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Center for History and Culture

College of Arts and Sciences

Events

Fall 2025

 

Babino  

August 7, 2025

Agatha Babino: A Narrative of the Formerly Enslaved.

Opening Night Exhibit Reception. John J. French Museum. 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

The Center for History and Culture will underwrite an exhibit and reception hosted by the Beaumont Heritage Society at the John J. French Museum (3025 French Rd, Beaumont, TX 77706). From the Society: "This free event celebrates the opening of a compelling new exhibit that explores the life of Agatha Babino, a formerly enslaved woman whose story of resilience continues to inspire. Guests are invited to enjoy complimentary refreshments, generously donated by Giglio Distributing Co. and Market Basket ... The Q&A will feature Dionne Babineaux, Director of the Museum of Undertold Texas History and creator of the exhibit, moderated by Gordon S. Williams [Center Advisory Board Member], scholar and filmmaker. The exhibit will remain on display in Heritage Hall from August 7 through October 3, 2025, and is included with regular museum admission during operating hours. Admission to the opening night reception is free and open to the public." Portrait of Agatha Babino by Alyssa Babineuax.  

 

Swallowtail Logo

August 28, 2025

Fall Launch.

4:30-6:00 pm. Reaud Event Space (Reaud 101). 

Come learn about the Center's work in fostering the scholarship and creativity of Southeast Texas and the greater Gulf regions. Here about news, announcements, upcoming programing, the 2026 Greater Gulf Symposium, fellowships, and more. Refreshments. Free and open to the public.

 

Babineaux

 

September 11, 2025

Reading and Republishing the WPA Slave Narratives with Dionne Babineaux.

4:30-6:00 pm. Reaud Event Space (Reaud 101). 

Dionne Babineaux will talk about her research in recovering the stories of the WPA slave narratives. Ms. Babineaux is a PhD. student at Rice University and the founder and executive director of the Museum of Undertold Texas History. She also the creator of the Agatha Babino exhibit on display at the Beaumont Heritage Society's John J. French Museum (see above). Q&A will follow. REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED. Free and open to all. Check back for updates.

   

Lundberg

 

 

October 23, 2025

The Texas Low Country with John Lundberg.

Times TBA. Tyrrell Historical Library (695 Pearl St, Beaumont, TX 77701).

Dr. John Lundberg will talk about his 2025 Summerlee Award-winning book The Texas Low Country: Slavery and Freedom on the Texas Gulf Coast, 1822-1895 (Texas A&M University Press). Dr. Lundberg is professor of history at Tarrant County College. He previously wrote Granbury’s Texas Brigade: Diehard Western Confederates (2012) and The Finishing Stroke: Texans in the 1864 Tennessee Campaign (2003). Refreshments. Free and open to the public. Check back for updates

 

George Diaz

November 6, 2025

For a “Free World”: Mexican Americans in Texas State Prisons during WWII with George Díaz

4:30-6:00 pm. Reaud Event Space (Reaud 101). 

Dr. George Díaz will talk about his research on the Mexican experience in Texas state prisons. In previewing his talk, Díaz explains that his research "examines the incarceration of segregated Mexican inmates in the Texas Prison System during World War II. Throughout the early 20th century, Texas segregated prisoners by Color and forced unfree men to labor on cotton plantations for the state.  Already stigmatized due to their conviction for state crimes, ethnic Mexican prisoners faced additional prejudice while incarcerated.  Rather than accept attacks or be likened to Axis forces, Mexican American prisoners asserted their American identity and commitment to the war effort in order to overcome the double stigma they faced as prisoners and segregated others.  Through singing patriotic songs on prison radio programs, competing in “Victory” prison rodeo events, and buying war bonds, Mexican American inmates fought for inclusion against a common enemy.  Although Mexican American prisoners’ struggles for acceptance did not free them from incarceration, their labors altered the way the state viewed them as well as the way they viewed themselves." Díaz received a 2024 research fellowship from the Center for History and Culture to support his project. He is an associate professor of history at the University of Texas-Rio Grand Valley and the author of Border Contraband: A History of Smuggling across the Rio Grande (2015). Refreshments. Free and open to the public. Check back for updates.