Texas Beyond History (TBH) is a public education service of the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin, in partnership with 16 other organizations. Begun in 2001, its purpose is to interpret and share the results of archeological and historical research on the cultural heritage of Texas with the citizens of Texas and the world.
In this virtual museum you will find information on and images of many different aspects of the cultural legacy of Texas, a legacy spanning at least 13,500 years. Yes, people have been living within the borders of the modern political state of Texas for at least 13,500 years. In more concrete terms, that is over 540 human generations! For most of that immense time span, there is no recorded history, no books, and no eyewitness accounts. Instead all we have to tell the stories of much of the cultural heritage of Texas are mute stones, ancient campfires, broken bones, and delicate traces of once-flourishing societies. This is the "material evidence" upon which archeologists base most of our interpretations. The arrival of the first Spanish explorers in the region in 1528 ushered in the historic era in Texas and the creation of the written documents and drawings upon which historians depend.
Our collective cultural heritage is complex and fascinating, if sometimes painful to recount. The sixteenth-century arrival of the Spanish, for instance, also marks the beginning of over 300 years of often-brutal cultural conflict between Texas' native peoples—Indians or Native Americans—and the mainly European-derived immigrants who made the land their own. In a few short centuries the native population of Texas was decimated. Texas Beyond History covers not only the prehistory and history of Texas' true native peoples, but also much of the early history of the Spanish, French, Mexican, and Anglo explorers, missionaries, soldiers, miners, traders, and settlers who lived and often died in Texas. And later history, too—that of German farmers, Black freedmen, and Mexican-American laborers among many others.
What sets Texas Beyond History apart is that by focusing on the broad subject of Texas' cultural heritage, we overcome the traditional boundaries between the disciplines of archeology and history as well as the bureaucratic and political fences between institutions of higher education, state and federal agencies, museums, and private organizations. By working in partnership and collaboration with dozens and dozens of individuals, institutions, and organizations, our aim is to help tell the stories of the peoples who have settled the land we call Texas. To do that we reply on diverse experts as well as the documents and images that help put the stories of the past into meaningful context.
The other sections under About TBH and the Credits & Sources sections throughout the website acknowledge the many individuals and organizations that make this website possible.
The Texas Archeological Research Laboratory
The Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) of the University of Texas at Austin is a nationally recognized archeological research facility and the largest archeological repository in the state. We are an organized research unit under the College of Liberal Arts at UT-Austin. Our mission is to collect, preserve, and curate archeological specimens and records, train students, conduct archeological research, and disseminate information about Texas' archeological legacy. Dr. Darrell Creel is TARL's Director.
The Texas Archeological Research Laboratory was created in 1961 to consolidate the University's archeological collections and provide stronger institutional support for continued research. As a repository, TARL safeguards the collections and records from literally thousands of archeological investigations conducted by UT-Austin and many other universities, state and federal agencies, and private firms across the state. Because we are not set up as a physical museum, Texas Beyond History now serves as TARL's virtual museum and provides ready access to information and images about Texas archeology. TARL staff members support the website in many ways from administration to collections and records. You can learn more about the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory by checking out our organizational website.
TBH Staff
Dr. Steve Black is the Editor of Texas Beyond History. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard and has spend most of the last three decades working as a professional archeologist in Texas, Mesoamerica, and the Southwest. Steve grew up in Austin and lived and worked in San Antonio and parts south for many years while working at the Center for Archaeological Research at UT San Antonio. He is also a writer and author of many technical studies as well as popular articles on a variety of subjects including archeology. He is the author (with Kevin Jolly) of Archaeology By Design (Altamira Press, 2003), a practical guide to the process of planning and carrying out successful archeological research projects. As editor of TBH, Steve's primary role is to provide the vision and coordination to create a compelling and cohesive series of exhibits from diverse contributions. He is also a major contributor of the writing and photography. See Steve's Career Overview.
Susan Whitaker Dial is Co- Editor of Texas Beyond History. She holds an MA in anthropology from UT-Austin and BA in journalism and has worked as a professional archeologist, technical editor, newspaper reporter, and editor. A fifth generation Texan who grew up in San Antonio, Susan has a keen interest in telling many of the little-known stories about Texas' history and prehistory. She has written and edited numerous archeological reports as well as popular articles. Her role overlaps with that of Black's in planning and conceptualizing web exhibits, and she works closely with the contributors to present the content in the most effective light. Susan is a major contributor of the writing and photography and also serves as Education Editor, creating many of the Kids Only sections and supervising development of curricula with the TBH Educational Consultants.
Heather Smith is chief Web Developer as well as a TBH Editorial Assistant. Heather is working on a graduate degree in anthropology at Texas A&M University. She holds a B.A. in Photocommunications from St. Edwards University, where she received web and graphical training. For TBH, Heather does most of the artistic design and web programming for our site exhibits as well as research and writing. She also has created several K-12 interactives. Additional help in web development comes from UT students, most of whom are working through the Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services.
