Sam Houston Memorial Museum – Page 2 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Music and Merriment at the Museum

It happens every spring: the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library presents a music series, Sundown at Sam’s. This year’s series, organized by Economics Professor Darren Grant and hosted by the SHMM, kicked off with two acts, John Krajicek and the Fire Ants String Band, which entertained more than 125 citizens on the pleasant and historic grounds of the Museum.

“Sundown at Sam’s,” notes Museum Director Derrick Birdsall, “is a way for us to bring a diverse (community and University) crowd to the Museum grounds.”

And the crowd was a wonderful mix of locals and students; among those was spotted were: Marjean Creager; SHSU Associate Vice President Amy Salazar (and her husband, Tim); Bridget Maloney; Councilmember Tore Fossum; City Manager Aron Kulhavy; LEAP Ambassadors Olivia Discon, Cinthia Villarreal, Morgan Robertson, and Michelle Cardenas; Kristie Stevens; SHSU Vice President Matt Bethea and his wife, Carrie; Wes and Susan Sanders; Bette Nelson; SHSU’s Emily Binetti; SHSU student Crystal Herren and her children; Brian Blalock; SHSU student Sarah-Hope Carter and her boyfriend, Parker; and many others.

The many others included pets…

…some of which showed off by doing pet tricks.

Adding to the entertainment was a variety of food and drink options, including Delmy’s, C.A.T. Cafe, and Tap Truck Outlaws. Or, you could bring your own snacks. In short, the setting offers everything you could need for a delightful evening.

And indeed it was an enjoyable, relaxing, and fun evening. The music, a mix of traditional sounds–Americana, Roots, and Bluegrass–was appropriate for the Museum grounds.

For Sarah-Hope, it is an annual tradition: “I love going every year! I especially enjoyed seeing John Krajicek, whose singing and writing is beautiful. My favorite song was “Blue Bird in my Heart…”

…and I also enjoyed hearing the Fire Ants String Band. The banjoist was incredible! It was great be part of the community, and it was great to see so many people come out and support local artists.”

Sundown at Sam’s will continue on May 2 and May 16. And for music fans, Huntsville Main Street will be hosting their own music series later this summer.

Thanks to Darren Grant and the staff at the SHMM for hosting quality events for the whole community!

CCC Trail: Palo Duro State Park

Olivia Discon

Palo Duro Canyon is sometimes boastfully referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Texas,” and that’s not really fair to the Grand Canyon. But taken on its own, it is in fact a grand and beautiful adventure.

LEAP Ambassadors on the
Lighthouse Trail, 2018

The LEAP Ambassadors have traveled to Palo Duro twice, once in 2018, and again in January of this year. It was my first trip to a State Park!

It was beautiful, and I enjoyed the activity, the beauty, and the idea that the State is preserving these areas for the use of all.

The best shot I was able to get was when we were returning from the CCC Trail, just before sunset. It was a beautiful short hike, one where I also learned about the Civilian Conservation Corps–part of FDR’s Works Progress Administration.

What struck me most, though, was the beauty. And as we were heading back, I saw this beautiful view, with Professor Yawn and Stephanie hiking and providing a sense of scale, and I got the image!

Celebrating Sam Houston

On this week 187 years ago, Sam Houston was inaugurated as the first-ever President of the Republic of Texas. Almost two centuries later, his legacy continues, in large part because of the great work done by Sam Houston State University and the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library.

Tuesday night, the Museum celebrated not only the anniversary of Houston’s inauguration, but also the addition of numerous new and impressive artifacts to its large collection. And speaking of impressive, the celebration was just that!

Derrick Birdsall, Director of the Museum, opened the program with remarks at 6:30, introducing President White and the many other notable guests in attendance.

President White also spoke, highlighting Houston’s legacy, discussing his impact and relevance, not only to Texas history, but also to our own time, and also noting the role that the Museum plays in attracting students to SHSU.

Mikey Sproat, Curator of Collections, also took to the podium, discussing the addition of artifacts to the Museum and pointing to their centrality to understanding Texas history and Houston’s life.

The most prominently displayed artifact in the rotunda was Sam Houston’s commission as Commander in Chief of the Texas Army.

Included on the display is a QR code that allows visitors to scan and learn more about the document–one of many efforts the Museum has made to scale up the accessibility of their online artifact collection, which supplements the physical presentation of their artifacts.

