1. Ghosts of Austin, Texas: Who They Are and Where to Find Them
By Fiona Broome
Provides a ghost hunting guide to Austin's haunted landmarks and cemeteries, famous "strong-willed" spirits, and advice on the top ten places to find ghosts and how to get the perfect ghastly photo. Includes the Texas Capitol, Texas Governor's Mansion, Driskill Hotel, the Shoal Creek "curse," and Austin's nightly display of 1.5 million bats under Congress Avenue from March to November, as well as haunted sites near Austin in Burnet, Gonzales, and La Grange.
Schiffer Pub. Ltd., 2007. 255 pages.
976.43 B791G 2007


 

2. Haunted Texas: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Lone Star State
By Alan Brown
Compiles a treasure trove of ghostly and mystifying tales from all parts of Texas. Highlights eerie stories of supernatural guests at the Governor's Mansion, a fiddle playing library ghost, phantom cattle, UFO sightings, the Lake Worth monster, and spirits of the Alamo.
Stackpole Books, 2008. 122 pages.
976.43 B812H 2008


 

3. Texas Unexplained: Strange Tales and Mysteries from the Lone Star State
By Jay Sharp
Examines some of the more colorful mysteries in Texas that have never been solved. Includes stories of ghosts, apparitions, strange lights, and eerie sounds, and discusses Texas places where one can go to observe these phenomena first hand.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Press, 1999. 134 pages.
P400.8 UN2ST


 

4. Austin Murder & Mayhem
By Richard Zelade
Presents an anthology of over a dozen stories revolving around murder and other tales of vengeance in Texas. Details many events with excerpts from the newspapers of the time in sometimes graphic detail. Includes the 1903 shooting death of State Comptroller Robert Marshall Love at his desk in the state capitol by a former employee.
The History Press, 2015. 142 pages.
364.1523 Z49A 2015


 

5. Legends & Lore of the Texas Capitol
By Mike Cox
Highlights the tales and personalities that have been part of the Texas Capitol’s storied past, including ghost sightings and an unsolved murder. Sorts truth from legend and presents little known tidbits that enrich and preserve the historical record.
The History Press, 2017. 223 pages.
976.4 C877L 2017


 

6. Texas Obscurities: Stories of the Peculiar, Exceptional & Nefarious
By E.R. Bill
Recounts events not often included in Texas history classes. Ranges from firsts, like America's first all-female Supreme Court and first female sheriff; to the unusual, like weaponizing bats, the Aurora "spaceman," and Japanese balloon bombs; to the shameful, like the Slocum and Porvenir Massacres
The History Press, 2013. 158 pages.
976.4 B498T 2013
 

1. Exonerated: A History of the Innocence Movement
By Robert J. Norris
Focuses on the exoneration of innocent individuals who have been wrongfully convicted. Defines what the "innocence movement" is and offers a descriptive, chronological narrative that considers how and why this movement developed. Highlights some of the people, organizations, decisions, and events involved. Questions and examines innocence as a social movement. Concludes by discussing critiques from both within and outside of the movement.
New York University Press, 2017. 289 pages.
345.73 N797E 2017


 

2. Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist
By Kate Raworth
Argues a different way of thinking is needed to address the current economic landscape and its many social and ecological challenges. Proposes a new economic model, which is presented visually in the shape of a doughnut, that challenges the concept that growth is the fundamental ideal in any economy. Outlines seven key ideas to reframe what the economy is and how it works and allows humankind to prosper.
Chelsea Green Publishing, 2017. 309 pages.
330 R199D 2017


 

3. Violated: Exposing Rape at Baylor University Amid College Football's Sexual Assault Crisis
By Paula Lavigne and Mark Schlabach
Provides a narrative of the sexual crimes committed against women by Baylor University football players over the past decade. Argues the Baylor allegations stand out because as the world's largest Baptist university, it was assumed such violence couldn’t occur there. Traces the escalation in violence to the increase in prominence of the football team and the failure of university officials to help the victims and discipline the assailants. Discusses lawsuits that led to the firing of the university president, the athletic director, and the football coach and to at least one football player being sent to prison.
Center Street, 2017. 355 pages.
371.782 L392V 2017


 

