Happy 4th of July, from The Portal to Texas History!

Icebox cake

Posted by & filed under Featured, Holidays.

This Fourth of July post comes to you from Ricardo Carter, one of the Digital  Newspaper Unit’s newest student assistants! Ricardo is a fifth-year student at the University of North Texas, majoring in Professional and Technical Communication with a minor in Public Relations. Ricardo will eventually pursue a career in public relations, either with a high-level tech company or in sports and entertainment.

Are you ready for a fantastic Fourth of July celebration? As The United States’ greatest holiday approaches, great food will be essential to the celebration. Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ or a festive gathering, The Portal of Texas History has delicious recipes to help make your Independence Day even more special. Let us dive into some mouthwatering dishes that are perfect for the occasion.

  1. Red, White, and Blue Icebox Cake (from Texas Neighbors, Vol. 87, No. 3)

Icebox cakeThis no-bake dessert is a showstopper with its layers of creamy filling, graham crackers, and fresh berries. It is a perfect fit for the patriotic theme of the day. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1495349/)

 

  1. Pineapple Cake (from Denton Chronicle Vol. 45, No. 265)

Bring a taste of the tropics to your 4th of July celebration with this delightful pineapple cake, from the Denton Record-Chronicle. Foolproof Pineapple Cake Recipe 
The sweetness of pineapple and moist cake layers will transport you to a summer paradise. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1370717/)

 

 

  1. Grilled Mexican Pizza (from Taylor Press, Vol. 101, No. 49, Ed. 1) Grilled Mexican Pizza Recipe

From Taylor Press, you can switch up your traditional pizza routine with this grilled Mexican pizza. Loaded with flavorful ingredients, this dish brings a fun and spicy twist to any 4th of July menu.(https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth759709/)

 

  1. Red Raspberry Cobbler (from Cedar Hill Chronicle, Vol. 5, No. 51, Ed. 1)

Raspberry Cobbler RecipeThe Cedar Hill Chronicle has you covered because raspberries are in season, making this red raspberry cobbler the perfect choice for a summer celebration. The vibrant color and juicy berries are sure to be a hit. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth480386/)

 

  1. Peach Cobbler (from Texas Neighbors, Vol. 86, No. 3)Peach Cobbler Recipe

 A classic Southern dessert, peach cobbler is a comforting and timeless treat. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a truly irresistible dessert. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1495348/)

 

 

  1. Shogun Char-Grilled Beef Burgers (from Hondo Anvil Herald, Vol. 115, No. 26, Ed. 1)

Shogun Char-Grilled Beef RecipeFire up the grill and treat your guests to these mouthwatering char-grilled beef burgers. They are a true crowd-pleaser and a must-have for any 4th of July celebration. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth819363/)

 

 

No matter which recipes you choose for your 4th of July spread, they will be a hit. We wish you a wonderful Independence Day with good food, great company, and memorable moments!

 

TexTreasures 2024-2025 Grants Awarded

Posted by & filed under Featured, Grants, Texas Digital Newspaper Program, TexTreasures.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), in collaboration with the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Library Services Technology Act funds, offers an annual competitive grants program to libraries across Texas.  This month, TSLAC has announced multiple newspaper digitization grant awards recipients, whose materials will be added to The Portal to Texas History over the course of the upcoming year. All of these materials will be digitized from either microfilm or physical page and uploaded to the Texas Digital Newspaper Program collection on The Portal to Texas History.

The Plano Public Library has received funds to digitize 38,500 pages of the Plano Star-Courier, established in 1902 through the consolidation of the Plano Star and Plano Courier newspapers. It is the longest-operating Plano newspaper and serves as a vital record of the history of the city and surrounding area.

The Moore Memorial Library in Texas City has received an award to digitize 38,740 pages of the Texas City Sun, from 1934-1950. With its first edition in 1915, the Texas City Sun took on the responsibility of providing news for the Greater Galveston County Mainland. Alvin, Santa Fe, Dickinson, Bacliff, Kemah, Algoa, Alta Loma, Hitchcock, La Marque, and League City received regular attention from The Texas City Sun, even after some of these towns supported their own local papers.  Once digitized, these newspapers will connect to the Moore Memorial Library’s current Portal to Texas history materials.

The Fort Worth Public Library has received funds to expand its editions of the Fort Worth Press by an additional 37,950 pages.  The Fort Worth Press currently spans 1921-1945 on The Portal to Texas History. At the time of this writing, the Press collection has shown tremendous research popularity, with over 21,000 uses across 4,873 individual newspaper issues, representing a usage rate of 430%. 

In addition to partner libraries receiving TexTreasures awards, University of North Texas Libraries is pleased to announce that they have also received a TexTreasures award of $40,000, to digitize the El Paso Herald-Post.  Currently, The Portal to Texas History hosts issues of The El Paso Herald from 1910 to 1921.  Due to difficulty locating complete year runs of this title, until this past year UNT had difficulty adding more years to this collection. However, in 2023, UNT was able to obtain master microfilm for The El Paso Herald and the El Paso Herald-Post, spanning 1927 up to 1965.  For this grant award, UNT will expand this newspaper content from 1927 up to 1940, to represent a critical era in the history of El Paso, the State of Texas, the U.S., and even Mexico.

 

Texas State Library and Archives Commission Logo Institute of Museum and Library Services Logo Texas Digital Newspaper Program Collection Logo

The Portal to Texas History at the Texas State Historical Association’s Annual Meeting

Posted by & filed under General.

Portal Table at TSHA 2024

The Portal to Texas History was thrilled to attend 128th Annual Meeting for the Texas State Historical Association in College Station this past week. The Portal was able to attend thanks to the Cathy Nelson Hartman Portal to Texas History Endowment.

Few things make me feel better about the work I do than having many of the 400+ registrants come by the Portal booth and share how great they think the Portal is and tell me ways in which they use it for their research. 

Celebrating Over TWO MILLION Items on The Portal To Texas History

Posted by & filed under Events, General.

 

The Portal to Texas History recently reached two million items online, and we invite you to join us to celebrate this milestone at the Willis Library on UNT Campus!

When: February 15, 2024, 3-4 pm. 
Where: Willis Library, Room 250H on the second floor; 1506 Highland Street, Denton TX. 
Parking: Several parking options are available, including the nearby Highland Street Parking Garage

Research Fellowship Opportunities: Portal to Texas History and UNT Special Collections

Willis Library Arbor

Posted by & filed under General, Research Fellowships.

The University of North Texas Libraries is excited to invite applications for 2024 Research Fellowships in The Portal to Texas History and UNT Special Collections.  The Fellowships are aimed at covering the associated expenses with conducting research and producing scholarship using UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections, including The Portal to Texas History and the UNT Digital Library, as well as collections from UNT Special Collections.  Up to $2000 will be awarded to two or more Portal to Texas History Research Fellows and up to $1000 will be awarded to four UNT Special Collections Research Fellows.  Applications are due February 15, 2024.

More information can be found here.