity to meet new faculty and students or to renew old acquaintances.

There will be an additional mandatory meeting for all Instructional Assistants on Friday, August 18th from 10:00 until noon or 1:00. For those registered for History 5301, this will be the first class meeting.  After sharing some breakfast goodies, we will go over the basic guidelines of your responsibilities as graders, focusing on issues of classroom management, and understanding your professor’s needs and instructions.  In addition, there will be instructions in using the classroom technology and Blackboard.  Please email [mb18@txstate.edu] or phone [512-245-2110] to let me know that you will attend.

On a personal note, I would like to remind you that I am here to help you in whatever way I can.  Please feel free to come and speak with me or email me at any time.We look forward to seeing you soon.

In collaboration with Hays Consolidated Independent School District, the Department of History has received a $249,000 grant, "Inspiring a Love of American History," providing for three one-week institutes beginning in summer 2007. Hays social studies teachers will learn American history content through five components to be provided by History faculty at Texas State: Three annual summer institutes designed thematically to cover the principles of freedom and democracy; primary document workshops at libraries and other institutions to provide opportunities to develop hands-on projects for students; teacher seminars at Hays school district sites to provide additional content and opportunities to develop teacher leadership skills; and, a four-day immersion experience in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The theme for year one is "American republicanism," stressing the origins and principles of American democracy. Year two is concerned with "republican citizenship," and focuses on the evolving and expanding concept of citizenship in the United States . The third year's theme is the American political system, which emphasizes how the nation's democratic ideals are implemented through the political process. The overall grant received by Hays CISD is for $500,000, with Texas State 's share, both for History as the primary content provider and the College of Education as assessment provider, amounting to $249,000.

The Department of History has just received approval to launch a Public History Certificate Program as part of its Graduate Public History focus. Dr. Jeff Mauck, director of the Public History program will begin recruiting for the certificate program this summer. The certificate is meant to provide individuals already involved in some aspect of Public History, but wishing for greater understanding of the "tools of the trade," an opportunity to undertake coursework without the need to pursue a full Master's degree. The fifteen-hour program targets local and regional government professionals, docents and administrators at museums and libraries, administrators and professional-technical staff at corporations and institutions, and other interested parties. Since its establishment over eight years ago, the Public History program has been successful in placing its graduate in public and private positions in the museum, corporate, and state and local government sectors. The certificate program will increase the Public History program's visibility and expand opportunities for students. For further information regarding the Public History Certificate, which will be offered beginning Fall 2006, please contact Dr. Jeff Mauck, jm81@txstate.edu or 512-245-2142.

Dr. Paul Hart has been selected to serve as a new Presidential Fellow for 2006-2007.  During the coming academic year, Dr. Hart will serve as a member of the President's Cabinet and will work with the on special projects. Dr. Hart holds a B.A. degree in History from The University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in Latin American History from The University of California, San Diego .   He joined the faculty at Texas State in 2000 as an Assistant Professor and was subsequently promoted to Associate Professor.  He previously served as an Instructor at the University of Houston , Palomar College , and San Diego State University and as an Assistant Professor at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.  In addition to his teaching responsibilities in Latin American History in Texas State's undergraduate and master's history programs in history, Dr. Hart has presented papers and published articles and a recent book, Bitter Harvest:  The Social Transformation of Morelos, Mexico, and the Origins of the Zapatista Revolution, published by the University of New Mexico Press. He also serves as director of the university's Residential College program.
 

An all-star lineup highlights this year's Texas Music History UnPlugged 6, scheduled for 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, March 21 at the LBJ Student Center Ballroom at Texas State University.

UnPlugged 6, sponsored by the Center for Texas Music History and the Department of History, will feature a diverse and stellar lineup of returning and new performers, including 2006 :

Radney Foster: A songwriter's songwriter, Foster first found commercial success and critical acclaim as part of the neo-traditionalist duo Foster & Lloyd. He embarked on a solo career in 1991 that centered on his literate approach to country songwriting. His solo debut, "Del Rio, Texas, 1959," was an enormous success; four of its singles hit the Top 40, and of those, "Just Call Me Lonesome" made the Top Ten. He has teamed with Pat Green and the Dixie Chicks, and recently produced Texas State alumnus Randy Rogers' "Rollercoaster" CD, co-writing with him as well. A historian and Texan, Foster's role as host of Unplugged will provide a unique insight on Texas culture.