4. The Three Languages of Politics
By Arnold Kling
Examines the three tribal coalitions of political discussions - progressive, conservative, and libertarian - with a goal of moving towards healthier political discussions. Promotes less polarization and more mutual respect and reasoned deliberations. Provides explanations, examples, and tests of the author's "three-axes" model and a bibliography for further reading.
Cato Institute, 2017. 131 pages.
320.014 K686T 2017


 

5. Debating Religious Liberty and Discrimination
By John Corvino, Ryan T. Anderson, and Sherif Girgis
Presents arguments on religious liberty, tolerance, and discrimination in a point-counterpoint format. Examines the historical, philosophical, and legal dimensions of religious liberty. Addresses many difficult questions that have arisen in response to the legalization of same-sex marriages. Provides a model for debate that allows for the articulation of strong differences in a civil and respectful manner.
Oxford University Press, 2017. 343 pages.
323.44 C819D 2017


 

6. Framing the Solid South: The State Constitutional Conventions of Secession, Reconstruction, and Redemption, 1860-1902
By Paul E. Herron
Explains how a series of constitutional conventions framed the southern states' political identity and served to unify the region. Notes southern delegates gathered forty-four times from 1860 to 1902, a rate more than four times that in the rest of the nation during the same period. Offers insights from a close reading of state constitutional convention debates to illustrate the southern states' distinctive constitutional and political development.
University Press of Kansas, 2017. 360 pages.
342.75502 H436F 2017

1. We Were Not Orphans: Stories from the Waco State Home
By Sherry Matthews
Investigates the treatment of thousands of children who resided at the Waco State Home, an institution that was established by the 36th Texas Legislature in 1919 for dependent and neglected children and operated from the 1920s through the 1970s. Shares the personal narratives from nearly sixty former residents, many of whom experienced terrible abuse. Discusses the harmful effects of a government-run facility that had inadequate public oversight and what it took to shut down the institution, which was meant to house and educate some of the most vulnerable children in Texas.
University of Texas Press, 2011. 220 pages.
362.732 M432W 2011


 

2. No Apparent Distress: A Doctor's Coming-of-Age on the Front Lines of American Medicine
By Rachel Pearson
Narrates the author's experience training to be a doctor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston shortly after Hurricane Ike. Weaves personal anecdotes with clinical episodes and observations about the shortcomings of health care and physician training in Texas and in the United States.
W.W. Norton & Company, 2017. 260 pages.
362.1 P318N 2017


 

3. Going to Texas: Five Centuries of Texas Maps
By Center for Texas Studies at TCU
Traces Texas history through color plates of 64 historic Texas maps ranging from the earliest sixteenth-century maps of New Spain, the Republic and statehood, and into the twenty-first century. Includes ten essays by noted historians that provide the historical context in which the maps should be viewed. Aims to promote the beauty of maps and to share the history presented by them with all those who seek a better understanding of the settlement and development of the State of Texas.
TCU Press, 2007. 120 pages.
911.764 T312G 2007


 

4. Historic Texas from the Air
By David Buisseret
Highlights through aerial photographs how the varied geography of Texas shaped the state's development and its people. Presents 73 historic sites as seen from the sky, accompanied by a description of each sites' historical background and significance. Complements with contemporary and historic photographs, vintage postcards, and maps.
University of Texas Press, 2009. 206 pages.
700 B868H 2009


 

5. Ten Years in Texas
By Jack White
Tells the story through historical fiction of the struggle leading up to the birth of the Republic of Texas and the ten years that followed until the Lone Star flag was replaced with the Union Stars and Stripes. Features such historical figures as General Sam Houston, Baron de Bastrop, David Crockett, and Santa Anna. Notes the author, Jack White, is also an Official Texas State Artist whose portrait of Sam Houston graces the book's cover.
BookSurge Publishing, 2007. 411 pages.
700 W584T 2007


 

6. The Blood of Heroes: The 13-Day Struggle for The Alamo -- and the Sacrifice that Forged a Nation
By James Donovan
Provides historical context, sketches of central characters, and an impressively researched re-telling of the 13-day Alamo siege, drawing on fresh primary sources. Examines contradictions in sources and provides the author's interpretation of whether Travis drew a line in the sand and whether David Crockett died in battle or was killed later. Includes a detailed notes section and an extensive bibliography.
Little, Brown and Co., 2012. 500 pages.
976.403 D719B 2012


 

1. Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration--and How to Achieve Real Reform
By John F. Pfaff
Investigates the root causes of mass incarceration in the United States. Argues that the reigning consensus or the "Standard Story" for the surge in incarceration rates is misguided and has many shortcomings. Presents alternative factors for increased rates of imprisonment including: shifts in prosecutor behavior, public spending, public-sector union lobbying, and politicians with prisons in their districts. Provides concrete solutions for reforming the criminal justice system and reducing incarceration rates.
Basic Books, 2017. 311 pages.
365.973 P47L 2017


 

2. The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters
By Tom Nichols
Contends that American culture has moved toward embracing ignorance rather than expertise. Analyzes various factors contributing to this distrust of experts in historical and contemporary contexts. Explores how this viewpoint is detrimental to decision-making in political, health, and other spheres, providing examples ranging from vaccination to foreign aid spending. Suggests ways to balance thoughtful discourse with trust in vetted research.
Oxford University Press, 2017. 252 pages.
303.4833 N518D 2017


 

3. The Color Of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America
By Richard Rothstein
Presents a case for how local, state, and federal government’s laws and policies are the cause of American cities remaining primarily segregated to this day, rather than the commonly held belief that it was due to personal prejudices, income differences, or banks. Examines the flawed urban planning of the 1950s along with the suburbanization of American life after WWII, that led to officially segregated public housing and the demolition of previously integrated neighborhoods. Argues that while the Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibited future discrimination, it did nothing to reverse the deeply embedded residential patterns in cities across the country.
Liveright Publishing, 2017. 345 pages.
305.800973 R746C 2017


 

4. Goodbye to a River: A Narrative
By John Graves
Narrates the author's contemplative canoe journey down the Brazos River in 1957, a trip inspired by a proposed series of flood-control dams that would have altered the river and the surrounding landscape. Weaves his experience and observations on the trip with historical accounts of the Native Americans and pioneers who lived in the area around the river and in North Central Texas. Muses on the relationship between people, place, and nature.
Knopf, 1960. 306 pages.
917.641 G785G 1959


 

5. Lone Star Nation: The Epic Story of The Battle for Texas Independence
By H.W. Brands
Explores the Texas journey from early colonization in the 1820s to statehood and beyond. Presents a chronological review of development and settlement, with the bulk of the book covering 1820 to 1836. Concludes by highlighting the period of 1836-1865, with a focus on Sam Houston's service in Congress and as the Governor who refused to follow his beloved state into secession from the union.
Anchor Books, 2005. 582 pages.
976.403 B734L 2004


 

1. The Framers' Coup: The Making of the United States Constitution
By Michael J. Klarman
Presents a comprehensive accounting of the founding of the U.S. Constitution from the precursor Articles of Confederation to the enactment of the Bill of Rights. Suggests the framers were practicing ordinary interest group politics and reviews primary sources to show their reasoning, prejudices, and moral blind spots. Concludes the Constitution was a coup for expanded powers of the federal government and a significant departure from the more democratic state constitutions of the time.
Oxford University Press, 2016. 865 pages.
342.7302 K665F 2016


 

2. From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America
By Elizabeth Hinton
Argues that America's mass incarceration rates originate not with the Reagan administration's War on Drugs, as popularly perceived, but with the Johnson administration's Great Society social welfare programs. Traces the trajectory of Johnson's War on Poverty and War on Crime policies, illustrating how Nixon and later presidents pulled away from welfare efforts and devoted increasing resources to anticrime programs that ultimately criminalized poverty. Demonstrates how flawed statistical data overstated the problem of crime in African American communities and produced a distorted view of American crime as a whole.
Harvard University Press, 2016. 449 pages.
364.973 H596F 2016


 

3. We Wanted Workers: Unraveling the Immigration Narrative
By George J. Borjas
Analyzes the impact that immigration has on the United States economy. Questions whether the analytical models used by both proponents and detractors of unrestricted immigration policies are flawed based on their assumptions and data. Concludes that many of the arguments for and against certain immigration policies, supported by statistical evidence, have been corrupted to support a particular stance on immigration.
W. W. Norton & Company, 2016. 238 pages.
331.10973 B644W 2016


 

4. Moderates: The Vital Center of American Politics, from the Founding to Today
By David S. Brown
Charts the progress of centrism in American politics, emphasizing the critical role that moderate politicians, ideas, and collaborations have played since the United States was established. Examines the contributions of pragmatic, centrist leaders within their historical contexts, including John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, the Bushes, and Bill Clinton.
University of North Carolina Press, 2016. 335 pages.
306.20973 B812M 2016


