North Texas History Center, McKinney Texas

Help Us Make Hunger History in North TX

2010-07-17T15:19:00.003-06:00

During World War II Americans were asked to help on the home front in different ways:planting Victory Gardens, canning their vegetables and fruits, volunteering with the Red Cross, and buying war bonds. School children and adults all did their part to keep things running smoothly at home. The North Texas History Center is remembering World War II and saluting veterans this summer and fall. You can join in on any or all of these efforts!

Food Drive: People across North Texas are hungry. These people are our neighbors, friends, and community members. To help combat hunger NTHC is partnering with the North Texas Food Bank to collect canned goods. Bring them to NTHC and receive $1.00 off admission. We will collect food through September 6^th.

Blood Drive: Come by the History Center on September 11, 2010 and donate blood. The Carter Blood Center will be here helping us out.

Winter Coat Drive: September 13, 2010 we will begin collecting warm winter coats for those that might have to do without this winter! Please drop off your coats at the North Texas History Center beginning Sept. 13.

Honoring our Military Personnel: The North Texas History Center will also participate in the National Endowment for the Arts Blue Star Museum program. The concept is simple, active duty personnel in our armed forces do a lot for our nation, so we want to give back. Active duty personnel in the armed forces will receive free admission to the History Center through Labor Day.

February update

2010-02-09T11:56:00.007-06:00

Hello, everyone! We hope you're staying warm and having a great 2010, so far!

Any idea what this might be a picture of? Hint: It's not a cookie.

Pack your haversack and come check out the Civil War exhibit, The Reluctant Confederates: The Civil War in North Texas, to find out about the object in the photo, as well as other interesting artifacts on display in our main gallery. In addition, we also have a hands-on gallery that allows you to experience a day in the life of a soldier during the war.

This exhibit just opened this month, and since it last ran, we've acquired many artifacts that have never been on display before. So, come and see us!

We're open from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and we're located at 300 E. Virginia in downtown McKinney. Admission is $8 for families, $4 for adults, and $2 for seniors and children.

Wondering what events are coming up at the NTHC? Here's the scoop:

February 19 - Grab your sweetheart and come at 7 p.m. to the North Texas History Center for Don Newsom’s hilarious and entertaining discussion titled “Presidential Love” on the lovely—and sometimes unusual—relationships between presidents and their first ladies. Tickets are: $7.50 for 1 child, $10 for 1 adult, $15 for 2, $20 for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children). Ticket price includes light refreshments. All proceeds benefit the NTHC.

February 20 – Bring the kids on down at 11 a.m. to the North Texas History Center for our “Hank the Cowdog” story time. Hear the adventurous tales of Hank and his friends as told by ‘Slim’, aka Don Newsom. There is no admission fee, but there is a $1 suggested donation.

March 27 - Has Noah’s Ark been discovered? We’ve all heard claims saying such, but it’s easy to be skeptical without proof. Arch Bonnema, Founder and CEO of Bonnema Companies, might have the proof to validate these claims. He made it his quest to find Noah’s Biblical Ark in real life.

Join us for an evening of dinner and discussion when Bonnema shares a rainbow of facts, photos and pieces of an "enormous petrified ship," as he presents "The Search for Noah’s Ark" at 7:00 p.m. at the Haggard Party Barn (5948 McKamy Trail, Plano, Texas 75024). Dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $75 for one, $125 for two, and $150 for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children). All proceeds benefit the NTHC.

Happy President's Day and Happy Valentine's Day!

Rural Roads of Collin County

2010-01-05T11:54:00.002-06:00

A recent e-newsletter from Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes included an update on the project to get rural roads paved – a goal of the commissioner. Having traveled on many of the back roads, chasing church steeples or trying to find yet another pioneer cemetery, I can support this noble idea. I have been down far too many mud roads – ones where you have to back out of them because they are too narrow and overgrown to try to do a three point turn.

Good roads have long been a rallying cry for those in rural parts of the South. That is what created the Farm-to-Market roads system, with funding starting in the 1920s. Difficult to believe that there are still unimproved roads in one of the fastest growing counties in the Nation, but that is the reality.

Here is a photo from our collection showcasing Weston, Texas, May 13, 1913.

This scene shows approximately 25 early automobiles, mostly Model T Ford's, in front of the business district in Weston. This appears to be a rally or race, as Weston would never have had this many cars (or people) at the time. One of the T's has a sign or pennant on it indicating it is from Celina. Drivers stand around their cars while women and children are in a group in the back right side of the image. The dirt road and one very crooked telephone pole help establish the time period. Farming is the economic lifeblood of rural Collin County: the background acreage of corn probably played a role in allowing farmers to purchase those fancy horseless carriages. On the left is a shoe store and the Stiles General Store. How about that porch railing on the shoe store?

Bow Bros Photographers captured this scene, and the Bessie H. Kinard Estate donated it to the History Center.

Long overdue update

2009-12-29T15:53:00.011-06:00

Hi, everyone!

It has been awhile since our last update and so much has happened since our last post.

In November we presented the Battle for Myers Landing, a Civil War re-enactment at Myers Park and had more than 600 reenactors participate in this weekend long event.

We also opened our first special exhibit in November. "Pieces of the Past" features historic American quilts from the 1860s to the 1930s and runs through January 16, 2010.

As a part of this exhibit, on Saturday, January 9, NTHC will host a lecture titled, “Quilts: Their Mysteries and Memories” by Joan Wilson at 1 p.m. Wilson is an award winning quilter, quilt designer, and teacher. She will take visitors through a “bed turning” of quilts dating from the 1800s through 1940. Information will be provided on designs, quilt construction, history of quilts, and much more. A resource list will also be provided.

"Slim," aka Don Newsom, will be back again with another "Hank the Cowdog" story time at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 16 and NTHC Senior Curator, Bryan Lean, will give a demonstration with helpful hints on how to properly care for heirloom quilts and textiles at 1 p.m.

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and have a Happy New Year! We'll see you in 2010!

This weekend!

