PO Box 10048, Beaumont, TX 77710.

Email: TexGulfHist@lamar.edu

By Jimmy Bryan

The Lamar University History Department and the Texas Gulf Historical Society have entered into a formal arrange-ment giving the department editorial management of The Texas Gulf Historical and Bio-graphical Record.

Published annually since No-vember 1965, the Record is a well-established, regionally recognized publication which is indexed in national data-bases.

Its purpose it examine the people, events, and institu-tions that have contributed to the development of East Texas and the Gulf Coast re-gion, and toward that end it welcomes papers from schol-

ars from all disciplines.

Previous issues of the Record have included essays on the Civil War, Spindletop, ethnic groups (Acadians, Africans, Italians, and Jews), industry (shipbuilding, sawmilling, oil drilling, and rice farming), Lamar University, Arthur Stil-well, Lorenzo de Zavala, and the Big Thicket. In short, the Record chronicles the politi-cal, military, social, cultural, and economic life of the re-gion.

For more information or to submit papers for considera-tion, contact: Editor, The Texas Gulf Historical and Bio-graphical Record, Lamar Uni-versity History Department,

D E P A R T M E N T G A I N S E D I T O R S H I P O F R E G I O N A L J O U R N A L

B R Y A N E A R N S P R O M O T I O N A N D T E N U R E

The History Department congratulates Dr. Jimmy Bryan, Jr., who was re-cently promoted to Asso-ciate Professor in the de-partment and granted tenure. Bryan came to Lamar University in 2007,

after earning his Ph.D. from Southern Methodist University in 2006.

A specialist of the cultural history of early nine-teenth-century America, he has published More Zeal than Discretion: The

Westward Adventures of Walter P. Lane with Texas A&M University Press (2008).

He teaches courses on cultural history, nine-teenth-century expansion, Texas, and the Civil War.

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Undergraduate advis-ing for history majors for spring semester 2012 begins October 27, 2011. Make an appointment today!

Registration for spring semester 2012 opens November 10, 2011.

Save the date! Na-tional History Day is coming to Lamar on February 23, 2012.

The Lamar University chapter of the Webb Soci-ety will meet with other chapters in Mexia, Texas, in November to learn about and tour this oil-boom era town. Stops will also include nearby Fort Parker.

In other news, members assisted Dale Ferris, a long-time benefactor of

the Webb Society and His-tory Department, in mov-ing his 3000-book dona-tion to the Port Arthur Pub-lic Library. On behalf of the library, the Webb Soci-ety and the department would like to thank Mr. Ferris for his very gener-ous donation.

Interested in joining the Webb Society? We wel-

come any Lamar Univer-sity student interested in Texas or local history. You do not need to be a history major to become a mem-ber! For more informa-tion, contact Dr. Jimmy Bryan, faculty advisor. jlbryan@lamar.edu

By Jimmy Bryan

Dr. Jimmy Bryan’s “Agents of Destiny: The Texas Rangers and the Dilemma of the Con-quest Narrative,” an account of the development and prob-lematic nature of the Texas Ranger mystique in American culture.

During November‘s meeting, participants will discuss Dr. Yasuko Sato’s work on Japan

The brown bag series contin-ues and now welcomes his-tory grad students. Meetings allow rigorous intellectual exchange focused on faculty research. Participation in the series allows faculty the op-portunity to receive feedback on their current projects from colleagues.

October’s meeting discussed

during 1941-1945 titled, “Why Did Takamure Itsue Encourage Wartime Support Among Japanese Women?: Resuscitating Japan’s Antiq-uity for a Global Paradigm Shift.” All meetings are held in the Ralph A. Wooster Con-ference Room. Contact Dr. Jimmy Bryan for more infor-mation. jlbryan@lamar.edu

W E B B S O C I E T Y K E E P S A C T I V E

B R O W N B A G S E R I E S W E L C O M E S G R A D S T U D E N T S

F A C U L T Y F E A T S published “‘He Was No Man Attall’?: Slave Men, Honor, Violence, and Masculinity in the Antebellum South,” which appeared in Fathers, Preach-ers, Rebels, Men: Black Mas-culinity in U.S. History and Literature, 1820-1845, ed. Timothy R. Buckner and Peter Caster (Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 2011), 23-40.

Dr. Jimmy Bryan has edited The Martial Imagination:

Essays on the Cultural His-tory of American Warfare, currently under review by Texas A&M University Press. This groundbreaking study gathers twelve scholars from across the country, experts in History, American Studies, Literature, and other disci-plines. The anthology in-cludes an essay by Dr. Bryan on the mystique of the Texas Ranger.

Department faculty members have advanced our historical knowledge through recent publications and presenta-tions. Dr. Jeff Forret, a spe-cialist in American slavery, spoke at the 6th Annual Con-stitution Day , delivering his paper, “Fugitive Slaves, the Constitution, and the Civil War.” He promoted his ap-pearance on the Jack Pieper radio show heard on KSET 1300 AM. He also recently

“Department

faculty members

have advanced

our historical

knowledge

through recent

publications and

presentations.”