 

5. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
By J.D. Vance
Examines the family, economic, and social challenges of America's poor, white working class in Kentucky's Appalachian region and small-town Ohio. Addresses policy issues of child abuse, alcoholism, poverty, welfare, and family trauma through a gripping and poignant memoir.
Harper, 2016. 264 pages.
305.5 V277H 2016


 

6. Shaming the Constitution: The Detrimental Results of Sexual Violent Predator Legislation
By Michael L. Perlin and Heather Ellis Cucolo
Presents a comprehensive overview of sex offenders and current sexual predator legislation in America. Analyzes in depth not only the laws, but also the social attitudes that have effectively blocked many constitutional protections that these offenders should have available to them. Argues public policy often has been the result of knee-jerk legislation and posits that as a result, society has neglected issues that matter - risk prediction, effective treatment, and curbing media misrepresentation.
Temple University Press, 2017. 309 pages.
345.73 P421S 2017


 

1. A Tongue in the Mouth of the Dying By Laurie Ann Guerrero
Laurie Ann Guerrero, the 2016 Texas Poet Laureate, is also the 2014 San Antonio Poet Laureate. Her poetry has been described as startling and visceral - full of imagination and empathy but also sharp as knives. Among her numerous awards are the 2012 Andres Montoya Poetry Prize and the Helen C. Smith Award from the Texas Institute of Letters. A Tongue in the Mouth of the Dying has been identified as a must-read work of Chicano literature. It explores the histories of South Texas, its people, and their ability to speak out.
University of Notre Dame Press, 2013. 66 pages.
811.6 G937T 2013


 

2. Sonnets and Salsa By Carmen Tafolla
Dr. Carmen Tafolla, the 2015 Texas Poet Laureate, is a writer, a performance artist, and a professor of Bicultural Bilingual Studies at the University of Texas - San Antonio. She has authored several books of poetry along with short stories, historical nonfiction, and children's books. She is recognized as one of the madrinas of contemporary Chicana literature and a master at code-switching. Her works have appeared in textbooks, newspapers, journals, and magazines. She has been honored with several awards including being named the 2012 San Antonio Poet Laureate. Sonnets and Salsa is a collection of poems/sonnets in English and in Spanish that capture the joys and struggles of Latina women.
Wings Press, 2001. 107 pages.
811.54 T125S 2001


 

3. Shock by Shock By Dean Young
Dean Young, the 2014 Texas Poet Laureate and a Pulitzer Prize finalist, has been a prolific author of poetry for the past thirty-years. He has received awards and support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2011 he underwent a heart transplant after living with congestive heart failure for a decade. Hints of his condition can be found throughout his poetry. He is currently the William Livingston Chair of Poetry with the James A. Michener Center for Writers and a professor with the University of Texas Department of English in Austin. Shock By Shock, his first collection of poems since his brush with death, celebrates his joy for life with a mixture of surrealism and humor.
Copper Canyon Press, 2015. 81 pages.
811.54 Y84S 2015


 

4. Again for the First Time By Rosemary Catacalos
Rosemary Catacalos, the 2013 Texas Poet Laureate, is of Greek and Mexican heritage and a San Antonio native. Her work is deeply rooted in the classical myths, folklore, and history of both cultures. She has been a tireless advocate for literacy, creative education, and underheard voices. Again for the First Time, which was awarded the Texas Institute of Letters Poetry Prize, blends Greek mythological characters with contemporary settings and addresses a variety of issues, including San Antonio street life and racism.
Wings Press, 2013. 79 pages.
811.54 C28A 2013


 

5. Jan Seale: New and Selected Poems By Jan Seale
Jan Seale, the 2012 Texas Poet Laureate, began writing poetry at the age of six. She is an award winning author of poetry, short stories, nonfiction and children’s books. The former teacher’s works often reflects on nature, aging, spirituality, and the lives of women. Jan Seale: New and Selected Poems, the eighth volume of the Texas Poets Laureate series, is a collection of some of her best poetry published between 1974-2012.
TCU Press, 2012. 88 pages.
811 T312PL 12


 