2009-10-14T12:44:00.003-06:00

This Friday, October 16, don't miss the next installment in our dinner lecture series featuring University of North Texas history professor Dr. Richard McCaslin at 7 p.m. at The Pantry Restaurant (214 E. Louisiana, McKinney). Mary Louise, Teasdale, Sam Houston's great-granddaughter and oldest living descedant will be celebrating her 90th birthday with us! Tickets are available in the online gift shop at http://www.northtexashistorycenter.org/, by phone at (972) 542-9457, or at NTHC.

Bring your kids to the History Center for "Hank the Cowdog" storytime at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 17! Cowboy Slim, aka Don Newsom, will be telling the tale of "The Case of the Halloween Ghost." There is no admission fee for storytime, however there is a $1 suggested donation per child.

We hope to see you this weekend!

Get connected!

2009-10-06T10:28:00.002-06:00

We have so much going on here at the History Center, and now there's plenty of ways for you to keep up with us!

Our YouTube channel, which now features commercials for the Battle for Myers Landing Civil War Re-enactment: www.youtube.com/ntxhistorycenter

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ntxhistcenter

Become a fan of us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/McKinney-TX/North-Texas-History-Center/128236676881

We're connected! Are you?

Volunteer orientation

2009-09-04T15:55:00.002-06:00

NTHC will have a volunteer information session at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 19 at Myers Park and Event Center. Volunteers interested in helping with the Battle for Myers Landing will be able to ask questions, explore the grounds, and sign up to volunteer.

Those interested in volunteering should meet at the Wells building and wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen. The Wells building is location in the northeast corner of Myers Park, closest to the intersection of CR 166 and CR 168.

Please RSVP to by contacting Sarah at (972) 542-9457 ext. 102 or sarah@northtexashistorycenter.org.

Farm Museum Website

2009-09-01T08:53:00.003-06:00

We are so excited to announce that the Collin County Farm Museum now has its own Website!

Check it out: http://www.farmmuseum.northtexashistorycenter.org/

More information about the farm museum, hours of operation, donations, and volunteering can now be found on the Website.

Ninth Tractor Made Operational

2009-08-28T12:41:00.001-06:00

Over 1,200 hours of labor have been provided so far this year (seven months) by our dedicated volunteers at the Collin County Farm Museum. This equates to more than $30,000 of free work!

Every Wednesday and Saturday year round, Roger Meier and Jeff Phelps are at the Farm Museum, using their talents and knowledge of all things mechanical and electrical, rebuilding equipment. They, along with paid staff, allow us to be open to the public on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.

We also have volunteers from the Lone Star Chapter of the International Harvesters Club of Texas, including Bob Stone, Warren Rhodes, and K.R Withrow, who stop by to help. In less than two years this group of volunteers have repaired and rebuilt nine tractors to operational condition.

Their latest achievement is our 1947 Oliver Row Crop Model 60 tractor. The product of Charles City, Iowa, this tractor has 13 hp on the drawbar and 18 hp from the pulley belt. I took the before photo in November 2005, as I was starting to inventory the Farm Museum collection in preparation for creating the first interpretive exhibit in the museum’s history. Basket-case does not begin to describe the way I found the tractor. Not much was attached to the frame other than the engine. Note the boxes of parts near the front wheels. By no means was this the first candidate for repair – in fact eight other tractors were rebuilt before our volunteers tackled the Oliver.

The result is an amazing transformation. Detail paintwork is ongoing, but the tractor is in its correct colors and runs like a champ.

Even thought the Farm Museum is “closed” for the hot weather, Roger and Jeff are out there on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Stop out and see them and “their” newest restoration.

Want to be a Volunteer?

2009-08-15T11:47:00.004-06:00

NTHC will be holding a volunteer orientation from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, August 27 at the museum (300 E. Virginia, McKinney) for those that are interested in helping the organization.

"The museum sees 8,000 - 10,000 visitors a year, and we are expanding our programming and exhibits to encourage more people to visit, so we need help in order to accomodate the changes we are making," said Sarah Hatcher, Education Curator at NTHC.

Those in attendance will receive more information about the museum and it's exhibits and programs.Breakout exhibits for oral history, education, and front desk volunteers will take place after a general session. If you would like to attend, please RSVP with Sarah by noon on Aug. 24 by contacting her at sarah@northtexashistorycenter.org or at (972) 542-9457 ext. 102.

Spend an evening with a Secret Service agent (and NTHC)

2009-08-11T11:16:00.005-06:00

Get a first-hand behind the scenes scoop on Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Ford and their families when former Secret Service agent Mike Howard speaks at 7 p.m. Friday, August 21, at The Pantry Restaurant.

Howard was a part of both the Kennedy and Johnson security details and was with Kennedy the morning prior to his assassination.

The Pantry Restaurant is located at 214 E. Louisiana St. in downtown McKinney. This dinner lecture series continues through October. Tickets for each event, which benefits the North Texas History Center, are $25 for adults ($20 for members) and $15 for children. Purchase tickets in person at NTHC, via telephone at (972) 542-9457, or in the online gift shop at http://www.northtexashistorycenter.org/.

Help Wanted!

2009-07-24T11:05:00.006-06:00

Calling all living historians, re-enactors, and others. If you enjoy working with students and are skilled at demonstrating 19th century life, the North Texas History Center needs your help!

NTHC will be presenting The Battle for Myers Landing, Civil War Re-enactment at Myers Park and Event Center Nov. 6-8. Nov. 6 is designated as Education Day and will be open only to registered school groups or homeschool families. It will serve as an educational tool for teachers (public, private, and homeschool) to enable students to make relevant connections to the Civil War and the way life was lived in the 1860s.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions. Both costumed living historians and modern day helpers are needed to make this event a success.

