In recognition of the 183rd anniversary of the Siege and Battle of the Alamo, residents of San Antonio are reminded of what makes this city so popular. Lifelong residents of this city, are introduced and introduced again to the defending heroes who fought for our city’s emblematic historic site. In celebration of that heroism, historians for the Alamo recently provided San Antonio residents with an opportunity to view the Texas Revolution through a new lens, one based upon new evidence and research.
For this panel, Alamo historians brought together three individual perspectives on the familiar story of the Alamo. Dr. Miguel Soto, Ph.D., Professor of Mexican History at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, reimagines the story of the Alamo from the perception of the Mexican Army. Dr. Andrew Torget, Associate Professor of History at the University of North Texas, examines the story of the Alamo while emphasizing the connection between the Texas Revolution and the forthcoming Civil War, while Dr. Gregg Dimmick, a medical doctor who is an avid Alamo enthusiast provided a layman’s but still well-versed perspective.
Most intriguing among the things mentioned by these speakers were the ideas of looking past the traditional perspective of history, an idea growing among historians today. In particular, I found the theories of Dr. Torget most interesting. His connection of the Texas Revolution with the Civil War was highlighted by a discussion of por-slavery feeling among early settlers of the Texas Republic. Torget discusses this topic in-depth in this book, Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands, 1800-1850.
In an age where differences in interpretation and opinion are not popular, voices which parallel Dr. Soto, Dr. Torget, and Dr. Gregg are much needed. It is my opinion that an absence or unwillingness to acknowledge the opinions of other historians of varied levels, disables us as enthusiasts from fully producing a complete history.
Histography, https://histography.io/. Created by Matan Stauber at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. The project was over seen by Ronel Mor as a final project. This database is an interactive archive that is presented as a timeline. The timeline crosses through 14 billion years of events, starting from the Big Bang all the way to the end of 2015. The large amount of data that is being processes into this website is being siphoned through Wikipedia. Each page of major events that are mentioned on Wikipedia are placed onto this extended timeline and are represented by a dot.
When you begin working with the interface a pop
up opens to explain very simply in two sentences how to begin using the
timeline. Once pressing “got it,” the user is free to roam the timeline. At the
bottom of the timeline there is a bar that allows the user to decide upon the
years that are shown more in depth. When the sliding bar is moved it also gives
the user the name of the eras that are being shown for that section. After
deciding upon years, the user can hover over the dots (events) and look at a
short snapshot of what the event is. When pressing the dot, the snapshot
expands and some of the extra links that can be seen are related events, read
wiki page, and watch video. Clicking on related events takes the user to other
dots on the timeline, read the wiki page and watch video opens a pop up within
the site.
The extras on this website can be seen on the
top and on the left of the timeline. The top of the timeline Has three options,
the first is the “about” page which takes you off the website. Then there is
the “based on Wikipedia,” section that sends you to the Wikipedia website. At
the end there is a simple “sound on” button that allows the user to turn of the
music for concentration. On the lefts is a list of topics being Literature,
Music, Wars, Politics, Construction, and Inventions. Selecting one of these
topics like Music changes the timelines shape and only places important musical
events. If the user decides to click on another topic like Politics, then the
timeline morphs once again and is separated into two parallel timelines. The
bottom black timeline being about music and the top white timeline being about
Politics. Every time the user selects a new topic then the topic chosen before
is sent to the bottom and the new topic chosen takes it place.
The project could be used by classrooms,
researchers, history enthusiasts, librarians, university professors, and
students. The website URL is short and easy to access and easily searchable in
a Google search engine. One of the only cumbersome points is the website
automatically reloads if the user decides to visit another open page on the
desktop. It is also somewhat difficult for the user to select specific years
with the sliding tool bar.