Carly Whelan is TBH Assistant Editor. A 2006 graduate of the UT-Austin Department of Anthropology, Carly brings extensive skills in research and writing to TBH, and she has created several exhibits for the website. She also serves as a Research Assistant in TARL Collections.
Education Advisors
We are fortunate to have three talented educators who are passionate about Texas history and archology serving as TBH Education Advisors. Carol Schlenk, former education editor for TBH, brings to the website her considerable experience as a classroom teacher, curriculum specialist, and teacher trainer as well as her work as education coordinator for the Texas Council for the Humanities. In addition to developing first-rate K-12 curricula for teachers, Carol has created interactive games and learning activities for students.
Mary Black was founding education editor for TBH and is once again teaching 7th-grade Texas History, now at O'Henry Middle School in Austin. A former assistant professor in the UT-College of Education, Mary has also worked as an educational consultant, developing curricula blending archeology with social studies and science. She is also the author, with Bruce Jordan, of Early Texas Schools (2008, University of Texas Press).
Laine Leibick has taught in Austin I.S.D. since 1976, serving as a classroom teacher in third and fourth grade and a science specialist for grades K - 5. She has worked with gifted students in language arts, science and social studies, conducted teacher in-services, and written curriculum used in a number of A.I.S.D. G/T programs. She also works with archeologists at the L.C.R.A. to provide summer in-service for teachers interested in using archeology in their classrooms.
Other educators helping TBH include Margaret Durack, former librarian at Hobby Middle School in San Antonio, who has served as a consultant to TBH. Her computer technology students have provided valuable feedback regarding web aesthetics, usability, and content.
Other Staff and Consultants
Artist Frank Weir, a retired archeologist with more than 30 years experience, creates many of the colorful interpretive scenes seen on the pages of TBH. Frank's artistic talents, coupled with his knowledge of native peoples and the archeological traces they left behind, are an unusual blend which translate into sensitive and compelling depictions of the past.
Since the website's inception, undergraduate and graduate students mainly from the Department of Anthropology at UT-Austin have helped build Texas Beyond History while learning about the state's cultural history and developing useful skills. Most of the UT-Austin students who have begun as interns have continued as full-fledged editorial assistants, working part-time on the project. The editorial assistants have scanned and manipulated thousands of images, maps, and documents, carried out background research, created graphics, and helped with writing and editing. Heather Smith and Carly Whelan are the latest students who came to TBH through this route.
About half of the website's content is donated by individuals and organizations around the state and beyond—see Content Contributors. Three individuals who have voluntarily worked with TBH since its founding are Contributing Editor Steve Dial, Education Advisor Mary Black, and Website Consultant Meg Kemp. Their expertise and efforts helped shape the success of TBH, and they continue to contribute their talents when called upon. An avocational historian, Steve planned and wrote most of the special exhibits on Texas' Frontier Forts and has consulted on numerous historic site exhibits. Mary, as a former assistant professor in the UT-Austin College of Education, contributed many of the TBH lesson plans including numerous lessons developed in her classes. Meg Kemp was the pioneer Web Developer for TBH, and is responsible for the innovative design, structure, and many of the most popular exhibits and features of the website. She continues to troubleshoot technical problems and provide solutions. We are fortunate to have these stalwarts among our contributors.
Contacting Us
At Texas Beyond History we value what you have to say about our efforts—praise and criticism alike. And if you notice a mistake, large or small, let us know, and we'll do our best to fix it. Or perhaps you have a suggestion for how we might improve the website. While we do not have a general links page, we do provide links on the Credits & Sources pages throughout the website to non-commercial websites that have useful content directly related to any of the exhibits featured on TBH. If you are aware of such a website, please let us know.
You can email us at: tbhstaff@www.texasbeyondhistory.net, or write to any of the TBH editors at:
The University of Texas at Austin
Texas Beyond History
Texas Archeological Research Laboratory
1 University Station R7500
Austin, TX 78712-0714
A Caddo man in bird headdress as visualized by artist
Reeda Peel based on a description of Caddo men in state dress for a meeting
with General Manuel Mier y Terán in 1828. |
A Coahuiltecan Indian holds a rabbit felled by the wooden "rabbit stick" in his hand, while his son holds a net carrying bag. Artist Frank Weir draws on more than 30 years experience as a professional archeologist in Texas. |
TARL collections. Important organic artifacts (fiber,
wood, bone, and shell), stone tools, pottery, and metal artifacts, are curated in a secure, temperature -controlled facility
at TARL. The artifacts are stored by site in state-of-the-art museum cabinets. |
Editor Steve Black |
Co-Editor Susan Dial |
Web Developer Heather Smith |
Assistant Editor Carly Whelan |
Carol Schlenk |
Mary Black |
Laine Leibick |
Artist Frank Wier |