Discovering Texas History

"Broad in scope, yet succinct, Discovering Texas History is a thorough, informative, and readable guide to modern Texas history from several of the state's most gifted historians."-Paul Carlson author of West Texas: A History of the Giant Side of the State

"Discovering Texas History gives us a comprehensive and insightful guide to the past quarter-century of writings on Texas history from the acknowledged authorities on the topic. Editors Bruce A. Glasrud, Light Townsend Cummins, and Cary D. Wintz are to be commended for their efforts."-T. Lindsay Baker, author of More Texas Stories I Like to Tell My Friends: The Tales of Adventure and Intrigue Continue from the History of the Lone Star State


The most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to Texas historiography of the past quarter-century, this volume of original essays will be an invaluable resource and definitive reference for teachers, students, and researchers of Texas history. Conceived as a follow-up to the award-winning A Guide to the History of Texas (1988), Discovering Texas History focuses on the major trends in the study of Texas history since 1990.

In two sections, arranged topically and chronologically, some of the most prominent authors in the field survey the major works and most significant interpretations in the historical literature. Topical essays take up historical themes ranging from Native Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, and women in Texas to European immigrant history; literature, the visual arts, and music in the state; and urban and military history. Chronological essays cover the full span of Texas historiography from the Spanish era through the Civil War, to the Progressive Era and World Wars I and II, and finally to the early twenty-first century.

Critical commentary on particular books and articles is the unifying purpose of these contributions, whose authors focus on analyzing and summarizing the subjects that have captured the attention of professional historians in recent years. Together the essays gathered here will constitute the standard reference on Texas historiography for years to come, guiding readers and researchers to future, ever deeper discoveries in the history of Texas.

Bruce A. Glasrud is retired Arts and Sciences Dean, Sul Ross State University, and author or editor of twenty-six books, including West Texas: A History of the Giant Side of the State.

Light Townsend Cummins is Bryan Professor of History at Austin College and the author or editor of eleven books, including A Guide to the History of Texas.

Cary D. Wintz is Distinguished Professor of History at Texas Southern University and the author or editor of fifteen books, including Texas: The Lone Star State.