6. David M. Parsons: New and Selected Poems By David M. Parsons
Dave Parsons, the 2011 Texas Poet Laureate, is a man of many contrasts - from serving in the U.S. Marine Corps to owning a haberdashery, from coaching sports to teaching creative writing at Lone Star College. He began writing poetry in college and has been published in several journals and anthologies. He is the recipient of numerous awards and was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters in 2009. David M. Parsons: New and Selected Poems, the seventh installment of the TCU Texas Poets Laureate Series, is a collection of some of his most celebrated works, including poems inspired by the city of Austin.
TCU Press, 2012. 86 pages.
811 T312PL 11


 

7. Redefining Beauty By Karla K. Morton
Karla K. Morton, the 2010 Texas Poet Laureate, is a celebrated poet who has authored numerous books of poetry that span many subjects and forms. In her role as Texas Poet Laureate, she established the Little Town, Texas Tour to bring poetry to young people across Texas, focusing on small towns underserved by the arts. Redefining Beauty is a collection of powerful poems that chronicle her journey through cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery - offering hope but also unfiltered honesty - on the brutality of cancer.
Dos Gatos Press, 2009. 63 pages.
811.6 M846R 2009


 

8. Paul Ruffin: New and Selected Poems By Paul Ruffin
Paul Ruffin, the 2009 Texas Poet Laureate, was an award winning writer who passed away in 2016. He was a Texas State University System Regents' Professor and a Distinguished Professor of English at Sam Houston State University. He was also the founder of the Texas Review and of Texas Review Press. He published over 1500 poems along with a multitude of stories and essays. Paul Ruffin: New and Selected Poems, the fifth installment of the TCU Texas Poets Laureate Series, highlights some of his finest poetry and extraordinary storytelling.
TCU Press, 2010. 85 pages.
811.54 R838N 2010


 

1. Black Texas Women: 150 Years of Trial and Triumph By Ruthe Winegarten
Examines the lives of black Texas women, going as far back as the Spanish colonial period, when women of color were not only free, but owned land and worked in Texas under the anti-slavery Mexican laws. Describes the pro-slavery Republic of Texas era in which white society took everything from black citizens – not only their freedom and land, but their civil rights, dignity, and self-respect. Paints a vivid picture of the lives of these inspiring women through their stories and photographs.
University of Texas Press, 1995. 427.
325.26 W725


 

2. Las Tejanas: 300 Years of History By Teresa Palomo Acosta and Ruthe Winegarten
Celebrates the contributions made by women of Spanish/Mexican origin to Texas from the 1700s to 2000. Provides a historical account of Tejanas in all aspects of life, focusing on their struggles and triumphs in politics, education, the arts, and business. Profiles notable Tejanas including former and current members of the Texas Legislature. Supplements this history of achievements with a selection of photographs and artwork.
University of Texas Press, 2003. 436 pages.
301.45 AC72T 2003


 

3. The Latina Advantage: Gender, Race, and Political Success By Christina E. Bejarano
Examines empirical evidence and statistics in Texas and California to argue that Latina women could hold a strategic advantage in the "intersectionality of gender and ethnicity." Argues that racial/ethnic minority women make up a greater percentage of other minority representatives than "white" women do among "white" elected officials. Investigates the history of the Texas Legislature and how Latina candidates are appealing to a wider, more diverse population based on qualities and political/community experience.
University of Texas Press, 2013. 183 pages.
305.868 B397L 2013


 

4. "Let Me Tell You What I've Learned": Texas Wisewomen Speak By PJ Pierce
Presents a collection of interviews of twenty-five women who have led extraordinary lives and shaped Texas in significant ways. Shares the wisdom and life lessons of women who have broken barriers and challenged stereotypes. Features risk-takers from a variety of backgrounds, including former and current lawmakers, who offer insights into topics such as career challenges, being a minority, families, faith, adversity, perseverance, and success.
University of Texas Press, 2002. 302 pages.
920.7209764 P611L 2002


 

5. A Love Letter to Texas Women By Sarah Bird
Describes key traits of many Texas women, including friendliness, sense of humor, and fearlessness, in this short, humorous tribute. Highlights Lady Bird Johnson, Laura Bush, Molly Ivins, Ann Richards, and Barbara Jordan as examples of inspirational women.
University of Texas Press, 2016. 72 pages.
813.54 B532L 2016


 