The effectiveness in the capacity of digit
media is positive when it comes to comparing topics in specific eras. It is a
great teaching aid in showing what event are happening during an era and how it
could affect or mirror another event. The website is user friendly and simple
to interact with, yet it would be difficult to convert the project into print
or film. It may be possible to create a snapshot of the database into an
exhibit to show different events happening at the same time.
Overall the digital project is very
informative and eye opening. The different ways to manipulate the timeline can
be helpful in multiple realms of historical, digital, and informational
research. Syphoning information through Wikipedia allows the designer a vast
amount of information with a workforce that continually pushes more information
out. The timeline only goes to 2015 and I do not know if the designer is going
to be continuing the digital project, but it will continue to be useful.
Medieval European technology is shown off for a modern audience.
There is a place where you can walk among history, or at least a facsimile of it. A place where you can see a Gutenberg printing press in use, or see how people long ago turned wool into yarn. Blacksmiths and glass blowers work their crafts just down the path from the weapons master holding school for both young and old. Musicians playing timeless music can be heard about the grounds as barkers alert you to the start of a comedy show or a Shakespeare reciting Nubian who is about to perform. Weapons, armor, and clothing of all kinds are on display for admiring or purchase. Chandlers and soap makers display their products next to shops selling foods from all over the world. This is the world of the Texas Renaissance Festival. Part carnival, part living history, part street market, and part party the Texas Renaissance Festival, or Ren Fest to its fans, is considered by many to be the top Renaissance Festival in the country. Although it was created for entertainment purposes, there are educational opportunities when you walk through the gate. I have been to Ren Fest many times, but this time I wanted to look at it as if it were a museum. Does the museum label fit, and if so how does it compare to serious collecting institutions?
History for Entertainment Purposes
A craftsman working on his latest piece of pottery.
At its core the Ren Fest is an entertainment event, there is no denying that. However, just because its main purpose is to entertain does not mean there is no educational value there. A museum educates by telling the stories of the artifacts it has collected over the years. At Ren Fest the exhibits are not artifacts, but craftsmen and women who will gladly chat with you about the skills they apply to their work. There are people displaying all kinds of skills. With a short walk you can find potters, chandlers (candle makers), printers, leather workers, glass blowers, and weavers. You can see first hand how they apply their trade. For most of the day they are demonstrating how they work. They are also open to answering any questions that you have.
Spinning wool into thread to be woven into cloth.
For those who are really interested they will take you step by step through the process. They are not just making these items for display. Festival goers have the chance to purchase the items they are making. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who is interested in these craft works. If trade crafts are not your thing there are still other things to learn. For those who are looking for something more physical the Ren Fest has something for you too.
Swords, Bells, and Bagpipes
For people who need a little more action in their learning experience, Ren Fest has you covered. Visitors can learn the art of sword fighting from the
Oskar Hasslehoff giving a sword fighting lesson.
weapons master Oskar Hasslehoff. Four times a day he instructs adults and children in the class art of sword fighting. Observers can see demonstrations of a wide variety of swords. He gives lessons for everything from 2-handers to rapiers. He is a great source of historical sword fighting, often pointing out how Hollywood gets it wrong. For something less violent there are many musical acts to be enjoyed.
You are not going to find any rock bands or line dancing here. Lutes, drums, and bagpipes are the instruments of choice here. The music here is played in a historic style. Regulars have their favorites, but all musicians are quality acts. This is a great chance to hear music played on instruments that you might not be able to hear in a regular setting. The most unusual being the Carillon played by a performer called Cast in Bronze. Imagine a piano made of bells instead of strings. It produces a very distinct
Cast in Bronze is the only act in the world that features the Carillon.
sound you won’t find anywhere else. You can also catch dancers who perform in old world styles, but these are more entertaining than educational.
