From Can See to Can’t: Texas Cotton Farmers on the Southern Prairies

Cotton farming was the only way of life that many Texans knew from the days of Austin's Colony up until World War II. For those who worked the land, it was a dawn-till-dark, "can see to can't," process that required not only a wide range of specialized skills but also a willingness to gamble on forces often beyond a farmer's control—weather, insects, plant diseases, and the cotton market.This unique book offers an insider's view of Texas cotton farming in the late 1920s. Drawing on the memories of farmers and their descendants, many of whom are quoted here, the authors trace a year in the life of south central Texas cotton farms. From breaking ground to planting, cultivating, and harvesting, they describe the typical tasks of farm families—as well as their houses, food, and clothing; the farm animals they depended on; their communities; and the holidays, activities, and observances that offered the farmers respite from hard work.Although cotton farming still goes on in Texas, the lifeways described here have nearly vanished as the state has become highly urbanized. Thus, this book preserves a fascinating record of an important part of Texas' rural heritage.

History

Utley, Dan K.

Sitton, Thad

Americas

University of Texas Press

Cotton farming was the only way of life that many Texans knew from the days of Austin's Colony up until World War II. For those who worked the land, it was a dawn-till-dark, "can see to can't," process that required not only a wide range of specialized skills but also a willingness to gamble on forces often beyond a farmer's control—weather, insects, plant diseases, and the cotton market.
This unique book offers an insider's view of Texas cotton farming in the late 1920s. Drawing on the memories of farmers and their descendants, many of whom are quoted here, the authors trace a year in the life of south central Texas cotton farms. From breaking ground to planting, cultivating, and harvesting, they describe the typical tasks of farm families—as well as their houses, food, and clothing; the farm animals they depended on; their communities; and the holidays, activities, and observances that offered the farmers respite from hard work.
Although cotton farming still goes on in Texas, the lifeways described here have nearly vanished as the state has become highly urbanized. Thus, this book preserves a fascinating record of an important part of Texas' rural heritage.

Placing the Mother Neff State Park in its historical, cultural, and political milieu, Dan Utley and Jim Steely tell a compelling story of how people decided a particular tract of rural farmland was worthy of preservation as a place of refuge and recreation for the public. In doing so, the authors provide a microcosmic look at the Civilian Conservation Corps and its work in Texas. Central to the story is Pat Neff, Texas governor and university president, who guided the park's development, significance, and history with a steady hand reminiscent of the one who had carefully led him "from childhood to manhood."
The story of Mother Neff State Park is one of chautauquas, weekend dances, Mother's Day celebrations, and religious revivals. Yet it is also one of the Great Depression, the young men and leaders of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and of war and its impact on even a simple little park in Central Texas. In telling this story, however, the authors do not lose sight of the fact that the park has served as a place of rest and rejuvenation, as well as a source of inspiration, both spiritual and natural, for generations of visitors.
Drawing from oral histories, and extensive archival records including correspondence, CCC camp newspapers, historical photographs, vintage drawings, and archaeological surveys, Utley and Steely tell the unique story of a New Deal-era park and the grand vision of a governor who was also the park's donor, benefactor, and promoter.

Guided with a Steady Hand: The Cultural Landscape of a Rural Texas Park

Steely, James W.

Arts & Photography

Baylor University Press

More than 13,000 historical markers line the roadsides of Texas, giving drivers a way to sample the stories of the past. But these markers tell only part of the story. In History Ahead, Dan K. Utley and Cynthia J. Beeman introduce readers to the rich, colorful, and sometimes action-packed and humorous history behind the famous (Charles Lindbergh, Will Rogers, The Big Bopper, and jazz great Charlie Christian) and the not-so-famous (Elmer "Lumpy" Kleb, Don Pedro Jaramillo, and Carl Morene, the "music man of Schulenburg") who have left their marks on the history of Texas. They visit cotton gins, abandoned airfields, forgotten cemeteries, and former World War II alien detention camps to dig up the little-known and unsuspected narratives behind the text emblazoned on these markers. Written in an anecdotal style that presents the cultural uniqueness and rich diversity of Texas history, History Ahead includes nineteen main stories, dozens of complementary sidebars, and many never-before-published historical and contemporary photographs. History Ahead offers a rich array of local stories that interweave with the broader regional and national context, touching on themes of culture, art, music, technology, the environment, oil, aviation, and folklore, among other topics. Utley and Beeman have located these forgotten gems, polished them up to a high shine, and offered them along with convenient maps and directions to the marker sites.

History Ahead: Stories beyond the Texas Roadside Markers (Texas A&M Travel Guides)

Beeman, Cynthia J.