NTHC is looking for living history demonstrations and presentations on the following topics:

Spinning/weaving
Soapmaking
Candlemaking
Saddlemaking
Campfire cooking
Sewing
Mourning
Civil War Era Medicine
Civil War Etiquette
Battlefield Basics (what are basic tactics)
Cavalry Basics
Weaponry
The language of flags and/or fans

If historical interpretation isn’t your cup of tea, consider helping in one of these capacities:

Registration/Check-In** – help check-in re-enactors and directing them to appropriate locations.
Information Guides – move through the park offering information and guidance as needed. Tours through the park will be mainly self-guided. Volunteers will help with the overall traffic flow from one presentation to another helping to provide a positive experience to all visitors.
Information Booth - answer questions and direct people to the desired location.
Runners – assist event organizers by running errands, delivering goods and materials, etc
First Aid - offer minor first-aid assistance when needed
Admission**— collect money and issue tickets/stamps at the admission booth
Park Clean-Up – help with tidying up the park after the school groups leave.
Souvenir Booth**—NTHC will be selling event and NTHC specific merchandise. Retail experience helpful.
(** - Cash-handling required)

Those who would like to volunteer need to be comfortable around large groups of children and be at ease speaking to groups and answering questions in a friendly and professional manner; they also need to be available for a two to four hour block between 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

There will be a short orientation at 8:30 a.m. each day and visitors will start arriving around 9:00 a.m. Volunteer meetings will begin in October. To volunteer, contact Sarah at: sarah@northtexashistorycenter.org or (972)542-9457 ext. 102.

Better Know Your NTHC Staff: Chelsea Carroll

2009-07-23T12:19:00.005-06:00

Welcome back to our Better Know Your NTHC Staff and Volunteers segment of the blog! Today, we spotlight Chelsea Carroll, who has been our intern this summer from Austin College. She was nice enough to let me ask her some random questions. Here are her answers:

1. What is your job title? What do you do with yourself all day?
"Museum Intern." I do whatever they need me to do, which includes research, helping with school groups, helping strike and install exhibits, and sitting at the front desk and answering phones.

2. What were you doing before you took the job at NTHC?
I was going to school at Austin College, which I will continue to do this fall.

3. What is one project you have worked on that you are especially proud of?
The Pioneer Roots exhibits. I helped install it.

4. What was your favorite food as a kid?
Oh, goodness. Coconut cream pie. It's still my favorite.

5. Peanut butter: crunchy or smooth?
Crunchy!

6. Vanilla or chocolate?
I like to swirl them together, but if I had to choose it would be vanilla.

7. If you could pick anything, what would be your superpower?
Flying!

8. What do you do in your spare time?
I'm addicted to movies. That's where all of my money goes.

9. Which Hepburn do you prefer and why: Katharine or Audrey?
Katharine because she's a tomboy.

10. If you lived in the supermarket, what aisle would you chose to live in?
The cereal aisle. I'd be eating all day.

11. If you could have dinner with any one person, living or dead, who would you dine with?
Probably Dierk Nowitzki because he's a beast on the court.

12. After you open your yogurt, do you lick the lid?
Yes, that's the best part.

13. What was your favorite album when you were 16?
Usher - Confessions. I listened to it all the time.

14. Tell me about your dream vacation.
I have this odd urge to go to Russia, but I don't know what I'd do there.

15. Where were you on September 11, 2001?
I was at school in the 7th grade.

16. What do you consider appointment TV?
American Idol. Simon Cowell is the bomb, and I love So You Think You Can Dance.

17. Were you named for anyone?
Yes, Jane Fonda's character in the movie "On Golden Pond"

Neighbors Go

2009-07-03T08:07:00.006-06:00

Check out an article about our new exhibit in this week's McKinney Neighbors Go! You can pick up a copy at any free standing Starbucks in McKinney or at NTHC.

To see the article online, go to: http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/38531

Announcements

2009-06-25T09:28:00.003-06:00

Hi everyone!

Her are a few announcements for you:

1. Our exhibit, Pioneer Roots, opens this Saturday. Stop by, check it out, and escape the summer heat for a little while!

2. The museum will be closed Saturday, July 4 for Independence Day. We will resume regular hours Monday, July 6.

3. If you haven't already heard, Texas State Historian Dr. Light Cummins, who is a history professor at Austin College, is speaking about the uniqueness of Texas and it's people 7 p.m. Friday July 17 at The Pantry Restaurant (214 E. Louisiana, McKinney). There will be a buffet dinner and plenty of discussion.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for members, and $15 for children. Purchase tickets in person at NTHC (300 E. Virginia, McKinney), by phone at (972) 542-9457, or online in our gift shop at www.northtexashistorycenter.org.

Check out Cummins' blog at: http://historianoftexas.blogspot.com/

Exhibit Opening!

2009-06-18T08:51:00.002-06:00

Why did you move to Texas?

The first immigrants to North Texas arrived in the 1830s, mostly from Tennessee, Kentucky, the Carolinas, and other Upper Southern and Midwestern states. NTHC's new exhibit opening June 27, Pioneer Roots, reflects first person stories from North Texas pioneers, and highlights three distinct waves of immigration: Pre-Civil War, Post-Civil War, and circa 1910.

“One of the interesting things you’ll learn in this exhibit is that some of the reasons people moved to Texas then are the same reasons people move here now: the land is cheap, there are many opportunities, and their family lives here,” said Sarah Hatcher, Education Curator for NTHC.

One area of the exhibit focuses on technologiccal advances. From the sewing machine that allowed women to do more in a shorter amount of time to the railroad that more efficiently connected North Texas with the rest of the nation, advances in technology have greatly changed the face of North Texas. NTHC’s exhibit shows some of these inventions and the impact they had on daily life as well as the development of the region. There is also an area that spotlights cattle ranchers, specifically those in Denton County.

“The photos of this area are phenomenal and a great deal of research was conducted on Pre-Civil War Era ranchers,” said Bryan Lean, Senior Curator at NTHC.

The exhibit opens June 27 and is filled with fascinating artifacts for the whole family to enjoy. In addition to the traditional main gallery, there is the non-traditional Hands-on Gallery, which allows visitors to experience what life was like for pioneers. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children, and $8 for families and NTHC is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday thru Saturday. The museum also features a gift shop that offers a wide variety of items for both kids and parents.

Come and see us!

Summer Events

2009-05-29T12:08:00.004-06:00

Hi everyone! Here's what's going on this summer at NTHC:

During June and July, NTHC will be hosting five summer day camps. Each camp will spotlight a different activity, and allow kids and/or adults to learn in a hands-on environment.