A Museum or not a Museum, you be the Judge
You are not going to find a mission statement at the Texas Renaissance Fair. No big idea will be disseminated on exhibit labels hanging next to well preserved artifacts. What you will find is a chance to immerse yourself in history, or what people believe history to be. The biggest resemblance to a museum that you will see is in the people who visit. There are people who come to be refreshed, there are people who come to learn a thing or two, and there are people who come as a family outing. Yes, it is more entertainment than history, and it’s not a place where I would come to do historical research. However, it does have the ability to inspire people to learn more or to take up a hobby they may not have known about before their trip, and isn’t that the goal of any good museum?
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Recently, The Western History Association had a conference in San Antonio, Texas. It was of no surprise to me that the participants of the conference were very interested in the history of San Antonio and the past of a city reborn.
As part of a course at St. Mary’s University, Dr. Teresa Van Hoy gathered a group of her brightest minds as well as a grad student (that would be me). Dr. Van Hoy engaged these students in research at the level of a graduate
Photo of Casa Navarro courtesy of Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio, Texas
student’s course. These students learned about everything from the battle of The Alamo, the historic Market Square, Casa Navarro, as well as La Villita and The Arneson Theatre. History of these past lives for the places that we were treading upon for the sake of history is important. The major history of the west was highly influenced by the past of Texas and the past of the Spanish settlers of the time.
Pierre, the undergraduate history major, explains The Alamo and the history captured in the historic shrine. Photo courtesy of Gateway Photography
The Alamo is probably one of the most mentioned historical sights of the city in terms of tourism and engagement but the truth of the matter is that there are so many places that are filled with love, hate, energy, and resentment. These places are the true places that affect lifestyles and changes in culture and security and these were those places that the students were talking about.
La Villita, for instance, was a very familiar sight for a local leader, Anthony Delgado, this sight was was more than an artists’ grounds or NIOSA fiesta sight. This compound is holy ground for Anthony. “La Villita” was the land previously owned by his ancestors and Anthony ensured that his history and his family’s past have stayed alive. As the previous president of the organization, “Los Bexarenos,” Anthony knows what it means to be a direct descendant of a people of strength and resilience. Throughout Anthony’s talk, the somber feelings of disbelief and wartime angst began to fill the audience with feelings that some could say only a San Antonian could know.
Photo of Anthony Delgado (former leader of Los Bexarenos organization) presenting the La Villita Historic sights to conferences goers of the WHA conference.
The tour continued and different important topics were discussed and thrown in along the way. There was color-commentary from the beginning until the end and some of those fun-facts just grabbed the attention of the audience. The interesting part of this living history was that history was being created just in the activity itself. Each participant was some sort of scholar of history or fan of the city and learned something new that they had not yet heard before. Up until that day I had not heard of Los Bexarenos. The knowledge was highly appreciated and the “tour in the rain” seemed to be the best part of any scholar’s visits to The Alamo City.
By no surprise, the students, including myself, were introduced to many scholars and writers. These people have continued to keep interest in the students and the leaders of the tour. Recently while sorting through emails, I found correspondence about visits to museums, programs, and schools nationwide as a result of this great tour opportunity.
The Mission to Market Walking Tour was a great opportunity, to say the least. The connections built, the memories made, and the history learned was worth the trot through the pouring rain.
Students from the Texas history course at St. Mary’s University, taught by Dr. Van Hoy huddle together to talk about Henry B. Gonzalez, an influential San Antonio leader. Photo courtesy of Gateway Photography.
Public history is a program at St. Mary’s University, but it is more than that. Public history students are able to take part in these types of programs due to the efforts of the program and the leadership guiding it. The students that are growing due to this program are more than the average graduate and undergraduate student. This cohort is learning to work with and engage the community. In my time as a student (5 years now), I have not felt so empowered until now. I can see the work that is being done, as well as the influence it has on local perception.
The walking tour sure was an opportunity of a lifetime. The walking tour was more than just an opportunity, but a necessary component for the careers of many students and conference-goers. The memory is now an internal archive of a project that became part of a class and a group of students’ journey.