Texas A&M University Press

Each of the wars fought by Texans spawned the creation of scores of military sites across the state, from the lonely frontier outpost at Adobe Walls to the once-bustling World War II shipyards of Orange. Today, although vestiges of the sites still exist, many are barely discernible, their once-proud martial trappings now faded by time, neglect, the elements and, most of all, public apathy. ?In Faded Glory: A Century of Forgotten Texas Military Sites, Then and Now, Thomas E. Alexander and Dan K. Utley revisit twenty-nine sites—many of them largely forgotten—associated with what was arguably the most tumultuous hundred-year period in a five-century span of Texas history.?
Whether in the war with Mexico, the American Civil War, in clashes between Indians and the frontier army, or in two worldwide conflicts fought on foreign shores, Texas and Texans have often answered the call to arms. Beginning in 1845 and continuing through 1945, the Lone Star State and its people were fully involved in seven major conflicts. ?In this thoroughly researched and absorbing guide, Alexander and Utley recount the full story of the sites from their days of fame to the present. Comparing historic sketches, paintings, and period photographs of the original installations with recent photographs, they illustrate how time has dealt with these important places. Providing maps to aid readers in locating each site, the authors close with a resounding call for preservation and interpretation for future generations. ?The descriptions and images restore, at least in the mind’s eye, a touch of vitality and color to these forgotten and disappearing sites. Thanks to Faded Glory: A Century of Forgotten Texas Military Sites, Then and Now, both the traveler and the armchair tourist can recover a sense of these places and events that did so much to shape the military history of Texas.

Faded Glory: A Century of Forgotten Military Sites in Texas, Then and Now (Volume 25) (Tarleton State University Southwestern Studies in the Humanities)

Alexander, Thomas E.

Texans love stories, and the 15,000 roadside markers along the state’s highways and byways testify to the abundance of tales to tell. History along the Way recounts the narratives behind and beyond more than one hundred Texas roadside markers.
Peopled with colorful characters—a national leader of Camp Fire Girls, an army engineer who mapped the Republic of Texas frontier, a hunter of mammoth bones, a ragtime composer, civil rights leaders, and an iconic rock star, among others—the book gives readers an intriguing and expanded look at the details, challenges, and lives commemorated by the words cast in metal on these wayside markers scattered across the Lone Star landscape.
Also recounted in History along the Way are the stories of historic structures (from roadside architecture and elaborate West Texas hotels to university Old Mains and country schoolhouses of Gillespie County), engineering features (the Hidalgo Pumphouse in South Texas and the Rainbow Bridge in East Texas), and even town mascots (a jackrabbit, a mule, and a prairie dog). Accompanied by helpful maps, colorful photographs, and informative sidebars, History along the Way is guaranteed to inform, amuse, and intrigue. 
Every part of Texas gets a visit in this anthology of select sites, making it easy for travelers—both the armchair and touring varieties—to enjoy and learn about the fascinating nooks and crannies of history captured in all their variety by the roadside markers of Texas.

History along the Way: Stories beyond the Texas Roadside Markers (Texas A&M Travel Guides)

About the Author\nBorn in Fort Worth, Texas, Claire (Williams) Martindale counts Austin as her second hometown because of childhood and working years spent there. She earned degrees in history from Texas Christian University and The University of Arizona at Tucson. After a first career as a public school teacher, Claire joined the staff of the Texas Historical Commission from 1974 to 1982, serving as Director of Research. She left her career as a professional historian to work with Habitat for Humanity at the international headquarters in Georgia and in Virginia for the past 30 years. She has provided leadership for several non-profit boards and was a founding member of Austin Habitat for Humanity. Claire has written hundreds of Texas Historical Markers, speeches for Habitat groups, sermons, and essays. Her poetry also covers a wide spectrum and has received award recognition. Although she no longer pursues history professionally, she never lost her love of exploring roots, telling a good story, and illuminating places and people encountered along the way.\nDAN K. UTLEY, a native of East Texas, holds history degrees from the University of Texas and Sam Houston State University. A former public school teacher, he joined the Texas Historical Commission in 1979 and became Director of Research. He later worked as a freelance public historian and served as a staff historian with the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (University of Texas) and the Baylor University Institute for Oral History. He subsequently rejoined the THC, where he served as Chief Historian working on projects related to courthouse preservation, military sites, historical markers, and cemetery preservation. He retired from the THC in 2007 and recently retired as lecturer and Chief Historian of the Center for Texas Public History at Texas State University. He is the author of numerous books on Texas history, including From Can See to Can’t: Texas Cotton Farmers on the Southern Prairies (with Thad Sitton), History Ahead: Stories beyond the Texas Roadside Markers (co-authored with Cynthia Beeman) and Faded Glory: A Century of Forgotten Texas Military Sites (co-authored with Tom Alexander). He is a past president of the East Texas Historical Association and the Texas Oral History Association, a Fellow of the Texas State Historical Association and the East Texas Historical Association, and recipient of the Thomas L. Charlton Award for Lifetime Achievement in Oral History and the Bryan Award for Leadership in Education Award (TSHA).\nMarkers is an exploration of friendship and personal journeys by two public historians who first met in 1979 as overseers of the Official Texas Historical Marker Program of the Texas Historical Commission. The “markers” they write about in this collection of reflective poetry speak to perceptions of place, memorable characters, life-changing encounters, quiet times, and shared perspectives of the past. These are the abiding landmarks of two friends who, after only three years as colleagues, traveled seemingly divergent professional paths that nevertheless crossed many times through the years, always in meaningful ways. Herein are some of the many stories they have shared along the way.