Civil War Camp - June 11, ages 8-13
Pioneer Craft Camp: Simply Sewing - June 18, ages 8 and up
Pioneer Craft Camp: Simply Stitching - June 25, ages 9 and up
Pioneer Craft Camp: Leatherworking - July 16, ages 8-13
Pioneer Craft Camp: Spinning and Weaving - July 23, ages 8-13

All camps are from 9 a.m. – noon on the specified date at NTHC, and a snack is provided at 10:30 a.m. Each camp is $25 (NTHC members receive a 10% discount) and registration materials must be received 10 working days before the camp begins. To register, contact Sarah at sarah@northtexashistorycenter.org or (972) 542-9457 ext.102.
___________________________________________

Come and discover how the Civil War impacted North Texas at our exhibit The Reluctant Confederates: The Civil War in North Texas before it closes June 13! NTHC is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.; the exhibit continues through June 12. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children, and $8 for families.

Stop by and bring your kids for a fun and educational summer!!

Meet (more of) the staff

2009-05-13T10:55:00.002-06:00

Olle is Norwegian (ya) and enjoys sucking the mold and historic dust out of our collections. Literally.

Bedecked in his very own nametag and rosemalling, this Nilfisk particulate vac is the best friend to a collections curator. Unlike your house vac, Olle actually does remove harmful items from that Eisenhower jacket that the WWII Vet swears “Eisenhower himself gave to him”. Olle features variable suction and speed – the key to removing the debris of life and not the buttons.

At over $1,600 (including several years of bags and filters) he is not cheap. But what a difference it makes to artifacts, esp textiles, on exhibit.

Lone Star Vintage Tractor Show a Success

2009-03-31T13:07:00.003-06:00

We had a great time this weekend despite the curveball thrown by Mother Nature. If you had a chance to come I hope you enjoyed yourself. If you didn't I hope you'll take a minute and look at the wonderful story done by North Texas E-News. Allen Rich took wonderful pictures and really captured the heart of this event.

http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_53245.shtml

Our next event will be April 17 as Randy Farmer discusses some of the Outlaws that have called our region home. Details regarding time and price will be available soon!

2009-02-13T14:38:00.008-06:00

Sarah "races" Roger Meier. It really wasn't much of a race...Roger already knew how to drive a tractor, and the John Deere Model B has a road gear, unlike the little Allis-Chalmers that Sarah is learning to drive. It sure was fun though...

News from the History Center

2009-02-13T14:06:00.005-06:00

Wow, looking at the last time I posted I'm a little ashamed! The holidays came and swept me off my feet, and time just got away from me. There has been just a ton of stuff going on around here.

Since the last time I posted here is what has gone on and what is coming up:

1. My partner in crime and original author of the blog, Kate, has accepted a position at the Texas Historical State Association. My new partner's name is Natalie and she is a great addition to our crew.

2. Our lecture with Dr. Rebecca Sharpless was well attended and we had a great evening discussing food, women, and history.

3. The Civil War exhibit is fully installed and I'll bring you an "artifact spotlight" sometime in the near future.

4. We held our first African-American History Month event on the 3rd of February with a wonderful speaker, Melissa Prycer from Dallas Heritage Village. Melissa spoke about a relatively forgotten publication, the Half-Century Magazine, and its influence on black culture and beauty ideals. It was fascinating to see how the women who published and edited the magazine saw beauty as something that should be embraced by all women, regardless of color. She also spoke about how the magazine encouraged its readers to always look their best and put their best foot forward to help encourage upward social mobility.

5. Our second African-American History Month event will be held at the Pantry Restaurant on February 27 beginning at 7pm. Local author and beloved Plano resident, Sarge Stimpson, will join us to reminisce about his days growing up as a sharecropper and much more.

6. We are hosting the Lone Star Vintage Tractor Show on March 28 and 29. The event will be held at Myers Park and Event Center (the "youth park" for those of you that have been here awhile), and is a fundraiser for the North Texas History Center and the Collin County Farm Museum. We'll have over 100 years worth of agricultural equipment as well as demonstrations by the county extension agents and crafts people. The Southwest Dairy Farmers will also be bringing their mobile classroom, so bring the kids and learn all about cows and how that milk gets to the store shelf. Hours both days are from 9-4.

7. We are working on a completely new vision for our newsletter, so for now all communications is being done via our "e-newsletter" or word of mouth. Please call me if you would like to receive our Constant Contact "e-newsletter."

That is all for now, I promise to post pictures of my tractor driving lessons, new artifacts, and much more soon!

Downtown McKinney Landmark to Close!

2008-10-28T15:05:00.003-06:00

Smith Brothers Pharmacy in downtown McKinney has closed its doors -- but hopefully not forever! Community support is needed to save this important historic landmark. This piece in the McKinney Courier Gazette details why it's so important to save the drug store.

We will most definitely miss the pharmacy -- especially the Santa in the window at Christmas.

NTHC Lecture Series: Texas in Word and Food

2008-09-22T13:50:00.002-06:00

NTHC presents its fall 2008 Lecture Series: Texas in Word and Food. Both lectures will take place at the McKinney Performing Arts Center.

September 30, 2008
Native Texan, R. Clay Reynolds, a professor of arts and humanities at the University of Texas at Dallas, is the author of twelve books and numerous articles ranging from critical studies to short fiction and poems. His novels Franklin's Crossing (1992) and Monuments (2000) both won the Violet Crown Award from the Writers' League of Texas, and he has published in Texas Monthly, the New York Times, Writers' Forum, and the High Plains Literary Review, among others. He has received grants from the Texas Commission for the Arts and is a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow.

Dr. Reynolds will speak on Texas in literature.

December 2, 2008
Rebecca Sharpless is an assistant professor of history at Texas Christian University. She is the former director of the Institute for Oral History at Baylor University and a former president of the Oral History Association. She is the author of Fertile Ground, Narrow Choices: Women on Texas Cotton Farms, 1900-1940 (1999) winner of the Texas State Historical Association's Tullis Prize for best book in Texas history and Liz Carpenter Award for the best book on Texas women. She is the co-editor of Work, Family, and Faith: Rural Southern Women in the Twentieth Century (2006) and is writing a study tentatively titled, "Cookin in Other Women's Kitchens: African Americans in the South, 1865-1960."

Dr. Sharpless will speak on Southern Women and Food.

Tickets for each lecture may be purchased through the McKinney Performing Arts Center's Website. Tickets are $6 for members, seniors, and students aned $8.50 for non-members.

Calling all storytellers!

2008-09-10T14:35:00.002-06:00

How long have you lived in McKinney? Ten years? Twenty? Fifty?