6. Citizens at Last: The Woman Suffrage Movement in Texas By A. Elizabeth Taylor
Highlights the role of Texas women in the suffrage movement, particularly Minnie Fisher Cunningham in her leadership role as president of the Texas Equal Suffrage Association, and Jane Y. McCallum, a public relations dynamo at keeping this topic in the public spotlight. Includes the groundbreaking 1951 article by Dr. A. Elizabeth Taylor, “The Woman Suffrage Movement in Texas.” Presents a variety of documents, including Texas legislative materials, beginning with the 1868-1869 Reconstruction Convention consideration of woman’s suffrage to the 1919 ratification of the 19th Amendment.
Ellen C. Temple, 1987. 242 pages.
324 T213


 

7. Texas Dames: Sassy and Savvy Women Throughout Lone Star History By Carmen Goldthwaite
Highlights the stories of fifty-three Texas women and their accomplishments from early Tejas to the mid-twentieth century. Details how these courageous "Dames" broke both gender and racial barriers in education, ministry, business, entertainment, athletics, medicine, and politics. Profiles women who achieved "firsts" as doctors, scientists, bankers, attorneys, religious leaders, and state lawmakers.
The History Press, 2012. 157 pages.
976.4 G58T 2012


 

8. Women in Civil War Texas: Diversity and Dissidence in the Trans-Mississippi By Deborah M. Liles and Angela Boswell, editors.
Documents the experiences of Texas women during the Civil War through essays that establish the historical context and complexity of the war and its effects. Delves into issues related to secession, slavery, and ethnicity as African Americans, Germans, and Tejanos diversified the state's population. [Winner of the Liz Carpenter Award for Research in the History of Women, Texas State Historical Association, 2016]
University of North Texas Press, 2016. 297 pages.
305.409764 L627W 2016


 

1. Anti-Black Violence in Twentieth-Century Texas By Bruce A. Glasrud, editor.
Provides a striking collection of essays by historians, journalists, and writers on the history of racial violence against African Americans in Texas. Demonstrates the persistence of racial violence across time, from lynchings in Lamar County (1890-1920) to the beating of Billy Ray Johnson in 2003. Argues that to understand present-day race relations, the violence against African Americans in the past must be examined.
Texas A&M University Press, 2015. 209 pages.
305.896 G463 2015
 

2. Black Intellectual Thought in Education: The Missing Traditions of Anna Julia Cooper, Carter G. Woodson, and Alain LeRoy Locke By Carl A. Grant, Keffrelyn D. Brown, and Anthony L. Brown
Presents the history of black intellectual thought through the eyes of three prominent black academic scholars. Celebrates the contributions of Anna Julia Cooper, Carter G. Woodson (known as the Father of Black History Month), and Alain Leroy Locke, to the causes of social science, education and democracy in America. Offers a powerful counter-narrative to the educational discourse and critical social theory established in the mainstream of American thought. Highlights ideas that should be examined to deal with prevailing educational issues of today.
Routledge, 2016. 185 pages.
371.829 G767 2016

3. Black Women in Texas History By Bruce A. Glasrud and Merline Pitre, editors.
Looks at how African American women have been shaped by the larger culture as well as how these women have affected the culture and history of Texas. Compiles essays written by era experts to survey African American women's experiences through time and themes, including slavery and freedom, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Era, and more. Argues that often-disenfranchised black women actively pursued ways to make their voices heard and build community.
Texas A&M University Press, 2008. 248 pages.
325.26 B64W 2008

4. Juneteenth Texas: Essays in African-American Folklore By Francis Edward Abernethy, Patrick B. Mullen, and Alan B. Govenar, editors.
Presents a wide variety of viewpoints on African-American folklore in Texas, including personal memoirs, essays describing various aspects of African-American folk culture and specific genres of songs and stories, and theoretical scholarly articles. Includes an essay on the history of the Juneteenth celebration in Texas, highlighting the path to establishing it as an official state holiday with the passage of HB1016, 66th Legislature.
University of North Texas Press, 1996. 364 pages.
398 AB37 1996

5. Playing in Shadows: Texas and Negro League Baseball By Rob Fink
Explores the significant role African American baseball teams in Texas and black Texans had in shaping the state's African American communities and building community pride and racial identity. Profiles the prominent role of Texan Andrew "Rube" Foster and his leadership in forming the Negro National League, the first black national professional league. Examines black newspapers and uses oral history interviews and autobiographies to flesh out the activities of specific players and Texas' own professional Texas-Oklahoma-Louisiana League of 1929 to 1931.
Texas Tech University Press, 2010. 165 pages.
796.357 F495P 2010