Markers: A Shared History through Poetry

Literature & Fiction

Martindale, Claire

Poetry

Stephen F. Austin University Press

In their previous book, Faded Glory: A Century of Forgotten Texas Military Sites, Then and Now, historians Thomas E. Alexander and Dan K. Utley chose to go beyond the familiar military sites of Texas—the Alamo or the San Jacinto battlefield, for example—to feature lesser known locations. The book successfully recovered these “forgotten” arenas for tourists and preservationists alike. Alexander and Utley now return with Echoes of Glory, and the result is another impressive catalogue that highlights the hidden gems of Texas history. Echoes of Glory explores two dozen rarely discussed but equally significant military sites across Texas. From the establishment of a Spanish fortress at San Sabá during the mission era to a multimillion-dollar Cold War naval base, readers will find a range of sites and stories to enlighten and entertain. Rare illustrations contrast each site with how it appeared in its glory days to how it appears today. Echoes of Glory underscores the need to preserve or fully interpret such places before they are lost forever.

Echoes of Glory: Historic Military Sites across Texas

As they tee up, make their approach shots, or line up their putts, few Texan golfers likely realize that the familiar landscapes of tee boxes, fairways, and greens can obscure stories from the past that played out on those same grounds. Such little-known links to the past include prehistoric campsites, a Spanish presidio, and a prairie where the Rough Riders trained, as well as courses constructed by New Deal agencies in the Great Depression or military personnel in times of war. Links to the Past: The Hidden History on Texas Golf Courses takes readers on a tour of eighteen Texas golf courses with surprising connections to history. On the “front nine,” points of interest include encounters with dinosaur fossils near Austin, a Comanche raid on a Spanish frontier presidio near Menard, and a battle between Anglo buffalo hunters and Native Americans near Lubbock. The “back nine” explores reminders of the East Texas lumber industry near Diboll, a training ground for the Rough Riders outside downtown San Antonio, and a race riot near Houston in 1917, to name a few. In addition, Dan K. Utley with Stanley O' Graves provide full histories of the courses themselves, detailing their design and evolution and explaining how they came to be constructed at these historically significant sites. Fun, compelling, and enlightening, this book is a reminder that history has occurred all around us, not just in historic districts, state parks, or even where official state markers might be found. Featuring “scorecards” for each course that include location, historical facts, and a “signature hole of history,” as well as historical and contemporary photographs and informative sidebars, Links to the Past is sure to entertain. Golfers, history buffs, and heritage tourists will want to toss this handy and engaging book in the front seat of the car—or zip it into the side pocket of their golf bags.

Links to the Past: The Hidden History on Texas Golf Courses (Swaim-Paup Sports Series, sponsored by James C. '74 & Debra Parchman Swaim and T. Edgar '74 & Nancy Paup)

Graves, Stanley O.

When a Chickamauga Battlefield ranger was asked where to find the Texas monument, his quick reply was “Go to where the fighting was fiercest.”  While that spontaneous response accurately underscored the legendary battlefield zeal of the Texas forces in virtually every major Civil War battle, it likely did little to answer the visitor’s question.In this book, the authors will inform visitors to many Civil War battlefields about the heroic role played by the Texans at key sites and why the State of Texas has, over the years, seen fit to officially commemorate the valor of the hard-fighting men of Texas with impressive monuments. With the sesquicentennial observance of America’s Civil War already underway, however, Texas has chosen to pay little attention to Texans’ contribution to the Confederate cause.  Regardless of the scant official recognition being afforded this seminal event, the facts remain that there was a Civil War and that Texans were very often at the hot center of its battles—“Where the fighting was the fiercest.”Students of American history, as well as visitors and those planning to visit the eighteen battlefield monuments described in this book, will learn how Texas forces fared in the fighting. Time must never be allowed to erase the memories of those sacrifices and those battle-bloodied accomplishments on the field of honor.  This book will ensure that present and future generations will always remember the monumental significance of the story of Texas in the Civil War.

Go Where the Fighting Was Fiercest: The Guide to the Texas Civil War Monuments

State House Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Utley, Dan K.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Utley, Dan K.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Utley, Dan K.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

From Can See to Can’t: Texas Cotton Farmers on the Southern Prairies

From Can See to Can’t: Texas Cotton Farmers on the Southern Prairies

Guided with a Steady Hand: The Cultural Landscape of a Rural Texas Park

History Ahead: Stories beyond the Texas Roadside Markers (Texas A&M Travel Guides)

Faded Glory: A Century of Forgotten Military Sites in Texas, Then and Now (Volume 25) (Tarleton State University Southwestern Studies in the Humanities)

History along the Way: Stories beyond the Texas Roadside Markers (Texas A&M Travel Guides)

Markers: A Shared History through Poetry

Echoes of Glory: Historic Military Sites across Texas

Links to the Past: The Hidden History on Texas Golf Courses (Swaim-Paup Sports Series, sponsored by James C. '74 & Debra Parchman Swaim and T. Edgar '74 & Nancy Paup)

Go Where the Fighting Was Fiercest: The Guide to the Texas Civil War Monuments