If you've lived in McKinney for quite some time we need you! The North Texas History Center and Chestnut Square Historic Village are working hard on our October Event, The Legends of McKinney Ghost Walk, and we need your help! We are currently working on compiling spooky stories of McKinney's past and being new to the area, Sarah and I are at a loss! If you've lived in McKinney for as long as you can remember, please feel free to email me at kate@northtexashistorycenter.org I would absolutely love to hear your story and maybe schedule a time to sit down and record it.

Thanks!!

History Comes to Life -- Tickets Still Available!!

2008-09-08T08:26:00.005-06:00

Tickets are still available for History Comes to Life, a one-man performance featuring Collin McKinney on September 13, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the McKinney Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $25 and include the performance and an invitation to a dessert reception (catered by Rick's Chophouse) where there will be a silent auction, live auction and a raffle drawing.

Tickets may be purchased through the McKinney Performing Arts Center. Please call 214.544.4630 or visit their website.

Farm Museum Re-Opening!

2008-09-05T13:31:00.007-06:00

The Collin County Farm Museum, operated by the North Texas History Center, will re-open this weekend! The Farm Museum had previously been closed during the summer months, but now that the weather finally seems to have cooled down a bit, the Farm Museum is open for business. Stop by and see historic tractors, a mid-century cookshack and much, much more!

The Farm Museum is open Saturdays from 12:00-4:00 and is located at 7117 County Road 166 McKinney, Texas 75071. For more information, please visit the county's website.

If you would like to schedule a tour with your class or scout troop, please email Sarah Hatcher at sarah@northtexashistorycenter.org

NTHC Completes First Summer Mini-Cotillion

2008-07-21T13:08:00.011-06:00

What does it mean to have good manners? Why is etiquette so important? How exactly do you hold your teacup when having high tea?

These questions and more were answered during NTHC's mini-cotillion summer camp, July 14-18 2008. During this week-long summer program, students learned table manners, proper etiquette as it related to their lives (most notably the newly emerging field of "netiquette" and cell phone etiquette) as well as some basic dance steps. At the end of the week our summer camp participants knew when to use a cell phone, how to fold their napkin, and how to dance the foxtrot and waltz.

Below are some photographs taken from the various days of summer camp. For far more professional photographs of Friday's graduation ceremony, please visit our intern, Ryan Leach's website (and check out his other phenomenal photographs as well!)

Photographs were taken at NTHC, Alice's Tea Shoppe and Rick's Chophouse at the Grand Hotel and Ballroom.

Happy Independence Day!

2008-07-04T14:16:00.003-06:00

Happy Independence Day to all our readers!

We are excited to announce that we've had over 1100 visitors so far this year. We are on pace to exceed previous years' attendance by leaps and bounds. Won't you stop by and help us set a new attendance record? Our weekly hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 to 4.

Good Morning Texas!

2008-07-02T11:42:00.005-06:00

Today was a big first for the North Texas History Center, we were on TV! Page McCoy Smith graciously invited us to talk about manners and their importance on her segment, the Not So Perfect Parent. This also gave us an opportunity to plug our Cotillion (there is still time to register!) and extend our thanks to our partners at Alice's Tea Shop, the Grand Ballroom, and the Art of Dance studio.

Kathleen and her students at At of Dance deserve special thanks for battling their way to Dallas early in the morning to be on the show. They looked and behaved beautifully--I'm so proud of all of them.

The segment is posted at wfaa.com. If you would like to know more about our Cotillion send myself or Kate an email or give us a call at 972.542.9457. To learn more about the Art of Dance go to their website.

Thanks again to everyone involved with this morning, it was fun!

NTHC to Collaborate with Old Red Museum

2008-06-17T11:54:00.005-06:00

Dallas, TX - Opening Saturday, June 21^st, 2008 at the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture, The Civil War Though the Eyes of North Texans, examines the war’s effect on the soldiers who left to fight as well as those they left behind in the Dallas area. The exhibit is produced by the North Texas History Center and the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture. The exhibit will run through August 17^th.

Opening day, June 21, will be filled with activities for the whole family as history comes alive to bring the Civil War era to downtown Dallas. Activities will start at 11:30 am and include: demonstrations by Civil War re-enactors, performances by The Heritage Brass Band, talks on “A Day in the Life of a Soldier” and “The Reality of War and Medical Treatment,” and period crafts for children. Visitors can learn how to load and fire vintage rifles as well as perform an authentic Civil War marching drill. Admission to the museum on June 21 will be half price the entire day.

The Civil War profoundly affected the history of the United States. The mechanisms of politics, media, technology and social issues were significantly changed in the era between 1861 and 1865. But what about the Texas home front? What impact did the war have on North Texans? The exhibit explores the role of North Texas in the conflict: the men, women, technologies, innovations, records and aftermath of the Civil War and their long-lasting effects on Texas and this country’s history.

Highlights from the exhibit are 1) letters and personal correspondence between John Taylor Coit and his wife Catherine, 2) a Confederate uniform jacket with bullet holes and blood stains, 3) personal effects of soldiers such as dice and playing cards, 4) a Confederate fiddle, 5) children’s dresses and clothing, 6) women’s fashion accessories, 7) weapons such as handguns, cannon shot and more.

The Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture is located in the West End of downtown Dallas at 100 South Houston Street in the beautifully restored Old Red Courthouse built in 1892. Dedicated to inspire and educate visitors about the rich and varied cultural, economic, political and social history of the Dallas County area, the 2^nd floor of Old Red is filled with interactive exhibits, 41 touch-screen computers, an educational learning center and four mini-theatres. The special exhibit gallery is located on the first floor. Admission to The Civil War Through the Eyes of North Texans is included in general admission. General admission is $8, Children ages three to sixteen are $5 and Seniors are $6. Admission to the Civil War exhibit without general admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children. The museum’s hours are Monday – Saturday, 9-5 p.m., Sunday Noon – 5 p.m. For group reservations, corporate meetings/outings or weddings call 214-745-1100. For more information go to www.oldred.org.

School's Out For Summer!