Click this photo if you are interested in connecting with the author, N. Geremy Landin
It could be argued that much of the local history that occurs today is brought forth by our “leaders”, those who are elected or placed into a public office or position. Well, I was able to spend some time with many of those leaders on a day called “Civic Engagement Day” that was hosted and arranged by the LSA 300 team.
LSA stands for Leadership San Antonio and as you would expect, those individuals that took place in this class were just that, leaders of San Antonio. Just a quick fact, of the people that were present for this event and team included individuals from every district in San Antonio except for one. Now back to LSA and where it came from.
LSA is a leadership development course that incorporates members of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. These leaders come together and learn about topics concerning the city and the development of San Antonio as a whole. These include but aren’t limited to infrastructure, educatio
Photo courtesy of Gateway Photography: Michael Quintanilla talking to the LSA300 group on civic engagement day
n, civic engagement, etc. The groups tackle a variety of questions regarding their selected topics and work within the groups and as a whole to come up with possible solutions. The program also incorporates visitors that come through and talk to the participants about their roles as leaders and how the leaders sitting before them can grow as leaders and join councils, boards, and positions in the public as well as in their selected private sectors.
LSA Civic Engagement Day was the last day of the program and involved a jam-packed day of activities and learning
Photo courtesy of Gateway Photography: During an innovative session with students of CAST Tech High School, audiences were captivated by the ideas that the students came up with
opportunities for San Antonio’s future leaders. I was able to participate as the group’s photographer of the program and did so with pride being that I am also a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as well.
We started the day at San Antonio’s very own Doseum, which as you may know is a great museum that is relatively new to the city and is located on Broadway St. Here we heard from the CEO of the Doseum, Leticia Van de Putte, former member of the Texas House of Representatives as well as several other leaders. Van de Putte and the rest of the panel talked about the injustices and hardships that have had affects on their lives and their careers. All of these women were inspirational and left an impact on my dat for sure!
Following our initial visit to the Doseum was a visit down to none other than San Antonio’s very own City Hall located on the site of one of San Antonio’s first plazas in front of the Spanish Governor’s Palace. Currently, the City of San Antonio residents are in argument over the propositions that have been proposed on this mid-term election. The husband of Senator Leticia Van De Putte paid us a visit at City Hall and explained the importance of civic engagement and the importance of leadership programs like the one that the participants of the group were taking part in.
There were several other stops on the trip that day to places like the AT&T Center, CAST Tech High School as well as another trip back to the Doseum but what I realized was
Photo courtesy of Gateway Photography: innovation session during the LSA 300 civic engagement day at CAST Tech High School
that the leaders that leave this group were all going to leave some impact on the world around them. This is history. These students of this program, a cohort comprised of rising leaders, CEO’s, VP’s, managers and directors, will decide the history of their respected companies and their respected communities. This is part of those community’s history and the chance to share in that was great.
Interestingly enough, I have not been a “blogger” for very long but I can tell you this much, as a new student in the Public History program at St. Mary’s University I have grown to be many different things including a blogger. The students in the program have become bloggers, twitter-storians, Slack-ers, and have even hit the nail on the head with the Planner application as planners, innovators and do-ers. History, by the perspective of many, is this old dusty subject that student have to take in grade school. There is an understanding that the topic continues in some people’s lives through writing, and publications of research. The public knows of historians that work in libraries and museums pulling things of historical value out of an old vault or collection.
