History Commons^™

Charting The Martian Future: Long-Term Space Policy Planning Of Nasa’S Human Spaceflight Program, 1957-1988, Angel J. Peralta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From the late 1950s to the early 1990s, NASA’s human spaceflight programs repeatedly encountered political and bureaucratic pressures that prioritized short-term interests over long-term planning. These constraints shaped the development of the Apollo, Space Shuttle, Space Station, and other human spaceflight programs, limiting NASA’s ability to pursue a sustained strategic vision. This thesis traces the evolution of long-term human spaceflight policy through documents and memos produced by advisory committees, research councils, and key individuals during this period. Despite shifting administrations and their respective politics, these sources reveal a consistent goal of human spaceflight ultimately leading beyond Earth to the Moon …

The Battle Of Tupelo Hospital Cemetery National Register Nomination, Madeline K. Weems

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

On July 14, 1864, the Battle of Tupelo, or the Battle of Harrisburg as it is also known, occurred within fifteen miles of the community of Palmetto in northeast Mississippi. As the battle ensued, wounded and dying soldiers were transported to different sites in and around Tupelo, including the home of Dr. William Henry and Jane Calhoun in Palmetto that served as the main hospital. The bodies of some of those soldiers still remain on the former Calhoun Plantation, including the grave of D. D. Drake. This public history capstone thesis evaluates this Civil War era cemetery’s history and integrity, …

Sue Gunter And The Battle For Equity In Women’S Athletics At Sfa, Derek S. Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From the 1950’s through the 2000’s, women’s college basketball would move from a category of inappropriate activity to selling out large arenas and being broadcast to millions of viewers on national TV. Such a result came largely from federally mandated stipulation contained within Title IX, accelerated a fight for equity and acceptance, and advanced the cause for women’s athletics more than any other initiative. However, that alone would have failed to grow the popularity of a sport such as women’s basketball if it did not produce a quality product for fans. Beyond the need for resources comparable to men’s athletics, …

Angelic Wasting: The Impacts Of The Enlightenment, Evangelicalism, And The Industrial Revolution On Romanticization Of Tuberculosis In England, 1800-1850, Sara M. Sudano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis aims to elucidate the intersections between the portrayal of tuberculosis in the Romantic era and the Enlightenment, evangelism, and the Industrial Revolution. This study aims to do so by locating and analyzing depictions in the primary source representations of the disease, then considering the effects of the three factors mentioned above on its representation. The Enlightenment, evangelism, and the Industrial Revolution interacted in a variety of ways, and the influence of all three factors was found within the representations of tuberculosis, albeit in often indirect ways. In the novels of Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell and Charlotte Brontë, tuberculosis was …

The Harsh Realities Of Opera Houses And The Continual Popularity Of Minstrelsy In Terrell, Texas, Rebecca Jestis

Undergraduate Research Conference

In Terrell, Texas, five different opera houses operated from 1878 to 1910. Sources paint the earlier opera houses with rowdy audiences and scandalous performances, a reflection of early pioneer mentality. Later opera houses, all owned by the elite and well-known businessmen of Terrell, may have offered more popular and professional productions, but the most prominent of these were minstrel shows. With evidence of minstrelsy's fierce continuation in Terrell's society up until the 1950s, the study of the opera houses not only illuminates the growing racial tensions and complexities but also the normalization of minstrel shows and blackface for decades after …

Relational Pedagogy For Teaching The History Of American Religion In Collegiate Classrooms, Pearl Young

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

There is something odd about teaching religious history in collegiate classrooms. Most academic historians agree that religion is central to the history of any society, yet discussions of religious history or even religious culture are strikingly peripheral to historical narratives taught in college classrooms. Instructors frequently sidestep religion, deeming it too personal and divisive for an objective, scientific study so frequently associated with the academic field of history.

I argue that a more deliberate approach, one of relational pedagogy, overcomes these obstacles while recognizing the legitimacy of such concerns. This approach serves students well and can cover a breadth of …

A Pragmatic Legacy: Charles Wilson’S Politics And The Battle For His Archival Heritage, Jordan Coleman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Congressman Charlie Wilson served Texas and the United States with distinction throughout his political career, leaving a profound impact on East Texas and the global stage. Known for his progressive policies in the Texas Legislature and his influential role in U.S. foreign policy during his tenure in Congress, Wilson’s pragmatic political career and legacy is preserved in the Charlie Wilson Congressional Papers collection at the East Texas Research Center (ETRC). Despite its historical significance, the collection faced decades of delayed processing, disorganization, and neglect of archival best practices. This public history thesis confronts these challenges by detailing the efforts to …