2008-05-29T14:53:00.003-06:00

Today the North Texas History Center saw its last group of kiddos for the school year! We've had a great year, covering pioneering and the Civil War in North Texas. This year we saw a total of 7,355 kids ranging from second-fifth grade, from schools as close as McKinney ISD and as far away as Quinlan ISD. Sarah and I couldn't have done it without our fantastic volunteers, who came faithfully to help us educate young minds on a daily basis. Thanks!!

We're looking forward to our summer vacation as well, and we've got a lot of great projects lined up here to work on in the next three months. Check back to see what we're up to...

Better Know Your NTHC Staff & Volunteers! Part the Second: Erma Beeson

2008-05-23T11:50:00.004-06:00

Welcome back to our Better Know Your NTHC Staff and Volunteers segment of the blog! Our esteemed victim du jour is Erma Beeson, a recent addition to the staff, who so nicely agreed to answer our (mostly) random questions.

1. What is your job title? What do you do with yourself all day?
“PR and Marketing Assistant.” I sit at the front desk and greet people, work on press releases and have at least once worked with the kids who come in for a school tour.

2. What were you doing before you took the job at NTHC?
I was the Tourism and Sales Manager for the McKinney Convention and Visitors Bureau.

3. What is one project you have worked on that you are especially proud of?
The work we did during the McKinney Sesquecentenial.

4. What was your favorite food as a kid?
Dairy Queen ice cream cones

5. Peanut butter: crunchy or smooth?
Crunchy – you’ve got to be able to feel it as you eat it!

6. What event will you be watching in this summer’s Beijing Olympics?
Gymnastics

7. If you could pick anything, what would be your superpower?
Physical strength

8. What do you do in your spare time?
I mainly do needlework and quilting

9. Which Hepburn do you prefer and why: Katharine or Audrey?
Katharine because she was so versatile in all of the roles she played.

10. If you lived in the supermarket, what aisle would you chose to live in?
I’d live in the produce isle.

11. If you could have dinner with any one person, living or dead, who would you dine with?
Maya Angelou

12. After you open your yogurt, do you lick the lid?
No, not usually, but it depends on how much yogurt is on the lid – I wouldn’t want to waste it!

13. What was your favorite album when you were 16?
In The Wee Small Hours – Frank Sinatra

14. Tell me about your dream vacation.
To go back to Istanbul and take the cruse from Istanbul to the Greek Isles and Turkey.

15. Where were you on September 11, 2001?
I was sitting in my living room praying that my daughter had not taken the subway that morning – her stop was at the World Trade Center. In fact, she was on a plane that morning – the one that left after the hijacked plane.

16. What do you consider appointment TV?
Dancing with the Stars.

17. Who is your favorite US president and why?
John F. Kennedy because of his engaging of the American citizenry – and I had the pleasure of meeting him when I was in college and working for the newspaper. He came in 1959 and I got to go to his reception at the governor’s mansion, which was really neat.

18. Were you named for anyone?
No, I don’t think so!

NTHC Education Department Receives Award!

2008-05-20T13:54:00.003-06:00

The North Texas History Center was the recipient of this year’s Excellence in Historic Education Award from the Collin County Historical Commission. When asked why he nominated NTHC, McKinney’s Historic Preservation Officer, Guy Geirsch, replied “because of the excellent educational programs that NTHC has been providing covering early pioneering in Collin County and Collin County and the Civil War.”

Sarah Hatcher, Curator of Education, and Kate O’Donnell, Assistant Curator of Education, were presented with their award at the second annual awards ceremony in Farmersville on Saturday the 17^th. “We were honored that Mr. Geirsch nominated us for this award and were thrilled to be recognized for our efforts by others in the field,” said Hatcher.

The North Texas History Center’s Education Program began modestly during the 2001-2002 school year, serving just over 1100 students. Now in its sixth year serving children from across North Texas, NTHC is averaging approximately 8000 students a year. Children from Collin, Denton, Grayson, Rockwall and Dallas counties have been through the curriculum based education programs at NTHC. Second and third graders experience pioneer times and learn about not just the people who came as pioneers, but why they chose to pull up stakes and move across country. Fifth graders are immersed in the Civil War while their fourth grade counterparts are introduced to the Civil War and its impact on the cattle industry and cowboys of North Texas.

Flamingos Invade McKinney!

2008-04-29T15:32:00.003-06:00

To promote its upcoming performance of "The Great American Trailer Park Musical," the McKinney Performing Arts Center has blanketed its yard with flamingos ... NTHC got in on the deal and adopted two of these lovely plastic creatures!

Billed as "South Park meets Desperate Housewives" by The New York Sun, The Great American Trailer Park Musical is a rip-roaring blast of southern hilarity you shouldn't miss! Check out MPAC's website for information and ticket prices.

Friday Artifact Spotlight: Civil War Jacket

2008-04-10T11:13:00.004-06:00

This Friday Artifact Spotlight post is coming out a bit early this week, as I'll be out of town tomorrow. But this week's artifact is a real gem:

This well worn Union Army jacket (c. 1861) shows the scars of war. Patches on the forearm were the solution to the burn marks from firing a black powder handgun. Bullet holes and blood along the waist are the sad results of battle.

Clean Up Saturday

2008-04-07T16:45:00.007-06:00

On Saturday, April 5th, NTHC staff worked tirelessly to clean up the exterior of the museum, trimming hedges, raking leaves, picking up trash and planting flowers. We would like to thank the following businesses, all of whom gave generously -- without them, Clean Up Saturday would not have happened!

Crump's Garden & Greenhouse
Walmart of McKinney Ranch Parkway
Bruce Miller Nursery
Shades of Green
Wal-Mart Store #5311

Helen Gibbard Hall: May 29, 1909 - March 30, 2008

2008-04-01T08:35:00.003-06:00

It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of Mrs. Helen Gibbard Hall, a Collin County Living Legend and local historian.

Mrs. Hall, along with her husband, the late Captain Roy F. Hall, was a founding member of the Collin County Historical Society, known today as the North Texas History Center. Affectionately known as Miss Helen, she continued to volunteer at the History Center into her ninties.

