Texas State History

A powerful example of how history and digital humanities come together.

This project developed in part by two of our History Department faculty members, Dr. Jose C. de la Puente and Dr. Louie Valencia, who will work with TXST Department of Computer Science students to advance it over the summer. The project preserves and analyzes thousands of historical records from Peru’s Sondondo Valley. From parish archives to large-scale data analysis, the work makes it possible to reconstruct the lives and communities of the past while making these resources accessible for the future.

Learn more and explore the archive: https://valledelsondondo.org/en/home/

Images by: Evelyne Mesclier

Faculty, staff, and alumni from Texas State History Department were well represented at the Alliance for Texas History Conference.

Professor Jason Mellard moderated a panel on dance hall histories featuring Steve Ray of the Texas Music Office, Steph McDougal, TXST history alum Sydney Salazar, and Greg Smith. Avery Armstrong also presented on a panel alongside Alan Schaefer of TXST English and TXST history alum Jaclyn Zapata of the Texas Music Office.

Tammy Gonzales from the Center for the Study of the Southwest and Madelyn Patlan from the TXST History Department were also in attendance.

We are hiring!

We are excited to welcome a new Administrative Assistant II to the Center for Texas Music History. If you are interested or know someone who would be a great fit, we encourage you to apply through the link below and help spread the word.

https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/57321

Please join us in congratulating TXST History alum Micah Krejcha on his admission to the University of North Texas PhD program in Philosophy! 🎉

Micah completed his BA at Texas State, followed by his MA in History.

He plans to explore how modern technology interacts with human experience and the formation of identity. This work connects with his broader interest in the role mass culture plays in shaping consciousness. By examining these topics, he aims to investigate how modern technologies reinforce notions of power and control in everyday life.

We are incredibly proud of Micah and look forward to seeing all that he accomplishes in his PhD journey.

The Department of History is delighted to share exciting news about one of our graduate students!

Ainsley Williams, an MA thesis student, has been awarded a nationally competitive one-month research fellowship from the American Philosophical Society. This summer, she will travel to Philadelphia as a Swan Foundation Short-Term Research Fellow for Revolutionary-Era Material Culture.

Her research will support her MA thesis, “'To Me It Conveys Much:' Elite Femininity through Dress and Textiles in Sarah Wister’s Revolutionary Journal, 1777–1778.”

Please join us in congratulating Ainsley on this outstanding accomplishment!

We are now on LinkedIn.

Follow the Texas State University Department of History page to stay up to date on faculty achievements, student highlights, and upcoming events.

If you do not already follow our other platforms, we invite you to connect with us there as well.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-state-department-of-history/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/txsthistory?igsh=a3FtN2Rtc3FxbWM2&utm_source=qr

⭐Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Shannon Duffy

Dr. Shannon Duffy is featured in Lone Star Lore, a Texas history podcast hosted by filmmaker Matthew Thornton, and written by faculty emerita, Joleene Maddox Snider.

In a compelling two-part series, Dr. Duffy examines the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, offering insight into both the lead-up to the storm and its complex aftermath.

These episodes go beyond the event itself. Exploring how knowledge, public trust, and societal response shape the way disasters unfold and are remembered.

We’re proud to see Dr. Duffy’s expertise contribute to public conversations about Texas history and its broader relevance through reflecting the thoughtful, impactful work our faculty bring to both the classroom and the public.

Watch Part I here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt4zz5rm9LM

Watch Part II here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1v3zPLPCds&list=PL8WHObwDQvgTE0a9JIZUNqVYyyHeLc_Hb&index=8

We’re proud to share that Dr. McWilliams’ book, The Life and Poetry of Frank Stanford (University of Arkansas Press), was named a finalist for the 2026 Pulitzer Prize in Biography! 👏📚

https://universitystar.com/35704/life-and-arts/texas-state-professors-biography-earns-spot-as-pulitzer-finalist/

We will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful holiday as we honor those who served.

Congratulations to History Department Alumnus, Micah Krejchan, for being chosen as our March 2026 History Student Spotlight! Micah earned both is BA and MA in History from Texas State and is currently working on a second Master's in Applied Philosophy!

You can learn more about Micah, and the rest of out outstanding students, on our History Student Spotlight Page | https://www.txst.edu/history/news-events/history-spotlight.html