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Around the Courtyard | Fall 2025
Ethnohistory Conference Registration
The department of history is co-sponsoring the Ethnohistory conference, October 9-11, in San Antonio. The preliminary program can be found on the Conference Website. Congratulations to Dr. José Carlos de la Puente, who has taken the lead on this for the department.
Registration for our students is free, so please spread the word!
History Department Alumnus Offered Job at Texas A&M Kingsville
Congratulations to History Department alumnus, Peter Sutherland, who recently earned his PhD at the University of North Texas, and has now taken a position at Texas A&M Kingsville.
English Translation of Dr. de la Puente's Macchu Picchu Children's Book Now Available
Congratulations to Dr. José Carlos de la Puente, whose English translation of his Machu Picchu children’s book is now available at your favorite online booksellers.
Dr. McWilliams Publishes New Book
Congratulations to Dr. Jimmy McWilliams on the publication of his latest book, The Life and Poetry of Frank Stanford, which has been published by the University of Arkansas Press. The book has been well received, with the latest review in Poetry.
Dr. Casey Nichols Interviewed on Institute for Research on Poverty's podcast
Dr. Casey recently joined the Institute for Research on Poverty's official podcast to discuss her recent book, Poverty Rebels: Black and Brown Protest in Post-Civil Rights America.
Dr. Adam Clark Wins Outstanding Dissertation Award
Congratulations to History Department staff member, Dr. Adam Clark, who has won the Graduate College’s Outstanding Dissertation Award, for his dissertation, “The Role of Cartography and Visualization in Hazard Risk Communication: An Examination of the Houston Chronicle, 1945 to 2020.” Visit the Texas State Newsroom more information about his accomplishment.
Madelyn Patlan Earns MA and Accepts Program Coordinator Position
Congratulations to History Department staff member, Madelyn Patlan, who graduated this summer with her MA in Public History Program! Following graduation, Madelyn has agreed to become our first departmental Program Coordinator where she will advise undergraduate students, assist with our scholarship program, and provide additional support to our degree programs.
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Around the Courtyard | Spring/Summer 2025
IRP Book Talk: Casey Nichols On Poverty Rebels: Black And Brown Protest In Post–Civil Rights America
Dr. Nichols sat down with the Institute for Research on Poverty's official podcast to discuss her recent book titled, Poverty Rebels: Black and Brown Protest in Post-Civil Rights America. The book is available for purchase from UNC Press, online retailers, and independent book stores.
Dr. José Carlos de la Puente Publishes Research Note
Dr. José Carlos de la Puente has published this research note, written with María Gracia Ríos, “Que por otro nombre se llamó Doña María Jacinta de Montoya: cinco documentos inéditos sobre la fundadora de la Casa de Jesús, María y José,” in the journal Allpanchis. It contextualizes five rare archival findings about María Jacinta de Montoya, the founder of a seclusion home (later convent) in late-seventeenth-century Lima. The introduction highlights the connection between Montoya's efforts at self-fashioning and the theological arguments displayed by her and a wide net of supporters to secure approval in Rome and Madrid for her religious institution and gather momentum for the sainthood case of her husband, a native Andean man by the name of Nicolás de Ayllón. After the election of the new pope a few months ago, the nuns of the convent have formally requested the reopening of Ayllón’s file after 300 years!
Dr. Jessica Pliley Publishes New Article
Congratulations to Dr. Jessica Pliley on the publication of her most recent article, “Alienated Outcasts: Nullified Motherhood, Uncertain Citizenship and Family Separation at the US–Canadian Borderlands in the 1930s.” This piece, which examines immigration policy and family separation in the 1930s, has been published in Gender & History. It is currently available via open access.
Dr. Frank de la Teja Publishes New Article
Congratulations to Dr. Frank de la Teja on the publication of his latest article, “Erasmo Seguín, Diputado por Texas en el Segundo Congreso Constituyente, 1823-1824,” Historia Mexicana LXXV:1 (2025).
Drs. Coleman and Alter Promoted to Associate Professor
Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Coleman and Dr. Tom Alter on being granted tenure and promotion to the rank of associate professor! This was approved by the Board of Regents at their May meeting.