But the allure of the Museum goes beyond the presentation and artifacts; it is also tied to the people who work and visit the Museum. Accordingly, the LEAP Ambassadors were thrilled to help for the event when asked by Director Birdsall. Our part was small, but it allowed us not only to assist Birdsall, but also to work with the great staff at the Museum…

…which included: Megan Buro, Jude Routh, Mikey Sproat, Joann Purvis, Yesenia Marroquin, Tim Scott, and Gregoria McGuire.

When the formal part of the program ended around 7, we had a chance to relax a bit and enjoy the Museum and the many wonderful people there: President James Gaertner and Nancy Gaertner, Mac and Leanne Woodward, Jane and Dr. Charles Monday, Vice-Provost Anne Gaillard, Aron Kulhavy, Tammy Gann, Regent Sheila Faske, former Regent Trisha Pollard, and Charlie Vienne.

We had a chance to say hi to Russell Martinez, which was nice because a few of the LEAP Ambassadors have been awarded the Martinez Scholarship. We met Bill Dabaghi, a genuinely nice guy who shared with us some of his family’s history in the area.

And we also had the opportunity to visit with individuals from the President’s office, including General Glaser, Jennifer Alexander, and Tabitha Shanley. And, of course, we took the opportunity to take a photograph with President White.

We even had a chance to visit with one of our favorite alumni, Blake Roach!

There was also great music…

…as well as a rare opportunity to physically enter the Museum’s displays. In one area, SHMM depicts Santa Ana’s “surrender” to an injured Sam Houston, and the Museum will soon be removing this exhibit. Therefore, it allowed visitors (and staff!) to enter the area and have fund with photographs!

We attend or assist with approximately 50 events per semester, but the general consensus is that this was our favorite this semester. We had the chance to spend time in one of our favorite places, with some of our favorite people while being part of the Sam Houston community.

SHMM Art Exhibition

November 10, 2022

One of the highlights of the fall season is the Sam Houston Memorial Museum’s Annual Photo Contest. After seeing the quality of last year’s photos, we opted against entering any photos this year… But we were excited to see the photos, be back at our favorite museum, and otherwise appreciate the talent on display.

And so it was we ventured into the Walker Education Center to explore, meet old friends, and see who took away awards!

There were four categories: animals, people, architecture, and floral. Hundreds of photos were submitted by Huntsville’s local citizens, then judged by three photographic experts: Kaylin Booker, Paul Olle, and Derrick Birdsall–the latter is also the Museum’s Director.

The animal category is always popular, perhaps because everyone thinks their pet is photogenic, beautiful, and wonderful. Some, as it turns out, are at the very least, more photogenic than others. The winners were…

Animal Category:
1st Place – C. Buzzini
2nd Place – S. White
3rd Place – D. LeNorman

This year’s floral category also included some animals, in as much as animals–much like humans–are drawn to the beauty of nature’s creations and were included in some of the submitted photos in this section.

Floral Category:
1st Place – V. Lorine
2nd Place – E. Day
3rd Place – D. LeNorman

There was, of course, a people category as well.

People Category:
1st Place – D. Lee
2nd Place – C. Buzzini
3rd Place – E. Day

Finally, the architectural category was, in our opinion, the strongest.

Architecture Category:
1st Place – M. Litzmann
2nd Place Tie – S. White & V. Lorine

The judges also picked a best a “Reserve Champion” (A MacLaughlin) and a “Best in Show” (S. Adams).

There were various honorable mentions and curator’s choices that were also worthy.

In addition to all the photographs, we also enjoyed the chance to see old friends, and we want to congratulate them–and the winners–on another successful community photograph contest!

July 26th: A Date with History

July 26, 2022, Jessica Cuevas

July 26th marks the death anniversary of General Sam Houston, and each year on this date, the Sam Houston Memorial Museum opens the Steamboat House to the public.

As an SHSU student, I want to learn more about Sam Houston, and this desire was reinforced even more by the fact that I am the recipient of a generous scholarship provided by SHMM. So, I attended the Museum’s opening of the Steamboat House as part of their reenactment of Sam Houston’s death and the Victorian customs associated with mourning.

Dr. Rufus Bailey had commissioned this home as a wedding gift for his son and daughter-in-law. Its original name was “Buena Vista,” and while it might have offered a “good view,” Bailey’s son and daughter-in-law, according to oral history, weren’t keen on living in it, and they opted, instead, to look for other views. The home, then, was vacant, enabling General Sam Houston make it his home when he returned to Huntsville, following his removal as Governor of Texas.

