South Texas College’s Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery, History Department, and the Center for Mexican American Studies proudly present “Life and Death on the Border: 1910-1920,” a panel exhibit that includes photographs, postcards, court documents, and rare artifacts that tell the story of daily life and re-examines Texas historical events of the early 1900s–specifically the early 1900s in the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. STC History Professor and co-founder of the Refusing to Forget project Dr. Trinidad Gonzales, worked alongside colleagues throughout the state and nation to help research and put together this exhibit and event series. These histories inspired Tejano literature, art, and music and influenced the creation of the Mexican American civil rights movement.

The exhibit will be on view from February 9th – June 6th at the STC Pecan Campus Library. A playlist put together by the Bullock Museum, Música Tejana, is a “collection of musical forms, styles, and genres that evolved primarily in South Texas during the 19th century and narrated the lives and challenges of people living along the south Texas-northern Mexican border.”

The schedule for the event is as follows:

Opening session: February 9th, BLDG. U, East Ballroom – 2.100

5:30 – 6:00 pm Corridos by STC Conjunto
6:00 – 7:30 pm Roundtable: Landmark Exhibit

Margaret Koch, Bullock Museum Director
Monica Martinez, UT-Austin, Refusing to Forget
Sonia Hernandez, Texas A&M, Refusing to Forget
John Moran Gonzalez, UT-Austin, Refusing to Forget
Benjamin Johnson, Chicago Loyola University
Moderation by: Trinidad Gonzales, STC, Refusing to Forget 

March 9th, BLDG. D, Auditorium

6:00 – 7:00 pm Family Resistencia: The Story of a Family That Survived Rinche Violences

Christopher Carmona, UTRGV, Refusing to Forget
Juan P. Carmona, STC, Refusing to Forget

Bullock Texas State History Museum is located in Austin, Texas, and works to preserve and exhibit Texas history and culture. Refusing to Forget is a multifaceted public history project that seeks to spread awareness of violence against Mexicans and Mexican Americans at the hands of both vigilante groups and state agents, such as the Texas Rangers.

“Life and Death on the Border” was originally produced by the Bullock Texas State History Museum in collaboration with Refusing to Forget. The “Life and Death on the Border” exhibit has been made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Sustaining Humanities through the American Rescue Plan in partnership with the American Historical Association. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the American Historical Association or the National Endowment of the Humanities.

If you’re unable to attend in person, register in advance to join us online: https://southtexascollege.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7KYSBKlzT4OwQgt3N-GUNg.

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and programs to engage students in understanding art and its role in culture, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information call (956) 872-3488, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryartgallery/.