Transfiguration in History Nation (caution: bloggers in the making)
My colleagues, the fellow students, the professors and the undergraduate students around the Department of Public History at St. Mary’s have begun transfiguration to a new type of historian. The world is changing and we are changing with it. Looking at some of the applications that I shared up above here, I would think the main pivotal platforms are this blog (Publicly Historians), Twitter, and Slack. These three applications have helped re-innovate the way we think and work together in teams and as classmates. The applications started as a requirement to learn a new method of communication and dissemination of information but have since turned into a more preferred method of communicating and sharing than I originally imagined. Blogging however seems to be that one that has given me a new perspective on the capacity of a historian that is different than the traditional historians we have met in the past. Looking through our blog site has been interesting for me as I was considering this topic to. There are blogs that talk about the “mummy brown” paint color to the “Esperanza Peace and Justice Center” and even a blog on a historical project going on in the Westside San Antonio region. The students have jumped past just thinking about the topics themselves in relation to the course but they have also delved into some topics that are just interesting altogether and tried to incorporate the public history aspect of our field into their accounts. becoming a blogger in this day is important though. I have seen and heard of information being researched and written about and then nobody sees it or reads it. I’ve typed out a well thought out blog and attached some great photos and within a few minutes of posting might have a comment or a retweet and the feeling is great. The information that I spent time to gather information and share it shared within moments and at that time I know my research did some immediate good.
Not Just Procrastinators but “Slack-ers”
Now, you might be wondering what Slack is and believe me, I was wondering too. Slack is a platform used by different organizations as a collaborative online workspace. The neat thing about slack is that it works across most platforms including iOS (i-Phone), Android, Mac, Windows and Linux. It is user friendly and is pretty vibrant in color. The platform is pretty simple to use at first and only gets easier after you’ve had your first few conversations. Why is any of this important to the modern-day historian? Well, we are able to not just have a group message type conversation, we are able to schedule events, participate in polls, have side conversations with each other and create our own workflows with the application. We can share resources and blog ideas as well as just pertinent information in relation to the program with each other. We even have fun with it sometimes and share memes and other funny side notes.
P-interesting Huh?
So by now you may have though, “well Geremy, I am not a historian, so why does this matter to me?” It turns out that everyone isn’t a historian (big surprise there) but everyone is effected by these new methods. It could be in 10 years or it could be tomorrow that someone somewhere needs to know something about a topic that we are blogging, tweeting, slack-ing about and we now have these conversations and research topics posted somewhere that can be searched and can be used for future research. It is something worth caring about. The work we are doing is going to change the way historians conduct research in the future. The historian of the future will no longer Face-books all day long but could be searching one of our four-squares of informational platforms.
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A developing population can grow out of the past or it can grow with the past in mind and in sight.
Laugh, smile, and cry seem to just be those emotions present at events like these. The interesting thing is what brings you to attending events usually has something to do with someone inviting you or an event reminding you of it an hour before on some social media platform but when some kind of event just pops out at you from the side of the road then what choice do you have but to stop?
Photo courtesy of Gateway Photography: 7 Year Old Boy Singing at The 4th Annual Mariachi Festival at Mariachi Connection Inc.
I stopped promptly, opened a window and a grito filled the air. Chances are that if you are from San Antonio or even from Texas then you know what a “grito” is but in case you aren’t a local of the region, a grito is a cathartic joyous yell according to an article by Brenda Salinas with NPR called “In Mariachi Music, A Distinctive Yell Speaks To The Soul“. It wasnt the first time I had heard a grito and it definetely wont be the last time that a grito filled the air.
That following weekend just happened to be the 16th of September and the recollection of the Grito de Dolores or the Cry of Dolores came to mind right away.
Place is a powerful thing. Place is not just a dot on a map or a green street sign, place is a force that shapes people and cultures. It dictates what clothes you wear and what foods you eat. Our modern world has overcome the constrictions of place with our advance transportation networks, however this was not always the case. Societies were defined by the land they lived on. It was who they were as a people. Many cultures saw themselves as living with the land, not just on it. Where these people lived was part of their cultural identity. When the European explorers first came to this continent they drew their maps and labeled the places they saw. They paid no heed to the fact that these paces already had names, for they did not care. The people living there were seen as uncivilized and savages, hardly worth noting. Slowly, the Europeans began to change the Place. With these changes new names were laid upon the land and its features. The bitter fruits of their labors still scar the land as the place names we see on our maps. At first it was done out of ignorance or possibly indifference to the native cultures, but later Europeans would use place names as part of their campaign of genocide against the native peoples.