6. The Ground on Which I Stand: Tamina, a Freemen's Town By Marti Corn
Chronicles the lives, dreams, and spirit of the people of Tamina, a rural community north of Houston, established by newly freed slaves in 1871. Presents a multifaceted portrait of twelve descendent families through intimate photographs and oral histories gathered from residents who represent a variety of backgrounds. Shares stories of challenges and opportunities along with the residents' deep pride and love for Tamina.
Texas A&M University Press, 2016. 140 pages.
976.4153 C814 2016

7. The Original Black Elite: Daniel Murray and the Story of a Forgotten Era By Elizabeth Dowling Taylor
Presents the story of the black elites who thrived in the nation’s capital during reconstruction, told through the life of Daniel Murray (1851-1925), who was appointed Assistant Librarian at the Library of Congress and considered a prominent member of this “elite” class. Chronicles the rise and calculated fall of upper-class African Americans, a group of prominent educators, doctors, senators and lawyers, from Emancipation through Reconstruction to the Jim Crow Era. Includes photographs and maps.
Amistad Publishers, 2017. 498 pages.
973.04 T213 2017

1. Taming Texas: How Law and Order Came to The Lone Star State By James L. Haley and Marilyn P. Duncan
Presents the state of Texas' court system and how it evolved through history. Examines the days before law and order came to Texas and how early Texans organized the courts. Outlines how the court system borrows from an eclectic array of European, Mexican, and Spanish influence. Explores various topics including slavery, women's rights, criminal and civil courts, civil rights, and an overview of our current court system in Texas.
Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, 2016. 131 pages.
347.764 H137T 2016


 

2. Issues Facing the 85th Texas Legislature
Presents issues that may be considered by the 85th Legislature. Focuses on a variety of broad categories and topics that arose during the interim session including border security, education, criminal justice, health and human services, state affairs, and transportation. Provides concise descriptions of the issues, giving historical context as needed.
Senate Research Center, 2017. 104 pages.
Online at: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/_assets/srcpub/85th_Issues_Facing.pdf
L1803.8 IS8L 2017


 

3. Topics for the 85th Legislature
Highlights prominent issues lawmakers may consider during the 85th Texas Legislature. Provides succinct summaries of a variety of topics including property taxes, Child Protective Services and foster care reform, abortion, school choice, school testing, college affordability, voter ID, water needs, and gun regulations.
House Research Organization, 2016. 16 pages.
Online at: http://www.hro.house.state.tx.us/pdf/focus/topics85-1.pdf
L1801.9 ST94 85-1


 

4. Bill Ratliff: A Profile of Courage and Leadership in American Politics By Robert Edward Sterken Jr.
Highlights the factors that led former Senator and Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff to be known for his integrity and the philosophy that "nothing is politically right that is morally wrong." Considers his work on education, tort reform, and redistricting to show why he was called Obi-Wan Kenobi by his peers and named recipient of the 2005 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.
Lexington Books, 2016. 218 pages.
328.73092 ST45B 2016


 

5. Metaphors Be With You: An A-To-Z Dictionary of History's Greatest Metaphorical Quotations By Dr. Mardy Grothe
Presents a compendium of metaphorical quotations representing “the very best things that have ever been said” about 250 topics of deep human interest. Organizes the quotations by topic rather than by author and uses QR Codes to link each of the topics covered in this book to its corresponding section of Dr. Mardy's Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations, the world's largest online database of more than 25,000 metaphorical quotations organized into over 1,000 categories. Explains that no source information for the quotations is provided in the book, but detailed citations for the quotations - and much more - can be found in the online database.
Harper, 2016. 478 pages.
Online at: http://www.drmardy.com/dmdmq/
808.882 G915M 2016


 

6. Seeing Texas History: The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum By Victoria Ramirez, ed.
Illustrates Texas history by highlighting selected artifacts that have been displayed in special exhibitions at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Features full-color plates with brief explanatory captions. Spotlights pieces ranging from Stephen F. Austin's Spanish grammar book to the William B. Travis letter from the Alamo, from Bill Pickett's spurs to Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar.
University of Texas Press, 2016. 134 pages.
976.4 B876S 2016