Texash-Eritage a Publication of the Texas Historical Foundation Iest
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The Legacy of HOtt§ton's 'YCites Family TEXASH-ERITAGE A PUBLICATION OF THE TEXAS HISTORICAL FOUNDATION IEST. 1954 I$5 ISSUE IVolume 3 2011 Respected Academics, Past and Present Women Historians' Newspaper Columnists and Bloggers TEXASHERITAGE A PUBLICATION OF THE TEXAS HISTORICAL FOUNDATION IEST. 1954 I$5 ISSUE IVolume 3 2011 FEATURE STORY I 8 The Face of Texas History On the cover: A photo montage of As he gets ready to leave his post as The State Texas historians Historian of Texas, Dr. Light Cummins reflects on the two years that he spent traveling the state and meeting its citizens. By Pamela Murtha OTHER ARTICLES DEPARTMENTS 14 Rupert Richardson: No Armchair Historian 6 President's Message Acknowledging that the pursuit of truth was The Family Historian often hard work, author, historian, and preserva tionist Dr. Rupert Richardson was an active par 20 Living History ticipant in the study of Texas history-and Texas history journalists and bloggers openly shared the knowledge that he gained. By Olivia J. Olmstead 22 Looking at Books The most important Texas history books 28 Vintage HERITAGE This section features articles from past issues of 26 Texas Familes the magazine. Houston's Yates Family Legacy 32 Texas Women Historians 35 Teaching Texas History Since 1836, the year of Texas independence, The Junior Historians of Texas women have been documenting the events, details, and personalities of the state's past. 36 This Old Gun By Nancy Baker Jones The Big Guns: Cannons By Tom Power LISTINGS 7 Contributors 38 Texas Historical Museums EDITORIAL STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Editor, Gene Krane Armstrong County Museum, Mrs. John Berry, Debra Blacklock-Sloan, William Cherry, Mike Cox, Van Craddock, Ty Cushion, PhD., Dr. Light Cummins, Dallas Assistant Editor, Pamela Murtha Public Library, Tom C. Doell, J.R. Gonzales, Charles D. Grear, PhD., Joe Herring, Proofreader, Betty B. Hall Jr., Historic Wellington, Kate Hopfer, Nancy Baker Jones, Library of Congress, Richard McCaslin, PhD., Pamela Murtha, Olivia J. Olmstead, Bob Owens, Rupert N. Richardson Library, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame, Texas State Historical PRODUCTION Association, Tom Power, Sherra Thomason, Jerry Thompson, PhD., Debra Designer, Stacey Van Landingham Winegarten, Bill Wright, R.B.H. Yates Museum Texas HERITAGE magazine is published quarterly by the Texas Historical Foundation, P.O. Box 50314, Austin, Texas 78763; 512-453-2154; email:[email protected]. Opinions expressed by contributing writers do not necessarily reflect those of the Texas Historical Foundation. THF is a private, nonprofit organization supported by membership dues, contributions, and grants. Unsolicited articles not exceed ing 2,000 words will be considered by a review committee for publication. Articles pertaining to Texas heritage, culture, and preservation activities are given priority. Submissions become the property of the Texas Historical Foundation unless accompanied by a self-addressed envelope for return of materials. Once he steps down from his post as The State Historian of Texas, Dr. Light Cummins plans to work on his next book, a biography of Texas sculptor, Allie V. Tennant. All images courtesy of Light Cummins. 8 TEXASHERITAGE I Volume 3 2011 I • THE FACE OF TEXAS HISTORY ----- Dr. Light Cummins, a history faculty member at Austin College in Sherman, is winding down a two-year assignment to, as he says, "successfully animate the cause ofTexas history." What many peo ple are often surprised to learn is that this undertaking came with a title-The State Historian ofTexas. Created through 2005 legis lation, this non-partisan, governor-appointed position requires two years of voluntary service as a public advocate for Texas history by the individual chosen. The duties of the position are varied: act ing in an advisory capacity on government-related historical mat ters, furthering Texas history education efforts both in and outside of the classroom, and fostering awareness and appreciation for the state's distinctive past. BY PAMELA MURTHA Volume 3 2011 I TEXASHERITAGE 9 1 Above: At the April 2011 city council meeting, Sherman Mayor Bill Majors (standing) presented on official proclamation honoring Dr. Cummins (ori right) for his service as state historian; Councilman Willie Steele (center) looks on. Ppointed by Governor Perry sions and the Alamo, visible testimony the faculty of Austin College. He re in May 2009, Dr. Cummins to the state's past. As such, Cummins ports that Texas history continues to be is well-qualified to serve as developed a keen interest in history one of his most popular courses, sim the state historian. His pro during his childhood, which would ply because of the avid interest in the A fessional credentials include direct his academic