McKinley vs Denali
The fight over place names is literally sky high, as in 20,000 feet into the sky. The tallest peak in North America has gone by many names. The natives who lived in the area had many names for the peak, depending on what side of the mountain you lived on. The Russians who explored the area had a different name for it, but it was based on the local languages spoken by the natives. The name Mount McKinley would be hung on the mountain by a gold prospector being interviewed by the New York Sun in 1893. The name gained permanence with the assassination of McKinley.
“I don’t like the name of Denali. It is not descriptive. Everybody in the United States knows of Mt. McKinley and the various efforts made to climb it. In consequence, both Mr. Yard and I think that the name McKinley should stick.” –Thomas Riggs Alaska Engineering Commission 1916
NPS Photo / Kent Miller
Riggs could have helped pass a law that would have reverted the name back to Denali, but his opposition caused the mountain to be named after a man who had no connection to Alaska. The name controversy would simmer until 1975 when a bill was introduced in Congress to change the name back to Denali. This attempt was blocked by the Congressional delegation from Ohio, McKinley’s home state. They did not wish to have that tribute removed from the maps. The delegation was successful for 40 years. President Obama and Secretary of the Interior Jewell were able to put the Denali name back on the mountain. President Trump nearly rekindled the controversy when he proposed undoing the name change. He was talked out of it by the Senators from Alaska.
This tale illustrates how the history of the continent is ignored until the Europeans show up. There were people living on this land for 10-15,000 years before Columbus’ boats showed up but to the Europeans that didn’t matter. They came with the intention of exploiting the land and its people. The renaming of places was in part to show people who was in charge of this land.
The Devil is in the Details
How do you find places in the United States that were sacred to the original inhabitants of the land? Look for the devil. Besides plastering European names on places in the Americas, the Europeans actively destroyed native culture by changing names of places. Near Death Valley is a cave that is fed by an underground spring. This area was sacred to the Timbisha People. It was christened Devils Hole by the Europeans who came to the area. Why would you call an important oasis “Devils Hole”? The answer is, to destroy it’s non-Christian divinity. Through it’s association with the devil, the newly Christian converts would no longer worship at their once sacred sight. This process was repeated in many locations around the country. Probably the most iconic example is Bear’s Lodge, or as it is known on the map, Devils Tower.
A sacred land to 6 different tribes. Courtesy JT Sleeter Photography
Devils Tower is located in North Eastern Wyoming. It is an unusual geological formation. It rises over 1200 feet but it stands by itself. there are no other peaks or neat it. It was a sacred place to many of the tribes in the area and they all tell a story about the formation’s origin. The common thread of the stories is that the rock was created by the spirits/ nature/ a god to save people from a bear attack. When Christianity was
Different tribes had different names for it, but the most common was Bear’s Lodge. Courtesy JT Sleeter Photography.
brought to the area the formation was renamed Devils Tower to break the mystical connection the natives had with this area. This was not a unique event, there are many more examples of this patter all over the country; almost every state has a Devils Lake, you can visit the Devils River in Texas, and Georgia is home to the Devils Valley. All renamed in an attempt to force subjugated people to accept the religion of their European conquerors.
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This evening the students from the St. Mary’s University were welcomed to one of the sites of the Esperanza Center in San Antonio Texas. The Director, Ms. Graciela Sanchez, quickly grasped the attention of all 10 students present.
“The people of Esperanza dream of a world where everyone has civil rights and economic justice, where the environment is cared for, where cultures are honored and communities are safe.”
-Graciela Sanchez; Director of Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
This part of their mission and vision is truly shown in the work that is done in and around the Rinconcito Center. In the past, I know that several of the students in this program (including myself) have been to museums and art exhibits. During a recent museum course there was talk about the different places that have been visited but I don’t quite think that this experience matches any of the ones that were mentioned in the past.