A lifelong amateur historian, Mrs. Hall published several books on the subject of North Texas History, including The Way It All Began: McKinney, Texas A History (2006), and Collin County: Pioneering in North Texas (2004). In addition, Ms. Hall acted as editor for the Scrapbook of Traditions, Annals, and History: Collin County from 1846 to 1880 The George Pearis Brown Papers (2007). In 2006, Mrs. Hall was honored as a Collin County Living Legend for her tireless work in the McKinney community. Mrs. Hall’s passing will leave a void in the historical community of North Texas and she will be missed.

Friday Artifact Spotlight: Ford's Theatre Brick

2008-03-28T13:17:00.005-06:00

On April 15, 1865, Ford's Theatre bore witness to one of America's most stunningly tragic events: the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Five days after General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, the Lincolns, accompanied by friends Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancee Clara Harris, decided to attend a performance of Our American Cousin at the Washington theatre. Halfway through Act III, Lincoln leaned forward in his chair and laughed at the now infamous line: "Don't know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal -- you sockdologizing old man-trap..." The sound of laughter in the theatre was accompanied by gunshot as John Wilkes Booth, a well known actor of the period (and southern sympathizer) killed the president.

The brick (and the daguerreotype of Lincoln in the foreground) is currently on display as part of the North Texas History Center's exhibit, The Reluctant Confederates: The Civil War in North Texas. Interestingly, the story of Ford's Theatre does not end the night of Lincoln's assassination. Soon after April 15th, 1865, the building was taken over by the U.S. military and used as a warehouse for the records of the War Department. In 1893, the front part of the building collapsed, killing 22 people. The building was repaired and continued to be used as a warehouse until the 1930s. It stood unused and empty until 1954 when it was finally restored. It is operated by the National Park Service and used as a historic site, museum and theatre. Interestingly, the rocking chair Lincoln used the night he was killed is not housed at Ford's Theatre, but rather at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

Kudos to Matthew

2008-03-27T10:52:00.003-06:00

Our very own Matthew East (one of our amazing weekend staff members) recently competed in the Academic Decathlon, and received two separate awards. He placed 2nd in the Interview Competition, and 3rd in the Speech Category. We are very proud of Matthew and his accomplishments! For more on this story visit http://mckinneyisd.net/departments/communications/pressroom/index.cfm?newsID=257

Spring Break Week

2008-03-24T15:20:00.003-06:00

From March 15-22, the North Texas History Center offered half-price admission rates to correspond with McKinney, Frisco, Allen and Plano's Spring Break. The response was astounding, and we saw 186 visitors that week! Not even the torrential downpours on Tuesday, March 18th kept curious museum-goers at bay, despite the fact that the Hands-On-Gallery was temporarily closed (we were taking on some water - one of the perks of working in a nearly century-old building!) Thanks to all 186 visitors who made Spring Break week such a huge success!

Friday Artifact Spotlight: Civil War-Era Political Cartoon

2008-03-14T14:23:00.008-06:00

We are all familiar with political cartoons, drawings found in the pages of our newspapers lampooning public figures or current events that bring a sardonic smile to our faces. This medium has been popular since the 18th century; Ben Franklin's famous "Join or Die" drawing is one of the earliest examples of the genre. Political cartoons frequently cover heated, scandalous or racy issues, and some of our best-loved presidents have been subjected to the wrath of the cartoonists' pen (or quill). Even Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, was not spared, as evidenced by this image available from the Library of Congress. This political cartoon, produced by Jefferson's contemporary political opponents, sought to highlight his ownership of (and promiscuity with) slaves and his admiration of France, as the cock was a symbol of revolutionary France.

The writing in the political cartoon above from NTHC's current Civil War exhibit reads, "Whose been here since I'se been gone?" and depicts a returning Civil War soldier confronting his very pregnant wife. The joke, humorous or not, is that while the soldier has been away fighting for his country, his wife has found company elsewhere.

Klepper Lecture a Smashing Success!

2008-03-12T10:01:00.008-06:00

Yesterday evening, Ms. Annie Royer presented her lecture on local artist Frank Klepper to a nearly packed house at the North Texas History Center.

Annie Royer in front of a reproduction of the NTHC owned Klepper Triptych

Klepper was born on May 3, 1890, in Plano, Texas. From the age of fourteen he desired to become an artist. He left Plano in 1914 to study at the Art Institute of Chicago. During World War I he served in the camouflage section of the Thirty-sixth Infantry Division in France. After the war he stayed in Paris to study art.

In 1920 Klepper returned to Texas and opened an art studio in McKinney. He won the Arthur A. Everts medal for landscape painting at the Texas Artists Exhibition, and in 1927, established the Southwestern School of Fine Arts in Dallas. Klepper spent 1928 in France and Belgium studying art. In 1929 he began a twenty-year teaching career in the Dallas public schools. Though he was best known for his landscapes, Klepper's other works are quite impressive. One of his best-loved works hangs in the lobby of the North Texas History Center, an triptych depicting events surrounding the return of General Ben McCulloch.

At last evening's lecture, Ms. Royer discussed the triptych owned by NTHC as well as several other paintings owned by the museum. Additionally, guests were invited to bring works by the artist from their own collections if possible. The lecture then became more akin to a master's class, wherein guests became students, analyzing the colors, shading and lines of each painting.

After the lecture adjourned, guests were invited to stay for cake and lemonade, many choosing to discuss Klepper's work with Ms. Royer one-on-one.

Guests discuss their personal Klepper paintings

Better Know Your NTHC Staff & Volunteers! Part the First: Sarah Hatcher

2008-03-11T10:15:00.007-06:00

Contributor's Note: Before we get started, I would like to thank Sarah profusely for agreeing to be our test subject for this blog feature -- she was a really good sport about the whole affair! Maybe eventually we can do a podcast of these things, except that I fear it would be 3 hours long and interrupted by phone calls, museum visitors, and the random excitements that make our days so fun (like yesterday, when I was gifted a commercial electric stapler!) So for now, we'll stick to a text-only version of the "Better Know" series.

1. What is your job title? What do you do with yourself all day?
Curator of Education/Museum Manager; What do I do when I’m not running around like a chicken with my head cut off? Coordinate school programs, public events, schlep chairs, scrub toilets, write exhibit text, research exhibits, paint things, pay bills, manage the store, manage the weekend staff, drink coffee, give school programs, have highly entertaining and philosophical discussions on the Fourteenth Amendment with parents.