As the group of visitors approached the home, we were given black ribbons to commemorate the anniversary of Houston’s death. We entered Sam Houston’s room, a mix of a study and a bedroom. Most of the items were period pieces, but we did see Houston’s bed and boots. Seeing these original artifacts, as well as the fact that the clock on the mantel was stopped to the time of his death: 6:15.

We were then gestured into the next room where “Margaret Lea Houston” would tell us about the three phases of mourning she went through after General Sam Houston’s death. During the first phase: Deep Mourning, women would dress in black, from head to toe, including gloves and veils (and, of course, no adornments such as jewelry). During this time, widows were given space, allowed to mourn alone. Once they were ready to talk, they entered the second phase of mourning: Full Mourning. The transition to this phase was marked by moving from the wearing of all black to wearing black with a white collar, along with cuffs and jewelry. During this period, the widow might receive visitors, discuss her sadness with others, and correspond by mail with others.

In the third phase, Half Mourning, women wore lively colors such as lilac, lavender, and light gray, and more elaborate patterns. This is the briefest stage, and it indicated that the widow was ready to rejoin societal interaction.

Men, on the other hand, were not expected to mourn for as long or as elaborately. The black ribbon I received is similar to what men wore during their mourning period.

We were then guided into the next room, the kitchen, where we could see one way that the kitchen could have been designed and what they would have eaten. Soon after, we walked up the stairs into the parlor where the funeral of General Sam Houston was held, and we heard from his “mother-in-law,” Nancy M. Lea, who discussed her feelings about Texas’s greatest hero and her son-in-law. While she initially opposed the marriage, Ms. Lea overcame her doubts, and she came to embrace her son-in-law.

Now, if you are wondering why one of Texas’ heroes had a small funeral, that would be because (1) mail was slow and (2) General Houston was very unpopular at the time, a function of him refusing to pledge an oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America.

For these reasons, only a select few attended his funeral on July 27^th at 4:00 pm. The funeral was indeed held less than 24 hours from his death because back then, their only way to store bodies was to ice them, and in Texas heat, it made it challenging to keep the body in a presentable condition.

Despite him not being as popular and not many people attending his funeral, on August 5, 1863, the Dallas Herald printed an obituary mentioning the great man General Sam Houston was, and encouraging people to put aside their objections to his “failure” to support the confederacy: “Let us not shed tears to his memory due to one who has filled so much of our affections. Let the whole people bury with him whatever of unkindness they had for him.”

With those positive vibes, I allowed myself a very unVictorian-like smile and reflected what a good choice I made attending SHSU.

Postscript: The Steamboat House was originally located a block or so from the Oakwood Cemetery–where Sam Houston is buried! Following Sam Houston’s death, the home deteriorated, and it wasn’t until 1937 that the Museum was moved to its present location and refurbished. If you have not had the opportunity to visit the Steamboat Home on the Sam Houston Memorial Museum Grounds, make plans to do so on July 26^th, 2023!

Ode to East Texas

By Jessica Cuevas

As I entered the Sam Houston Memorial Museum Walker Education Center, I was greeted by warm and friendly smiles from the staff and both the former director Mac Woodward, his wife Leanne Woodward, and current director Derek Birdsall. This was no ordinary day over at the Walker Education Center, for artist, Lee Jamison, was exhibiting a select paintings in the gallery, reflecting his work on East Texas.

Lee Jamison, of course, was also there greeting and thanking EVERYONE individually for coming. He was featuring paintings from Huntsville, one of Sam Houston’s Woodland Home itself, and others from across the region.

The room was matched the title of the exhibit, as all the paintings expertly captured the essence of East Texas. Jamison even commented how he had brought more paintings than the room could fit!

The three paintings that stood out the most to me were (1) Roots of Texas (2) His first painting (3) Old Main.

The Roots of Texas is a painting of a tree, its roots, and the trench near it. It was significant since it told the story behind how our beautiful state got its name. It originated from the word Tejas which Caddo Indians used to describe friends. I thought it was amazing that he included his very first painting in this exhibit but also that it was placed next to the Roots of Texas one.

I believe it to be because they are both origin stories, one of how Texas got its name and the other of how Jamison’s art career began. There is nothing better to show that than his very first painting, which is different than the rest of his works. It definitely stands out.

