TSHM Volunteer

StoryTeller
Texas History?
Not So Much

May-June 2015

Joyce Spivey
Aldridge
Volunteer Services
Coordinator

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2014-2015
Volunteer Advisory
Council

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Joel Mosier, Chair
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Maria Garza-Lubeck
Past Chair
Candy Boyer
Robert Boyer
Leigh Everett
Warren Friedrich
Mary Lou Gibson
Ken Kramer
Stella Pullin
Diane Rogers
Mattie Scheihing
Bill Uhls

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Kathi Miller
Ex Officio
StoryTeller editor

Many TSHM volunteers were eager to watch Texas Rising, the

History channels 10-hour miniseries about the Texas Revolution.

Their reaction was a collective

groan.

Dan Arellano presides over a discussion

of the Texas Rising version of history

The series was full of historical

inaccuracies. One example: Emily
West, aka the Yellow Rose of
Texas (who may or may not have
existed), is portrayed as a survivor
of the Alamo who carried on with
both Sam Houston and Santa
Anna, and had to be rescued by
Texas Rangers after trying to kill
Santa Anna.

Volunteers lamented the fact that

because the series was on the History channel, many viewers will
assume it was accurate. Dan Arellano was outraged enough to take
action.

He organized a forum of historians

at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural Center to
discuss the inaccuracies and
stereotypes in the series, which he
said demonized Mexicans, Tejanos
and Native Americans.

This series carries on a tradition

of films that dismiss and distort
the perspective of people of
color, he said, pointing out that
from Mexicos point of view, it

was defending its sovereign territory

from an illegal uprising.

Dan, a TSHM volunteer and historical

interpreter since 2014, is a historian
and author. He is president of The Battle of Medina Historical Society whose
mission is to protect, preserve and
promote Tejano History. His testimony
before the State Board of Education
about the Battle of Medina and the
First Texas Republic resulted in lessons
taught in Texas schools today.

He is a lecturer specializing in the history of Cortes and the conquistadors

dating back to 1836.

Dan is a past commander of the Tejanos in Action veterans organization

and has built monuments at Austin high
schools to honor service members who
lost their lives in service to the country.

Also a professional actor, Dan has been

in the re-enactment of the Battle of
Medina for nine years. He will be joining the VolunteerAdvisory Council in
September (see Page 2).

New VAC Members, Chair Elected

Warren Friedrich

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Dan!
Arellano!

Warren Friedrich, a volunteer since _____ and historical inter-

preter, was elected the 2015-2016 chair of the Volunteer Advisory
Council at the VACs June meeting.

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Also elected were four new VAC members:
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Dan Arellano, a volunteer since 2014 and historical in-
terpreter on Saturday and Sunday.

Cathy Barnes, a volunteer since 2014 and cart conver-
sationalist on Monday and Friday

Kris Martin, aa volunteer since 2013 and a greeter, exhibit
guide, spot teacher and cart conversationalist on Thurs-
days and Sunday

Kay Reeves, a volunteer since 2014 and greeter and cart
conversationalist on Wednesday.

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They will take ofSice at the September meeting.
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Warren, a second generation German and native Texan, retired

after 33 years of government and military service with a goal of
researching his family history and German immigration into Texas
since the 1830s.

He is also a member of the German/Texan Heritage Society, Save

Austin Cemeteries and the Susanna Dickinson and Joseph Hannig
Museum.

At the TSHM, Warren brings Texas history and the history of Ger-
mans in Texas alive and exciting to Texans, visitors to Texas and
future generation of Texans by storytelling, costumed presenta-
tions and German immigration talks.

As VAC chair, Warren said he plans to pursue opportunities to

provide additional education opportunities for all volunteers.

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Cathy!
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Kris!
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Kay!
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Interpreting Exhibits
By Margaret Koch
Deputy Director

Many of our visitors are fascinated by the stories behind Texas's transition from an independent
republic to a state within
the U.S.A. and how the
borders as we know them
today were formed.

As you know, it wasn't a

"slam dunk."

The annexation of Texas to the United States in

1845 came after years of debate in Congress.
While acquiring the land would greatly expand
U.S. territory, statehood meant almost certain
war with Mexico and, because Texas permitted
slavery, would significantly alter the power
balance between northern and southern states.

Mexico viewed annexation as a direct threat

and an act of war, and fighting broke out in
1846, expanding to battles in California and
New Mexico. It ended in 1848, with the
boundary between Texas and Mexico established as the Rio Grande and California and
New Mexico becoming U.S. territory.

Volunteers Cathy Barnes, left, and Maria GarzrLubeck, preview the And Still We Rise exhibit of
quilts commemorating the 150th anniversary of
Juneteenth, the day in 1865 that African-Americans
in Texas learned they were free.

Volunteer Educational Opportunity

Maria will present a session on the role of slavery in

Texas history from its antecedents in Mexico and in New
Spain through the 20th
century from 1:30 to 2:30
p.m. Tuesday, June 30, in
the classroom. The session will examine what is
true and false about slavery, examined in depth in the And Still We Rise and
Relections special exhibits.

This month updates to the Statehood section on

the second floor will highlight the controversy
surrounding Texas's statehood and the two
most significant documents that set our borders
through war and negotiation.

New, larger format maps set between the perspectives of Mexico, Texas, and the U.S., plus
the addition of several artifacts and our regular
rotation of the 28-star flag from the Peter Keim
collection will give this area a fresh, new look.
This straight-forward interpretation is one that
we hope visitors will be able to grasp easily.

Dave Denney, director of Special Projects and a TSHM

staffer since its opening in 2001, retired in June. Among
those joining Dave, 3rd from left, in his retirement party
were, from left standing, volunteers Barbara Mjos, Joel
Mosier, Jim Harrington, Ken Kramer, Linda Glover, Nancy Sawyer and, front, Toni Turner.

Tids & Bits

The 2015 peak student field trip season is behind us.
This year, the TSHM hosted more than 90,000 students, teachers and chaperones from almost 100
Texas counties, a record number. School districts
served ranged from Brownsville to Dalhart, El Paso
to Texarkana and everywhere in between. The top
three volunteers who contributed the most hours to
helping manage and educate the students were Joel
Mosier (216.75 hours), Toni Turner (192) and Bill
Derryberry (102.25).

June First Sunday

Volunteers by the Hour

Story of Texas Circle - 4,000 Hours
John Nichols

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Bronze Star Society - 2,000 Hours

Pat Bowman

Star - 1,750 Hours

Donald Frawley
Janet Frawley

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Ambassador - 750 Hours

Eileen Powell

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Homestead - 500 Hours

Toni Turner

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Diplomat - 250 Hours

Vicki Spencer
Paulette Van Antwerp

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June First Sunday attracted 1,376 visitors

to the TSHM.

Helping entertain and

educate them were,
top, Bob and Candy
Boyer, and Rebekah
Bernhoft.

Two Step - 200 Hours

Kay Reeves
John Schureman

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Compadre - 100 Hours

Karen H. Knox
Suzette Rahmann

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Lone Star - 50 Hours

Your Participation Wanted!
A reminder that all volunteers are invited to attend
meetings of the Volunteer Advisory Council, 9:30
a.m. the second Tuesday each month. Also, your
suggestions and comments are always welcome in
the Voice of the Volunteer box in the Volunteer
Services office.

Rebekah Bernhoft
Helen Evans
Alan Herbert
George Holmgreen
Jan Rankin
Frank Tracadas
Lynn Tracadas

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