Ruth P. Morgan was born in Berkeley, Calif., in 1934. Her family moved to Austin, Texas in 1939 when her father joined the University of Texas faculty. Ruth P. Morgan came to Southern Methodist University in 1966 as assistant professor of political science. She taught several courses including the American presidency and modern political…Continue Reading Remembering Ruth Morgan, March 8, 2021
International Women’s Day 2021
March 8th is International Women’s Day. It is a global day celebrating all of the achievements of women, and to raise awareness about women’s equality. In the United States, March is celebrated as Women’s History Month. This national tradition originated in 1981 when Congress requested that the President proclaim a “Women’s History Week.” In 1987…Continue Reading International Women’s Day 2021
Nela Río, Argentine-Canadian artist and educator
Nela Río was born in Córdoba, Argentina in 1938 and was a writer from an early age. She studied literature in college in Argentina, at Emory University in Georgia, and finally earned a graduate degree from the University of New Brunswick in Canada. The political environment in Mendoza, Argentina and her first husband’s teaching career…Continue Reading Nela Río, Argentine-Canadian artist and educator
In Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday January 18, 2021 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. During these turbulent times of a worldwide pandemic causing thousands of deaths daily and national political and social unrest in the United States, it is particularly appropriate to remember Martin Luther King and everything he stood for. His inspirational words ring as true today as…Continue Reading In Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
C is for cookie that’s good enough for me, nom…nom…nom
It’s that time of year again. Even though the pandemic has forced us to change things up a bit, I can still hear the sweet call…”Would you like to buy a box of Girl Scout cookies?” The Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. is an organization devoted to furthering the development of girls and young women…Continue Reading C is for cookie that’s good enough for me, nom…nom…nom
My dear husband…
128 years ago, on January 5th, 1893, Frankie Smith wrote a letter on stationery of “Office of C.R. Breedlove, Horse Brand TZ, Cattle Brand X-Z” to her husband W.R. Smith in Colorado, Texas. Her honest and rather “frank” note details their affairs at home including their infant son (“the lad”), visiting Aunt J. and Lulu…Continue Reading My dear husband…
SMU and the Spanish Flu
On October 1st, 1918, The Campus, SMU’s student newspaper, led with stories on an upcoming football game between the Mustangs and the Texas Longhorns, a look at how SMU was losing faculty to war work, and an exploration of street car service in University Park. News about the First World War was found throughout the…Continue Reading SMU and the Spanish Flu
(Not) home for the holidays
“I’ll be home for Christmas,” promised Bing Crosby in 1943 in one of that year’s top hits. “I’ve been here all year anyway,” quips one of the myriad of memes trending on social media at the end of 2020. Both allude to situations in which protagonists long to be reunited with their loved ones for…Continue Reading (Not) home for the holidays
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
Tidings of Comfort and Joy Joy may not be a word often associated with the year 2020. This year has presented numerous hardships and challenges for everyone. However, it has also presented opportunities for us to slow down, explore different hobbies, and develop new skills. Over the course of 2020 I have read more, advanced…Continue Reading Tidings of Comfort and Joy
Turkey Season
It’s not hard to figure out why Turkey, and its preceding political entities, the former Ottoman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Eastern Roman Empire, have been written about at length by western European diplomats, historians, and travelers. The region which encompasses some of the earliest sites of permeant human settlement, is positioned at a critical geographic…Continue Reading Turkey Season