Dr. de la Puente Elected to Hispanic American Historical Review Board of Editors
Congratulations to Dr. José Carlos de la Puente on being elected to a four-year term on the Board of Editors of the Hispanic American Historical Review. Please join us in celebrating this much-deserved honor and recognition of Dr. de la Puente’s scholarly achievements and distinguished reputation in the field of Latin American history.
History Department Staff Member Wins Dissertation Award
Congratulations to History Department staff member, Adam Clark, whose dissertation, "The Role of Cartography and Visualization in Hazard Risk Communication: An Examination of the Houston Chronicle, 1945-2020," recently won the 2025, Gilbert White Dissertation Award!
The Gilbert White Dissertation Award is presented by the Hazards, Risks, and Disasters specialty group of the American Association of Geographers, and is given to one graduate student each year whose dissertation is considered to be an outstanding example of hazards geography research.
May Day Event: Argentina General Strike 2025
On Thursday May 1 at 6pm the Center for International Studies is hosting an event on the recent general strike in Argentina featuring Federico Vicente, a leader of the MST in Argentina.
Date | Thursday, May 1, 2025
Time | 6:00 pm
Location | Derrick Hall 108Unholy Sensations: A Story of Sex, Scandal, and California's First Cult Scare
Join two religion scholars (Dr. Jennifer Graber and Dr. Joseph Laycock) in discussion about Dr. Joshua Paddison's new book, Unholy Sensations: A Story of Sex, Scandal, and California's First Cult Scare.
Date | Friday, May 2, 2025
Time | 12:30 pm
Location | Brazos HallUndergraduate Humanities Research Journal (UHRJ)
The first issue of The Undergraduate Humanities Research Journal was published on March 25th. UHRJ is an academic publication that showcases undergraduate students' research and scholarly work in the College of Liberal Arts at Texas State University.
The journal is now accepting submissions for the next publication in Spring 2026.
Dr. José Carlos de la Puente's Book Published on Open Access
Congratulations to José Carlos on the open access publication, via Project Muse and De Gruyter, of his book, Andean Cosmopolitans: Seeking Justice and Reward at the Spanish Royal Court (2018).
Fred Kibble: Master of Soul
Join the Center for Texas Music History as we welcome DJ Flash Gordon Parks to talk about his career in music, photography, and preservation in Houston's cultural scene. He will also discuss his research on Fred Kibble, a key member of the R&B group Masters of Soul.
Date | Thursday, April 17, 2025
Time | 12:30 pm
Location | Brazos HallSpring 2025 Thesis Prospectus Colloquium
Please join us on April 29, 2025 in Comal 201 for discussion of History MA students' thesis proposals. The schedule is as follows:
- 9:30-10:15: Tim Langholff, Marching Through Time With Sherman: Interpreting the Savannah Campaign
- 10:20-11:05: Alejandra Navarrete, Everything But the Strike: Emma Tenayuca's Transnational Framework for Liberation in Historical Memory
- 11:10-11:50: Katie Frederick, Living in the Promiseland: Crisis, Aid, and the Transformation of Great Plains Farming in the 1980s
- 1-1:45: Jude Drouillard, Fear the Feminine: Depictions of Gender Anxiety in San Franciscan Cultural Objects, 1860-1906
- 1:50-2:35: Shelby Labonte-Torres, “True Love Waits”: Evangelical Purity Culture, 1990-2000
Dr. Jessica Pliley Named Next Ingram Family Endowed Professor In History
Congratulations to Dr. Jessica Pliley who will be the next Ingram Family Endowed Professor in History. Jessica will serve as Ingram Professor from 2025 to 2028, while working on her book manuscript, “Fighting the Traffic in Women, 1870-2000,” which promises to provide the first comprehensive history of the international fight against sex trafficking.
History Club Event: Jeopardy!
Join the History Club for a night of Jeopardy!
The winner will receive a gift card and pizza will be provided for attendees.
Date | Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Time | 7:00 pm
Location | TMH 104History Club Event: Uncovering the Myth of The Rural American Woman, 1680-1980
Join the History Club for a special event as Dr. Nancy Berlage gives a talk on the myth of the rural American woman from 1680 to 1980.