“Know What I’M Sayin’?”: Advocating Hip-Hop As A Primary Source For Historical Scholarship, Christopher Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rap, hip-hop’s most characteristic element, evolved from cultural practices combining in New York and spread across the United States in the latter half of the twentieth century. This thesis argues in favor of the use of rap as primary source material in future historical research. Authenticity has always surrounded hip-hop, making rap a window into artists’ perspectives. Storytelling traditions in rap’s roots allow for fiction’s use as a tool to discuss reality in lyrics. To demonstrate rap’s strengths as a primary source, the thesis examines Let’s Get Free, dead prez’s 2000 debut album. The song “They Schools” is dissected section-by-section …

The Impact Of H. L. Hunt's Contribution To The East Texas Oil Boom: Exhibit Planning And Fabrication, Ashley N. Watson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The East Texas Oil Boom was a major event in Texas history that elevated the oil industry in Texas to new levels. It brought new jobs, and a new style of work and living to the state. The boom attracted businessmen such as H. L. Hunt and Clint Murchison. H. L. Hunt was a prominent figure in the East Texas Oil Boom, who established a multifaceted corporation and influenced statewide legislation for hot oil and proration. Hunt, who chose to make money at any cost, was often viewed as untrustworthy and deceptive but his business practices were lucrative, and he …

Celebrating The Texas Centennial: A National Register Nomination For The Stone Fort Museum, Melanie Caddel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the 1920s, the idea of commemorating one hundred years of Texas independence sparked an interest in Texas history. Texas boosters held meetings leading up to the 1936 Texas Centennial and planned how to celebrate and bring public awareness to Texas history. In addition to the exposition in Dallas, many towns and cities across the state celebrated the 1936 Texas Centennial with smaller fairs, erected monuments, museums, restored historic buildings, and completed other projects. As a testament to local and state history, the Stone Fort Museum has lacked the national recognition it deserves as a representation of early Nacogdoches history …

“‘With God For Us, We Must Be Successful’: Nationalism, Slavery, And Death In The Civil War Letters Of Robert Franklin Bunting”, Stuart James Priest

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Robert Franklin Bunting (b. 1828, d. 1891) was a preeminent Presbyterian minister, church planter, and Confederate chaplain. Before serving as a chaplain, he planted multiple churches in Central Texas. As a chaplain, he wrote numerous letters to various Texas newspapers. This thesis utilizes Bunting’s letters to understand how white southerners understood and interacted with the primary social issues in the Civil War. Specifically, it examines how Bunting understood nationalism, slavery, and death. His perception of these issues flowed from his religious worldview. As such, it highlights his religious interplay with these issues and contributes to furthering our understanding of religion's …

Mattie Castlebury: East Texas Oil Boom Legend, Olivia L. Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The discovery of the East Texas Oil Field in 1930 was a pivotal moment, reshaping the region’s economic and social dynamics. Mattie Castlebury emerged as a standout figure among the fervor of the oil boom, leaving an indelible mark on East Texas’ cultural identity. Castlebury’s story showcases resilience and resourcefulness as she navigated the challenges of the oil boom era. She established Mattie’s Ballroom, creating a bustling leisure and entertainment hub.Through her entrepreneurial strategies, Castlebury’s impact on the community is evident, shaping East Texas’ cultural fabric.

The “Women of the Boom” exhibition at the Kilgore College East Texas Oil Museum …

Curriculum As Theology: A Framework For Analyzing Curriculum As Theological Text, Russell Miller

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

This article seeks to establish a framework that contemplates curriculum as theological text by exploring the works of Neil Postman, W.F. Pinar, and C.S. Lewis in relation to past and present research and commentary. The paper investigates a range of concepts related to theology and curriculum including culture and religion, ethics, and morality. The author argues that curriculum is intrinsically a theological endeavor due to the nature of humanity and the interaction between learning and spiritual development.

La Fiesta Del Espiritu Santo: An Original Work For Choir, Soloists, And Small Ensemble Influenced By The Santeria Music Of The African-Dominican Community In The Dominican Republic, Rafael Scarfullery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This study examines the role of Santería music as practiced by African Dominicans in Villa Mella, a neighborhood of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This musical tradition comes from the culture and religion of the Yoruba people who were brought as slaves from Africa, and features complex drum rhythms and call-and-response chants. This paper deals with the historical and social context of Santería music within the Dominican Republic, but its principal objective is to adopt the musical language of this tradition and use it to create a new contemporary work for mixed choir and small ensemble.

