History

Tarleton’s 125 Years of Excellence: Dr. Dick Smith

Dr. Dick Smith was a professor of government at Tarleton for almost 40 years, from 1934 to 1973. Born in Milford, Texas in 1908 to a county judge and high school teacher, politics and education were in his blood. Smith briefly attended Tarleton in 1926 before completing his undergraduate degree and receiving his master’s fromContinue reading “Tarleton’s 125 Years of Excellence: Dr. Dick Smith”

Tarleton’s 125 Years of Excellence: The Fishpond

Today in our look through the archives comes a campus landmark that stood from the 1920s to the 1950s. It was an early predecessor to what we know today as Alumni Island, where the statue of John Tarleton currently keeps watch. This landmark was known as the Fishpond. The Fishpond was donated by the classContinue reading “Tarleton’s 125 Years of Excellence: The Fishpond”

Constitution Day

September 17th is Constitution Day. This is the day we commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. After the 13 colonies declared independence from Great Britain in 1776, the first governing document of the United States was the Articles of Confederation. After Shays’ Rebellion in Massachusetts, the nation’s leadersContinue reading “Constitution Day”

Davy Crockett

In Texas, Davy Crockett is famous for having fought and died at the Alamo on March 6, 1836. However, he was a known adventurer and political figure before he came to Texas. Crockett was born in Tennessee on August 17, 1786. At the age of twelve he was hired out by his father to workContinue reading “Davy Crockett”

Indigenous Peoples Month

November is Indigenous Peoples Month. In the US it is celebrated as Native American Heritage Month. Timeline of Native American HistoryDates listed before 1492 are estimates and shouldn’t be considered exact. 15,000 BC – Ancestors of Native Americans migrated from Asia to North America via the Beringia land bridge during the last ice age. In recent decades archaeological andContinue reading “Indigenous Peoples Month”

Hispanic American History Timeline

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, check out this timeline of Hispanic American history. Click the links below to find library books and other resources on these topics. 1493: Christopher Columbus began Spanish colonization of Puerto Rico. · The Conquest of Paradise by Kirkpatrick Sale 1513: Juan Ponce de León led first expedition to Florida. · Fountain of Youth [digitalContinue reading “Hispanic American History Timeline”

Women Who Tell Our “Tarleton Stories”

The United States celebrates women’s history in March each year. The national theme for 2023 is Women Who Tell Our Stories. The Tarleton Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections has several archival collections that were created by women affiliated with Tarleton State University. This blog post explores one of those women and the story her collectionContinue reading “Women Who Tell Our “Tarleton Stories””

Happy Lunar New Year 2023

In the US, Lunar New Year is frequently referred to as Chinese New Year. However, that name is a bit misleading, because this holiday is celebrated by many East Asian peoples and not just the Chinese. The date of this holiday is determined by the Chinese lunisolar calendar, and that results in the exact dateContinue reading “Happy Lunar New Year 2023”

Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos

The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd every year. It is a time to remember loved ones who have passed. While there are many local variations as to how the holiday is celebrated, one commonality is the ofrenda (alter or offering). Ofrendas are usually constructed on OctoberContinue reading “Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos”

Diverse Summer Reading Challenge!

Available now on OverDrive! Books have the unique ability to transport us to a different time, different place, or a completely different perspective. Many reading lists are circulating for books that deal with racism and disparities among minority groups. Here is our list of reading recommendations available now through OverDrive. Whether you love poetry, spaceContinue reading “Diverse Summer Reading Challenge!”