Pizza Provided!
Date | Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Time | 7:00 pm
Location | TMH 104Dr. Bryan Glass Featured on The Current Podcast
Dr. Glass was recently interviewed by Texas State President, Dr. Damphousse, on The Current Podcast, about the yearslong process of becoming a Phi Beta Kappa university, and what it means for Texas State to now have a chapter of the oldest academic honor society in the United States.
History Department Alumnus Wins Book Awards
Congratulations to History Department alumnus, James Bernsen, whose book, The Lost War for Texas (Texas A&M University Press) has won two book awards. Benrnsen won the award for the best non-fiction book of the year from the Texas Institute of Letters, and the Kate Broocks Bates Award for Historical Research from the Texas Historical Association.
Dr. Paddison In the Media
Dr. Joshua Paddison contributed to a roundtable in the March 3, 2025, issue of History Today Magazine on the topic of "How Have Cults Shaped American History?"
Texas Archive of the Moving Image Internship
History Department alumna, Bridget Dunbar, has recently started an internship at the Texas Archive of the Moving Image in Austin, Texas. She works on a continuously growing catalog of local home movies, news, and government films. One of her most recent collections was the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Collection!
Dr. de la Puente Publishes Article in The Americas
Congratulations to Dr. José Carlos de la Puente on the publication of his latest article, Andean Primordial Titles, Land Repossession, and the Rise of New Communities during the First General Land Inspection (1594–1602), which has been published in The Americas, Volume 82 / Issue 1, January 2025, pp 1 - 38. Dr. de la Puente noted that both a Faculty Development Lave and support from the Center for the Study of the Southwest made this possible.
Dr. Nichols' New Book Featured on UNC Press Blog
Dr. Nichols' shares some background on her new book, Poverty Rebels: Black and Brown Protest in Post-Civil Rights America during an interview on the UNC Press Blog.
Dr. Pliley quoted in the New York Times because her book is being used by Sean "Puffy" Combs' legal team to dismiss sex trafficking charges against the media mogul.
Dr. Pliley was quoted in the New York Times today (2/19/2025) in an article about the efforts of Sean Combs' legal defense to file a motion to dismiss RICO and sex trafficking charges against the notorious rapper and entrepreneur. The legal team argues that the Mann Act was a racist law that has historically been used to punish prominent Black men like Chuck Berry and Jack Johnson and, consequently, charges against him using this reveal that prosecution is engage in selective prosecution. This is a reminder that we never know the ways in which our research will become relevant.
The Joys of Coaching Sports
This panel will discuss the highs and lows of coaching athletes--from elementary school to college. What drives coaches to dedicate their time and energy to helping others improve? How do coaches stay motivated and passionate about their work, especially when faced with adversity or burnout?
Date/Time | Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Location | Jowers A207Distinguished Professor of History Emerita Victoria Bynum's Latest Book to be Published this Month
Congratulations to Distinguished Professor of History Emerita, Victoria Bynum, on the publication of her latest book, Deep Roots, Broken Branches: A History and Memoir. Deep Roots, Broken Branches will be published this month by the University of Mississippi Press.
Dr. Rivaya-Martínez's interview with historian Robert Wright on his book Indigenous Autonomy at La Junta de Los Rios
Dr. Rivaya-Martínez's latest interview for the New Books Network is now available on-line. In this interview, Dr. Rivaya-Martínez speaks with historian Robert Wright about his book Indigenous Autonomy at La Junta de Los Rios: Traders, Allies, and Migrants on New Spain's Northern Frontier (Texas Tech UP, 2023)
Film, Narrative, and the Spanish Civil War
Join Jorge Pérez (UT-Austin) as he discusses narratives and the Spanish Civil War and is the author of Cultural Roundabouts: Spanish Film and Novel on the Road, Confessional Cinema: Religion, Film, and Modernity in Spain’s Development Years, and Fashioning Spanish Cinema: Costume, Identity, and Stardom, and the co-editor of The Latin American Road Movie.
