UTA Center for Southwestern Studies

Another Alliance for Texas History conference is in the books!

Pictured are: Center director Sam Haynes, with Amy Earhardt (Texas A&M), and Jeffrey Littlejohn (Sam Houston State) at their session, “Interethnic Violence in the Digital Age;” UTA Phd student Bob Rogers, who gave a paper on US-Mexico War soldier Washington Sawtelle; Center fellow Kelsey Hanson, who moderated the panel “Histories in the Land: A Collaborative Project at Paint Rock.”; and Center post-doc research associate Ted Banks (center) gave a paper titled “Taught by Southern Men: The Lost Cause at the University of Texas.”

A new digital exhibit is on the way from UTA Libraries and the Department of History & Geography, launching July 4.

“Mapping a Nation” tells the story of the United States through a powerful collection of maps spanning from 1776 to the present. Each map featured in the exhibit was thoughtfully selected by a student, faculty member, donor, or history enthusiast, accompanied by a personal reflection sharing what the map reveals and why it resonated with them.

This exhibit highlights how maps can serve as more than historical records; they are tools for learning, interpretation, and connection. For students, researchers, and the public, this digital experience offers valuable context for academic work, creative projects, and a deeper understanding of how place and identity evolve over time.

We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this collaborative project and helped bring these perspectives together in one meaningful collection.

Read more about the exhibit:
https://libraries.uta.edu/news/uta-libraries-and-history-geography-department-launch-mapping-nation-digital-exhibit

Spring issue of Fronteras is out!

FRONTERAS – The Center for Greater Southwestern Studies at UT Arlington Making Sense of Place: The UT Arlington Mi Comunidad Project Center Launches New Version of the Digital Humanities Project “Texas in Turmoil: Mapping Interethnic Violence, 1821-1879” "Composed and Respectfully Dedicated" Sheet Music from the U.S.-Mexico War" Debuts on A Continent Divided by Evan...

People have been leaving their mark at Paint Rock for centuries 🪨✍️

Now you can find out who they were.

ENROLL NOW!

🔎 Study one of the largest Native rock art sites
🧾 Research thousands of real inscriptions
🧠 Discover who left them and why
🌐 Contribute to a digital history project

HIST 5348-001 • Summer
💸 Scholarships available (UTA History & Center for Greater Southwestern Studies)

Conference Home The annual Civil War Consortium at Sam Houston State University aims to promote research and academic community engagement related to the U.S. Civil War and its era.

Center fellow Chris Conway participated in an invited panel titled "Comic Books in Latin America, Mexico and India" on April 28. Dr. Conway was joined by Dr. Ritu G. Khanduri of Sociology and Anthropology as well as archivist Evan Spencer of the UTA Libraries Special Collections.

During Spring Break this semester, Center Fellow Kelsey Hanson led a field trip for 19 undergraduate students to Paint Rock, which is the largest and most culturally diverse rock art site in Texas. The field trip was part of Dr. Hanson's Archaeology of Rock Art Class and provided students with an opportunity to apply course concepts in context and practice skills in rock art documentation and interpretation. Kelsey's trip was featured in UTA news: https://www.uta.edu/news/news-releases/2026/04/22/uta-students-step-into-ancient-rock-art

Join us April 27 at The Vine in Grapevine!

Center director Sam W. Haynes was inducted into UTA’s Academy of Distinguished Researchers at the Spring Awards banquet this week. In addition, Center Fellow Dr. Paul Conrad received the Excellence in Graduate Faculty Advisor Award for his work as the PhD advisor for the department of History and Geography, Congratulations Dr. Haynes and Dr. Conrad!