This other art piece just takes your breath away and leaves you admiring its beauty. It is a perfectly beautiful painting of Sam Houston State University’s famous Old Main Building. You can really see and adore the architecture and how majestic Old Main was. This was one painting that everyone stopped to look at and engage in conversation with those around them exchanging their stories and memories of this building. Even that of the night that broke everyone’s spirit as they saw this building burst into flames.

When the clock struck 6:30 p.m., the crowd went over to the next room and took their seats, and waited to hear from Jamison. The opening speech was the quickest history lessons I had ever heard about Mexico and Texas. It was given by none other than Caroline Crimm.

I learned that back then, one of the conditions needed to become a Mexican Citizen was to convert to Catholicism. This was particularly interesting since the LEAP Center is volunteering for a U.S. Citizenship Prep Course.

Crimm’s history lesson led very well into what Jamison would discuss since in her crash course she discussed what happened in East Texas over the course of centuries. Hence, Jamison’s book title and the exhibit’s name Ode to East Texas.

He went in depth about the evolution and stories behind a couple of his paintings, some of which were exhibited, while others were not.

The stories behind each of his paintings really resonated with me since there was a meaningful significance behind all of them, which I found inspiring. When discussing origin stories, for example, he discussed his time at Lon Morris College, where he not only learned to refine his artistic skills, but also met his wife, Melinda!

After his speech, many people re-entered the gallery room to see the exhibit one last time before the museum closed. Jamison even stayed longer to sign copies of his book “Ode to East Texas,” which was on sale at the museum store.

The Jamison exhibit will be displayed at the Walker Education Center until May 28, 2022. Be sure to check it out if you have not already!

SHMM (aka Sam Houston Republic of Texas Presidential Library)

The Sam Houston Memorial Museum has always been a special place, and that is one reason why the LEAP Ambassadors enjoy volunteering there. Not only does it help educate citizens on the life and times of Texas’s greatest hero, but it also offers wonderful hands-on demonstrations, intriguing art exhibits, and beautiful grounds, highlighted by the ever-popular duck pond. But now it has even more to offer: today marked the official opening of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum as an the official Sam Houston Republic of Texas Presidential Library.

Our job was to greet and direct people, and it’s a role we greatly enjoyed. We saw County Commissioners, former Mayors, former Regents, the University President (and a former President), SHSU Deans and Vice Presidents, members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, descendants of Sam Houston, and many other community and University leaders.

Members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe with Houston’s Descendants (and a little Astros Pride!)

Volunteering is as educational as it is fulfilling.

Emcee of today’s event was the Museum’s former director, Mac Woodward.

Throughout the event, he highlighted important information, described the timeline for the evolution of the Museum as a Republic of Texas Presidential Library, and introduced key speakers, of which there were many!

First up was President White who, as Woodward noted, was probably the only person who has been the President of two Universities named for Tennessee Governors (Austin Peay in Tennessee and, of course, SHSU). President White’s comments were short, sweet, and eloquent, reminding us Sam Houston’s example to today’s leaders and today’s students.

James Haley, author of the definitive work on Sam Houston, also spoke and delivered lively and entertaining comments about the Texas leader.

Most important, he spoke to why Sam Houston is historically important and relevant to today’s world and, in fact, the future.

Haley was humorous and insightful, offering a glimpse into why his books are also intriguing and educational.

Curator of Education, Mikey Sproat, discussed the various manners in which the Library would highlight these collections, noting that a large emphasis would be on digital availability, providing world-wide access to the Library’s holdings.

Closing out the speaking portion of the event was Derrick Birdsall, newly appointed as the Museum’s Director.

Birdsall was brief, highlighting Houston’s status as a hero–not as a perfect man, but a hero nonetheless–and encouraging all guests and visitors to enjoy the Museum and its multi-faceted offerings.

Sam Houston & The Alamo Avengers

Brian Kilmeade and The Alamo Avengers

Just before Spring Break, a couple ambassadors were able to hear Fox Host Brian Kilmeade speak about his book, Sam Houston & The Alamo Avengers.

Put on by the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, and hosted at the Walker County Education Center, Miranda and I enjoyed Mr. Kilmeade’s energetic and humorous presentation. As he put it himself, he was quite enthusiastic about Texas history for a New Yorker. He was introduced by Mac Woodward, the former mayor of Huntsville and the SHMM Director.