When entering the Rinconcito Center there is a drastic difference in what we are used to seeing in homes and apartments and visitors can quickly delve into the history from the time of the “Casa De Cuentos and Casita.” The center has owned the building and property at 816 Colorado St. since 2001 and since then, great work in preserving the housing and developments that surround the area has been done in hopes of saving that history that as Sanchez said, “is gone once they’re gone.”
As the students travel through the areas at the center, different pieces catch the eyes of future public historians and Director of Public History at St. Mary’s (Dr. Lindsey Wieck)
The students continued their walk down the street with a main focus on the structures and projects following the path towards The Guadalupe Center for cultural arts. “Fotohistorias del Westside” mark the path along the South side of the street lining the fence of J.T. Brackenridge Elementary School (a school named after Confederate veteran and bank president, JT Brackenridge, who was born in Warwick County, Indiana and passed in 1906). This school is one of San Antonio ISD’s 90 campuses.
Virgen de Guadalupe vela located next to the Guadalupe Center for Cultural Arts
The tour ended at the Plaza Guadalupe over at 1327 Guadalupe St. but the conversation did not. Conversations on the way back to the starting point of the tour led to ideas of projects with different shops, councilmen, and locals about oral history and community activism.
Sanchez is passionate about the work that she does and was excited to show us the public history aspects involved in her work. Having visited places on the westside and knowing the stigmas and negative energy that is posed towards the people and areas surrounding made it easier to want to learn and absorb as much information as possible. The connection that we have made as a course and cohort is tremendous and will continue to be a great source of energy and program development for public history at St. Mary’s and in San Antonio in general.
Graciela Sanchez, Director of the Esperanza Center introduces the student from St. Mary’s University’s Master in Public History Program to the back part of the Esperanza Center
As the students travel through the areas at the center, different pieces catch the eyes of future public historians
Graciela (Director) introduces the students to the many art works that are created by those that cooperate in the program from around the neighborhood
Pieces that line the walls of the MujerArtes studio in the rear of the center
Graciela (left) explains the use of the space as well as the use of the money that the individuals that create these pieces make.
This piece was found drying on a table outside of the MujerArtes Center behind the Riconcito de Esperanza Center. The detail is so precise.
Director Sanchez begins the walking tour off the site of the Riconcito Center. The walk lasts about 1 hr with questions and covers homes around the neighborhood and the area included in the center.
Graciela explains the need for the art and various activities that are done in this neighborhood. The murals across the street depict graduates and positive things that the Westside has contributed and will continue to show in the work that is being done
As the tour comes to an end, Graciela explains the importance of the council meetings and the access that is provided for these meetings. Much of the information that is provided to the individuals in this neighborhood could be seen as bias and has much to be worked on. This is when students start to think up ideas to work with different orgs. or parts of the Esperanza Center to bring Public History to the Westside.
My name is Norbert Geremy Landin, but I usually go by Geremy! I am way too excited about this unexpected Master in Public History program and the future that is to come because of this program. I had no plan on going to St. Mary’s for my masters degree much less in Public History but as I walked along the empty summer halls at St. Mary’s, I was invited to take a look at the program, and here I am a few weeks later.
The goal here is to attain this degree and the knowledge to succeed while working with the City of San Antonio or in organizations like the San Antonio Fiesta Commission on large scale projects and events as well as building a network and relationship with the people that are in these fields and do these things already. I am hopeful that the public history program will help me with these goals for sure!
Fiesta Papel Picado
Lately I’ve reflected on the ideas that brought me closer to believing that I could achieve something in a program like public history and I couldn’t think of a better example than the short film/documentary that I was tasked to complete for Dr. Teresa Van Hoy’s Civilizations course. That documentary was the first time I felt like I had complete freedom of creativity and decision making in a course of that magnitude. Now I’m here in the place where I belong; learning alongside people of different backgrounds and understandings of history.
