Texas Digital Newspapers feed historical research on slavery
If you walk up to Dr. Andrew Torget at the University of North Texas and Dr. Caleb McDaniel at Rice University, ask them what they think of newspapers. These professors will start to talk to you about how they look at 19th-century newspaper issues over a series of years and use them as records for reading voting patterns or for learning about slavery in Texas. Torget, McDaniel, and their students have collaborated on extensive research on newspapers available in the Texas Digital Newspaper Program to build the Texas Runaway Ads (@TxRunawayAds) Twitter feed—displaying actual runaway slave advertisements that appeared in newspapers published between 1836 and 1860 such as the Telegraph (more)
Apply for a 2015-16 Portal to Texas History Research Fellowship
The University of North Texas Libraries invites applications for The Portal to Texas History Research Fellowship. Research using the Portal is relevant to studies in a variety of disciplines including history, journalism, political science, geography, and American studies. We encourage applicants to think creatively about the opportunities that research with large digital library collections can enable. Preference will be given to applicants that demonstrate the greatest potential for publication and the best use of The Portal to Texas History. A total of $2,000 in funding will be awarded to one or more fellowship applicants. (more)
in the news …
Local Museum gets grant money to preserve Humble Echo newspaper
The Humble Museum received a grant from the University of North Texas to preserve copies of the Humble Echo, which is no longer in publication. The university offers their “Rescuing Texas History Mini-Grants” which provide up to $1,000 of digitization services to libraries, archives, museums, (more) The Humble Observer, 10/28/14
featured lesson plan …
Suffragettes
In the early nineteenth century, changing social conditions and the idea of equality led to the beginning of the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Women were participating in reform movements and taking an increased interest in politics. Women and men began to question why women were not allowed to vote. (more)
Recently added collections …
The Sanborn Map Collection
The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History presents its collection of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. The maps were created to estimate fire insurance risks in US cities. They are a priceless resource for historical and genealogical research as well as for planning and preservation. This collection, which includes over 10,000 maps from across Texas, dates from 1877 – 1951.
Westerner World Newspaper
Lubbock High School presents its collection of The Westerner World, the student newspaper from Tom S. Lubbock High School of Lubbock, TX. The paper was written and produced by students and includes school news and advertising. (more)