pursuits. While at subject. He goes on to explain, "Many 34 years of teaching history at Austin tending Southwest Texas State Univer of my students do not necessarily want College in Sherman, an expert schol sity (now Texas State University) as a to major in history. They are from all arship on the Anglo-American west history major, Cummins explains that backgrounds, all cultures, and some ward movement into Spanish-speaking he came under the influence of two are from other countries. These young Texas, and author of several books on professors, Everett Swinney, currently people share a desire to learn more American and Texas history. Cummins a distinguished professor emeritus at about where they are from or where says being asked to succeed the first ap Texas State, and the late William C. they now live." pointee to the post, Dr. Jesus (Frank) Pool, a prominent educator and bi Undeniably, Cummins' personal de la Tejas, a Texas State University ographer of Texas historian Eugene background, education, and his teach distinguished professor and a respected C. Barker. The two men introduced ing career have made him an ideal ad historian, was a privilege and afforded Cummins to the richness of the state's vocate for serving as state historian. him the opportunity to share a life history and encouraged and mentored Yet, in return, the post has provided long passion with a wider audience. He him through his undergraduate and him with a broader perspective on describes his role as state historian as graduate pursuits. the obvious-how the cause of Texas being the public face representing the Because of San Antonio's thriving history is publicly perceived and sup passion and loyalty that so many Tex Hispanic community, Cummins not ported. "One of the things I've learned ans feel for the history and heritage of only learned to speak Spanish, but also during these past two years is that most the place they call home. gained an appreciation for the city's Texans, from any and all backgrounds, Cummins, who grew up in San An culture and heritage. Therefore, he de have a real and notable appreciation for tonio and spent time on his family's cided to focus his graduate studies on their state's extraordinary past. There ranch, can trace his Lone Star roots the Spanish and Mexican period in is a presence in this state that draws back to the 1820s. The native Texan Texas. He did doctoral work at Tulane people into its history," says Cummins, is a descendent of Asa Townsend and University and spent two years in Spain "and I believe that [the cause of] Tex James Cummins, two members of Ste in the 1970s on a Fulbright scholarship, as history has never been more alive, phen F. Austin's Old 300 Colony. The writing his dissertation on Spain and more vibrant or robust, than it is right historian remembers growing up hear the American Revolution, with the his now." He maintains that this fascina ing family stories of Texas and being torical focus on Texas and Louisiana. tion and regard for the story of Texas surrounded by San Antonio's old mis- In the fall of 1978, Cummins joined is something, in his experience, that 10 TEXASHERITAGE I Volume 3 2011 is unlikely repeated in other states. As they are just as eager to talk with me to quantify their time here as a pref further illustration, Cummins refers about their passion for the subject." He ace to talking about how they have to the extensive scholarship devoted to notes that his one regret in serving in come to embrace the state's culture the state's historical record, pointing the state post is that, as a working Aus and history. out that Texas bookstores often have tin College educator, teaching obliga Though intangible, there surely shelves filled with works devoted to a tions occasionally have meant turning seems to be something special about wide range of topics on the Lone Star down invitations to lecture. According Texas that cultivates a people proud of legacy. "On the other hand," he says, to Cummins, after giving a talk, people its heritage. Cummins suggests that, "if you walk into a bookstore in New often come up to him to share their for a large majority of its residents, Jersey, for instance, there would not family stories of Texas or historical this history has also become integral to be as many books on that state's his anecdotes about their community. He adopting or acknowledging a "Texan" tory." He clarifies that this comparison says, "The passion and knowledge that identity. He explains, "This state has does not imply that other states do not Texans demonstrate when telling me always been a land that welcomes im have their own compelling heritage, their stories is truly a unique and won migrants, some of whom arrived dur explaining that the majority of state derful thing. You will find few places ing the Spanish period, and others who histories are commonly linked to where people talk about their state and came just last week.