2. What were you doing before you took the job at NTHC?
I was a Café Manager at Barnes & Noble in Eugene Oregon. I also spent my time entertaining my two children and finishing up grad school.

3. What is one project you have worked on here that you are especially proud of?
Getting to know the history of the area through primary sources, such as the Cattie Coit letters, which took five months to scan, upload, transcribe.
Contributor's Note: Catharine ("Cattie") Coit moved to Texas from South Carolina with her husband John in 1858. Cattie's extensive letters are an intriguing look into Texas' history, as Cattie's correspondance covered topics such as her children, daily life in North Texas and the Civil War. Some of her letters are currently on display at NTHC.

4. What was your favorite food as a kid?
Pizza

5. Peanut butter: crunchy or smooth?
Crunchy -- I couldn’t have it for so many years because of orthodontia!

6. What event will you be watching in this summer’s Beijing Olympics?
Women’s gymnastics.

7. If you could pick anything, what would be your superpower?
The ability to clone myself!

8. What do you do in your spare time?
Read, garden, play with my kids, watch Food Network.

9. Which Hepburn do you prefer and why: Katharine or Audrey?
Katharine, because everyone should get to be a crotchety old woman.

10. If you lived in the supermarket, what aisle would you chose to live in?
The tea and coffee aisle.

11. If you could have dinner with any one person, living or dead, who would you dine with?
Elizabeth Blackwell.

12. After you open your yogurt, do you lick the lid?
Depends on the flavor – strawberry is a good lid-licking flavor!

13. What was your favorite album when you were 16?
Robin Hood Prince of Thieves Soundtrack or Billy Joel’s Innocent Man.

14. Tell me about your dream vacation.
Walking tour of Scotland.

15. Where were you on September 11, 2001?
I had just woken up and turned on CNN – then we went to story hour and my son got his first kiss! We closed Barnes & Noble at noon that day because of the events.

16. What do you consider appointment TV?
Heroes.

17. Who is your favorite US president and why?
Bill Clinton because he was the first president I could vote for and I think he did a lot of really good things -- despite his personal failings.

18. Were you named for anyone?
No – my mother picked a name you couldn’t make a nickname out of.

Two New Super Fun Features!

2008-03-11T09:53:00.002-06:00

This month, we're going to roll out two new features for the NTHC blog: a monthly "Better Know Your NTHC Staff & Volunteers," where our fantastic staff and volunteers will answer a random assortment of questions about themselves, and a bi-monthly "Artifact Spotlight," that will feature an item from our collection. Enjoy!

NTHC Lecture Series: Annie Royer on Frank Klepper

2008-03-10T14:11:00.003-06:00

McKinney artist and educator Frank Klepper will be the subject of the North Texas History Center's inaugural lecture on March 11, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. As part of the New Deal for American regional artists in the 1930's, Klepper's mural, Confederate Company Leaving McKinney, was commissioned by the federal government to adorn the 1911 McKinney post office building. Annie Royer will offer an art historical presentation designed to place the mural in the context of Klepper's significant contribution to the training and encouragement of emerging local artists. Klepper, his students, and his North Texas colleagues were instrumental in the establishment of Dallas as an important center of American regional art in the first half of the 20th century.

Ms. Royer holds a bachelors in art from Austin College, and graduate degrees in the history of art from Yale. She offers a monthly art history lecture series at the Heard Craig House, and teaches painting at her McKinney Art and Design Studio. Ms. Royer is currently researching art production and collecting in McKinney during the first half of the 20th century, and painting feverishly in preparation for her April '08 show at fellow artist Laura Moore's Fine Art Studios, 129 S. Tennessee St., McKinney.

The lecture will be held at the North Texas History Center at 300 E. Virginia in downtown McKinney and is free to NTHC members and $5 for non-members. Future NTHC sponsored lectures will be held in September and December. For more information please call 972.542.9457, ext. 102.

Welcome to our blog!

2008-02-05T13:51:00.003-06:00

Thank you for visiting the North Texas History Center's blog! We'll use this space to post updates, news and events as well as some special features that we'll debut in a few weeks. For now, here's a bit more about our organization:

Mission Statement:
The North Texas History Center discovers, preserves, and shares our North Texas heritage with present and future generations through its museums and programs.

Vision Statement:
To be the leading historical resource in North Texas.

Values Statement:
A professional institution:
· Trusted to preserve and document our collection,
· Disciplined in our standards and stewardship of history,
· Ethical in our collection and treatment of artifacts, and
· Respectful of its unique community role in North Texas.

Our History:
Since its origin as the Collin County Historical Society in 1957, the North Texas History Center has become a professionally managed, regional cultural institution. In May 1982, the Center opened a museum in the 1911 Post Office building in downtown McKinney, the Collin County seat.

In May 2001, NTHC hired its first professional staff. Significant grants from the Meadows Foundation (2004) and the Institute of Museum & Library Services (2005 Museums for America Grant) coupled with increased support from the Collin County Commissioners’ Court and the City of McKinney enabled NTHC to improve its infrastructure and expand its staff to four full-time professionals and five part-timers. In 2005, the Commissioners’ Court chose NTHC to revitalize the Collin County Farm Museum.

The Center’s McKinney location now hosts some 10,000+ elementary school students annually, and the Farm Museum location will host the first middle school students through a prototype exhibit in the spring of 2007. NTHC serves Collin, Dallas, Denton, Grayson, and Rockwall County ISDs with programs that dovetail with the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) requirements.

The Center’s Curator of Collections & Exhibitions is diligently conducting the first object-by-object inventory of the Center’s collections, digitizing the artifacts and photographs, and properly storing those collections in museum-quality cabinets. NTHC’s growing national reputation is reflected by important object and document donations from Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas, and South Carolina sine 2006.

While NTHC is grateful for its City and County funding support, it has a very aggressive development effort and a significant earned income effort. NTHC has membership and corporate partnership programs, exhibit and project sponsorships, and conducts two annual mailings. In addition to its school tour income, NTHC has published and/or reprinted five books since 2004.

The NTHC endowment exceeds $110,000 and NTHC has established five designated endowment funds with the Communities Foundation of Texas: The History Center Fund, Farm Museum Fund, Harrington Library Fund, Hall Guild Maintenance Fund, and the McKinney Family Fund.