Date/Time | Tuesday, March 4, 2025 | 5:00 pm
Location | Flowers Hall 230An Evening with the Seguins
Please join us for a fireside chat at the Palace Theater with Dr. Jesus "Frank" de la Teja and Albert Seguin Gonzales! This is a once in a lifetime chance to be able to interact with both the preeminent historian on all things related to the Seguins and one of the most notable descendants of Juan Seguin himself. Support local history and come have a fun time! Tickets are limited, so grab yours today!
Tickets are available to purchase online or at Gift and Gourmet, Parker City Pharmacy, or the Heritage Museum.
Fellowship Workshop Opportunity
There will be a fellowship workshop for our students on Thursday, February 13, from 5PM to 6PM in Taylor Murphy 201.
The workshop will provide important information for undergraduate and graduate students interested in applying for a variety of sources of funding.
Contact Dr. Louis Porter for more information.
The Bachelor: History Edition
Join the History Club for The Bachelor, History Edition!
Date | Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Time | 7:00 pm
Location | TMH 104Dr. De la Puente publishes study about Indigenous maps and land titles in Colonial Peru
Congratulations to Dr. de la Puente on the publication of his article, Andean Primordial Titles, Land Repossession, and the Rise of New Communities during the First General Land Inspection (1594–1602) in The Americas: A Quarterly Review of Latin American History. Published online through Cambridge University Press.
Dr. de la Puente Publishes Book Chapter
Congratulations to Dr. José Carlos de la Puente on his latest publication. His chapter, “A Widow’s Tale: Shifting Land Regimes and the Interplay between Household and Community in Colonial Peru,” appears in Ownership Regimes in the Iberian World (1500–1850): The Normative Role of Kinship and Community, edited by Manuel Bastias Saavedra. 112-152: Brill | Nijhoff, 2025. It is available through Brill on open access: Ownership Regimes in the Iberian World (1500–1850) – The Normative Role of Kinship and Community | Brill
Unholy Sensations A Story of Sex, Scandal, and California's First Cult Scare
Dr. Joshua Paddison's new book, Unholy Sensations: A Story of Sex, Scandal, and California's First Cult Scare, will be published by Oxford University Press this May 2025.
New Book From Dr. McWilliams
Congratulations to Dr. Jimmy McWilliams, whose new book, The Life and Poetry of Frank Stanford, will be released in July 2025. This is the first comprehensive study of Stanford and his work. You can learn more about the project and the poet and order the book from The University of Arkansas Press.
Martin Luther King Jr | Intersection of Civil Rights and Labor | Lunch and Discussion
History department faculty members, Dr. Dwonna Goldstone, Dr. Casey Nichols, and Dr. Jeff Helgeson, will be on a panel with Dr. Peniel Joseph of UT Austin and Dr. Scott Bowman of TXST School Criminal Justice & Criminology. The panel will honor Dr. King by highlighting the historical connections that he helped facilitate between movements for civil rights and workers' rights in the 20th-century United States.
Date | January 21, 2025
Time | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location | LBJSCVisit the event website for more information and registration.
Remembering Dr. Audwin Anderson
The History Department is saddened to share that Department of Sociology Professor, Dr. Audwin Anderson, passed away in early January. Many friends of the History Department knew him and held him in high esteem. Though he was in the Sociology Department, he played a critical role in the growth of our department as a key force in developing the African American Studies program here at TXST. We counted ourselves deeply fortunate to work with him and could not imagine a kinder or more creative colleague.
More information on Audwin's memorial service and be found on the Sociology Department's Memorial Page.
Public History Internship Info Session
Are you a graduate student interested in summer internships? The Texas Center for Public History is hosting our annual Internship Info Session at 3:30pm in Taylor Murphy 105 on January 17th! This session provides info on internship course requirements and application tips for grad students in the public history program. We'll also answer all your questions about requirements, where to apply, and provide tips and advice form a panel of experienced student interns. All students interested in public history internships are welcome to attend!
Email Dr. Ruby Oram to attend via Zoom.
Date | Friday, January 17, 2025
Time | 3:30 pm
Location | TMH 105Dr. Nichols Publishes New Book
Congratulations to Dr. Casey Nichols on the release of her book, Poverty Rebels: Black and Brown Protest in Post-Civil Rights America (UNC Press).