Avery Armstrong

Administrative Assistant & Public Historian
avery.armstrong@txstate.edu

Avery Armstrong is the Administrative Assistant for the Center for Texas Music History. In addition to ensuring the daily operations of the Center, Avery also assists in the publication of the Journal of Texas Music History, the planning of the Center's events, and building relationships with partners of CTMH. Avery holds a Bachelors of Arts in History and a Masters of Arts in History (with a focus in Public History) from Texas State. She was a Liddle Fellowship recipient in graduate school, which gave her the opportunity to teach History 1310 and 1320 classes to undergraduate students.

While her interests include oral history, local and community history, preservation, archaeology, and heritage tourism, she discovered her true passion was Texas music history. Her Master’s thesis, The Lost Gonzo Band and the Creation of the Live Music Capital of the World, 1960s-1980s, uses oral history interviews to tell the story of the Lost Gonzo Band and their lasting impact on the Austin music scene. Avery plans to publish a portion of her thesis as an article in the 2024 edition of The Journal for Texas Music History.

In addition to her job at the Center, Avery is actively working alongside local communities in Hays County to collect their oral histories. She also serves on the board at the Austin Museum of Popular Culture, and as an advisor for the Chi Omega sorority at Texas State.