Miss Lavelle White: R&B veteran Miss Lavelle White enjoyed a successful career for almost 30 years before she recorded her first album. There were many singles and many spots on other's albums, but the 1994 "Miss Lavelle" for Antone's Records was her solo debut. She sings with an energy and youthfulness that belie her years behind the microphone, but there is no hiding the true blues-professionalism of her delivery. A prolific songwriter, her songs have been recorded by many others, including Bobby "Blue" Bland.

Mingo Saldivar: Saldivar is a living legend of conjunto music. Known to his fans as "The Dancing Cowboy," he blends country and R&B music with traditional conjunto on the button accordion. In recent years Saldivar has played at such venues as President Clinton's first inaugural gala, the 1996 Olympics, Carnegie Hall and a five-week USIA tour of Africa and the near Middle East. In Sept. of 2002, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded Mingo with the National Heritage Fellowship Award.

Terri Hendrix & Lloyd Maines: Terri Hendrix attended Texas State University and resides in San Marcos. Her versatile, folky style--which hangs elements of blues, pop, and traditional music on a country framework--has taken her to top festivals around the country and bringing home a Grammy for "Lil' Jack Slade," a song co-written for the Dixie Chicks' Home album. Her frequent collaborator and accompanist is legendary producer Lloyd Maines.

Aaron Allan: Born in January of 1929 near Fredericksburg, Allan calls New Braunfels home. He grew up in the golden era of "Personality Radio," and became a songwriter-singer, radio DJ and an emcee. He has written over 900 songs, 27 having been recorded by the likes of the Osborne Brothers, Charlie Walker, Stony Edwards and Willie Nelson. Nelson, a friend since he replaced Allan on KBOP in 1954, recorded "Truth Number One" in 1970, and Allan regularly emcees Nelson's famous "Fourth of July Picnics." With 58 years in the music business, Allan currently is on-air talent for KCIT radio in Gonzales, and was inducted into the Country Music Association of Texas Hall of Fame.

Rosie Flores: Born in San Antonio, Flores' music blends the best of surf, rock, country and blues with the traditional sounds of her Mexican-American heritage. Since the late 70s, she has been an important figure in the Los Angeles, Austin and Nashville music scenes. Flores' reputation as a high-octane rockabilly star is well established. Critical raves from prestigious publications such as the Los Angeles Times and Guitar Player magazine leave no doubt about her talent for filling dance floors and lighting up rooms. Flores' solos recordings have found homes on both the Billboard and Gavin charts and are also featured in seven motion pictures. Her revved-up performances in honky-tonks from Boston to Bakersfield have won legions of fans and earned appearances on such nationally broadcast television programs as "Austin City Limits" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brian."

Texas Music History UnPlugged is an ongoing lecture series sponsored by the Center, the Department of History, and several other campus organizations designed to bring prominent Texas musicians to Texas State to perform and discuss how Texas music reflects the rich history and tremendous cultural diversity of the American Southwest. This series is intended to combine education and entertainment so that students, faculty, staff and the general public can better understand and appreciate the ethnic and cultural complexity of our society.

Since the very first UnPlugged in 2000, the concerts have grown in popularity and have become one of the cornerstones of the many different projects of the CTMH. Featuring famous Texas musicians, the UnPlugged series places the performers in a seated semi-circle--an intimate ambience in which their stories and songs illuminate the cultural diversity and rich heritage of Texas music.

The Center for Texas Music History is the first comprehensive university-based program to focus on the entire spectrum of Texas and Southwestern music history. The Center offers a variety of projects and activities related to the preservation and study of Texas music history. These include graduate and undergraduate courses on Texas music history, publication of the Journal of Texas Music History, collections of musical archives of the Southwest and an on-line Texas music bibliography as well as collaborations with schools, museums and other entities throughout Texas to help organize educational exhibits, performances and publications celebrating the state's rich musical heritage.

The LBJ Student Center is located on Tom·s Rivera Drive on the Texas State campus. For more information, contact Deirdre Lannon at (512) 245-2185 or dl24@txstate.edu.

talbot.mrp.txstate.edu/currents/fullstory.jsp

Assistant Prof. Rebecca Montgomery's book, The Politics of Education in the New South: Women and Reform in Georgia, 1890-1930 is now available from Louisiana State University Press. Prof. Montgomery is a former Texas State History major who went on to receive her Ph.D. at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is in her first year at
Texas State , where she teaches courses on the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. This is her first book, which Amy Thompson McCandless calls “a ‘must' read for historians of education, women, and the region.”