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During summer semester 2011, the department offered a study abroad course in Greece and Turkey. This course provided an engaging and thought provoking look at the history of sacred architec-ture in the ancient world. Dr. Rebecca Boone, an intellec-tual and cultural historian of Renaissance Europe and As-sociate Professor in the de-partment, guided students to sites such as the Parthenon in Athens, the Cave of the

Apocalypse on the island of Patmos, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and the Roman ruins at Ephesus, to name a few.

Students on the trip marveled at the beauty of the sites and were also able to observe the cultural differences of these nations as opposed to our own.

Dr. Boone held daily discus-sions with students to gauge their understanding of the historical and cultural signifi-

cance of each location. The experience proved invaluable to participants, and provided a new facet to historical learn-ing that cannot be harnessed in traditional classroom in-struction. For many partici-pants, this trip inspired a new interest in classical history and a desire to take another course of this nature.

By Cassandre Durso

She will also present her paper, “Two Deaths that Re-versed Destiny: How the Mur-ders of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino Changed the City of Palermo.”

Durso’s research examines how the murders of these two public figures by the Sicil-ian mafia sparked outrage among the residents of Pal-

Cassandre Durso, M.A. stu-dent and teaching assistant in the department, will attend the 2012 Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention in Or-lando, Florida.

Durso, who served as past president of the Mu Chi chap-ter of PAT at Lamar Univer-sity, will serve as our chap-ter’s delegate.

ermo, motivating them to take back the city from mafia control. The spiritual and cultural revival that resulted has proven important for the revitalization of Palermo.

Congratulations to Cassandre and best of luck!

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D U R S O T O R E P R E S E N T L A M A R A T P H I A L P H A T H E T A C O N V E N T I O N

D E P A R T M E N T A N D S T U D E N T S T O W E L C O M E M A Y O R A M E S

mont since the 1990s, not only as an at-large city council member (1994-2007) and mayor (2007-present), but also as executive director of Atria Collier Park Retirement and Assisted Living Community.

Mayor Ames attended Hardin Jefferson High School and then Texas A&M University. In addi-tion to her political and busi-ness contributions, Mayor Ames devotes time to many civic organizations in Beau-

mont, including the Beaumont Rotary Club, the Tyrrell Histori-cal Library Association, and the Julie Rogers Gift of Life board.

Anyone interested in attending Mayor Ames’ discussion is welcome. For more informa-tion on her appearance, con-tact Dr. Scheer: mary.scheer@lamar.edu

Becky Ames, current mayor of Beaumont, will visit Dr. Mary Scheer’s Women and Gender class on Wednesday, Novem-ber 9, 2011, at 5:15pm to discuss Women in Politics. She hopes to illustrate the importance of women in poli-tics as well as the struggles they face in a male-dominated field.

Mayor Ames has played a prominent role in the business, political, and civic life of Beau-

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Did you know Phi Alpha Theta was estab-lished on March 17, 1921, at the Univer-sity of Arkansas?

The Parthenon in Athens. Photo courtesy of Cassandre Durso.

PO Box 10048

Beaumont, TX 77710

Phone: 409-880-8511

Fax: 409-880-8710

E-mail: charlesella.renfro@lamar.edu

Edited, compiled, and writ-ten by Dr. Mark A. Menger-ink, who could not accom-plish any of this without assistance from Patty Renfro, the department’s administrative assistant; Cassandre Durso, a gradu-ate student and teaching assistant in the depart-ment; Jimmy Bryan, associ-ate professor in the depart-ment; and his colleagues who submitted materials for inclusion in this edition of History’s Happenings.

Have history department related news to include in the next issue? Contact Dr. Mengerink:

mamengerink @my.lamar.edu

D E P A R T M E N T O F H I S T O R Y L A M A R U N I V E R S I T Y

I paid her back by being really cute and helping out around the house. See, I even mix drinks for Carol! I also look after my new baby sister, Dolly.

I’m Dolly, and Carol rescued me, too! I got separated from my momma when I was a day old, and Carol brought me in and fed me with an eye drop-per. I am now 3 months old and adorable! See how pretty I am?!?

Teddy is a good big brother. We take naps together some-times.

The pets for this installment of Pet Corner come from the home of Carol Atmar, full-time instructor for the depart-ment…

Hi, my name is Teddy. I came to live with Carol last fall, when someone found me alone on the road. I was just a tiny kitten then, Dr. Menger-ink couldn’t take me home because of his other cats. Dr. Scheer couldn’t either be-cause her house was full, too. Dr. Bryan gave me a saucer for my milk, but he couldn’t take me home. I needed a home and Carol came to my rescue!

P E T C O R N E R

T E X A S R O O T S . I N F I N I T E P O S S I B I L I T I E S .

We’re on the web!

http://dept.lamar.edu/history/

Teddy is working hard...or it is hardly working?

How can you resist that face?

Teddy and Dolly chillaxin’.