One of the most …

The Politics Of Preservation: Stewarding Artifacts In Archives, Kollynn Hendry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Kay Bailey Hutchison served Texas and the United States in many capacities during her political career. She vastly impacted Texas, as well as Nacogdoches, Texas in particular, through her time serving as a member of the Texas House of Representatives and as a United States Senator. In 2012, she donated her massive collection of gifts and memorabilia to the East Texas Research Center, a regional archive at Stephen F. Austin State University. The university honored her donation by creating a room to display the collection and interpret her influence on East Texas. Due to a rushed timeline, administrative interference, and …

Pioneering American Science: Professor John Winthrop, Angel Peralta

Graduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Bartholomew Roberts: King Of The Atlantic Pirates, Kollynn Hendry

Graduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

The Scientific Inquiries Of Professor John Winthrop, 1714-1779, Angel Peralta

Graduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Brotherhood In The Pineywoods: John Henry Kirby And The Fight Against Lumber Unionization, Madeline Wheeler

Undergraduate Research Conference

Thesis: The racial, gender, and ethnic diversity of the sawmill workers was reflected in the Brotherhood of Timberworkers. The business owners resisted the organization with the general antiunion rhetoric of the era. The diverse population of the BOTW workers represents the nationwide trend away from white male labor unions.

Surviving The Seventies: How Ten East Texan Women Labored For Their Families, Emily B. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The 1970s were a period of political and social turmoil. Many women left the domestic sphere and entered public life to work, seek higher education, and pursue a career. Yet many factors worked against them. They entered a workforce that treated them poorly or went to a university with limited degrees for women. The seventies were also a time of social, cultural, and political upheaval marked by a deep recession in which quality jobs were harder to find and layoffs were common. This oral history project seeks to document the experiences of East Texan women during this tumultuous period. And …

A Cleave Within The Piney Woods: Nacogdoches, Stephen F. Austin State University And How Racial Integration Divided The Town And Gown, Caitlin Hornback

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stephen F. Austin State University was once the pride and joy of the city of Nacogdoches, Texas. When the Texas State Legislature began to look for a location for their new state normal school, the people of the East Texas town fought to have it built there and the Stephen F. Austin Teacher’s College opened its doors in September 1923 to a proud community. Through the trials and tribulations of early twentieth century events, the school managed to stay afloat and grow in numbers. Dr. Ralph W. Steen became the president of the college in 1958 and he oversaw a …

Hall Family Collection - Index To Appendix 1, "Letters From The Attic" And Appendix 2, Postcards, Kyle Ainsworth

Librarian and Staff Presentations

The Hall Family Collection can generally be described in two parts. The first part is Letters from the Attic, which are more than 5,000 documents that Andrena Hall Brunotte transcribed into 16 volumes. Brunotte’s transcription project established an “original order” to this part of the collection that the processing archivist does their best to adhere to. All of these materials were found in one large steamer trunk and organized by Brunotte in chronological order. Boxes 1 to 4 of the collection house the paper transcriptions (3,330 pages). Boxes 5 to 13 contain the documents, which are in chronological order. The …

War And Reconstruction From An East Texas Perspective: Nacogdoches County From 1861-1876, William Wade Carter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Initially founded in 1826 as a municipality of Mexico and organized as a county in 1837—and sharing its name with the oldest town in Texas—Nacogdoches County flourishes with a rich history and has been a factor in nearly every major event in early Texas history. The Civil War is no exception. Men from the county contributed to the war effort but also felt the war’s sting at home. Citizens did what they could to survive. The county continued under the yoke of Reconstruction after the war before booming again in the 1880s thanks largely to the town the county shares …

Constructing An Interpretive Master Plan For The Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site, Alysha M. Richardson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site is owned and operated by the Texas Historical Commission. Interpretation of the site spans the 1864-1940 period and includes stories of groups that once met there for social events, including the United Confederate Veterans. In recent years, the Confederate Reunion Grounds has seen a decline in visitation as well as a reduction in staff. This capstone project focuses on creating an interpretive master plan to accommodate the change. This interpretive master plan aims to address the changes that have occurred over the past seven years and set staff goals and objectives.

The Impact Of The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps And Waac Branch No. 1 During World War Ii, Savannah Peterson

Undergraduate Research Conference

WAACs benefited SFA, Nacogdoches, and women during WWII, for their station effectively supplemented local income as men left to fight in the war, set precedents for similar programs, and furthered acceptance of women in male dominated fields locally and nationally, the impacts of which are still relevant

Tracing Roots: Finding Cultural Identity Through The African Diaspora, Joy Crissmon

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

The Reporter Who Lost The War: An In-Depth Look At Walter Cronkite's Report On The Tet Offensive And Its Long-Term Effects, Raegan Hoyer

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Forgotten Stories Of The New London School Tragedy, Clayton Jones

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Our Weakness To Forgive: War Psychosis And The Impaired Humanity Of Colonel Gillespie, Raymond Mitchell

East Texas Historical Journal

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

East Texas Historical Journal

No abstract provided.