EVENTS

TTHEI has contributed to many projects in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at Texas A & M, College Station, TX that looked at the cemetery’s historical and geophysical significance. They participated in a geophysical survey project with Texas A&M University Department of Geology and Geophysics to use x-rays to assess the number of graves in Camptown Cemetery. Several articles were published using the data they gathered. The Camptown Cemetery is an area rich in historical importance. With graves dating back to the civil war era, there is much to be found beneath the surface with non-intrusive geophysical tools. The surrounding town is interested in constructing a culvert to relay water through the cemetery. With the use of magnetometer, ground penetrating radar (GPR), and electromagnetic methods (EM); the team will image the proposed path of construction for the culvert in order to be sure no person’s remains will be built over. Combining the results of the three methods will allow the team to claim with confidence whether or not remains are in the projected path of construction.

 

The article on the cemetery’s geo-mapping assessed where the bodies (residence) were located since the cemetery had been so unkept and many of the headstones had disappeared (washed away or stolen).  Abstract:  Brenham, Texas has an interesting past that may surprise some of its residents. Geophysical tools can see through the years of sediment buildup to confirm the presence of historical buildings in Brenham that otherwise could not be found. The site in question is owned by Blue Bell Creameries and is located on South Chappell Hill Street. An old distillery is believed to have been built on this site and may be the first of its kind in Texas. The sub-surface mapping of the site will be accomplished using three geophysical techniques: Magnetometer (Mag), Electromagnetic Induction (EM), and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). These three techniques each provide their own unique image of the subsurface. The goal is to integrate the results from all three techniques in order create an accurate image of the sub-surface. These integrated results will then be used to confirm the existence of the distillery and any additional buildings in the area. These findings will be compared to historical maps to investigate their accuracy. The results could be significant as the community’s economy thrives on historical tourism.

 

Over the years, TTHEI has collaborated with Robert Bubb PhD of Auburn University, GA. In 2018, TTHEI again partnered with Dr. Bubb, who is a descendent of Louisa Mangrum. Ms. Mangrum sold the land to Brenham for Pickard School, which was a Black School in Brenham pre-integration.  Dr. Bubb has been doing extensive genealogical research on his family and contacted TTHEI because of the work we are doing revitalizing the Camptown Cemetery.  This collaboration yielded several other activities. We submitted a grant to sponsor 5-10 of his students to visit Brenham during their summer program and be mentored by our members on how to conduct genealogical research.  While we were not awarded the funding for 2019, we hope to resubmit in the future. 

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The project abstract:  Undergraduate Research Faculty Grant funding was requested to support the incorporation of a research field experience into an existing HDFS 4980 Advanced Undergraduate Research practicum course. The proposed field activity will support up to 10 students on a weeklong trip to learn how to preserve local Auburn African American history from The Texas Ten Historical Society. By the conclusion of the field study, students will have the resources necessary to research, write, and preserve the local African American history in Auburn, Alabama. Students presented findings locally in the community and at university, regional, and national conferences, and published in news outlets and academic journals.

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Another collaborative event was the group’s participation in the 2019 National Genealogical Association Conference, in which we participated via Zoom. The presentation was on the intricate process of TTHEI revitalizing the Camptown Cemetery.  Dr. Bubb conducted the presentation in person, while TTHEI members contributed to the presentation and discussion through Zoom.  Our information was very well received by the 50 to 60 attendees.

 

The Texas Freedom Colony Project is headed by Andrea Roberts, PhD, former Assistant Professor in Urban Planning at Texas A & M University. She is currently an associate professor in Urban and Environmental Planning, Director for the Center for Cultural Landscapes at the University of Virginia.

 

While at TAMU, Dr. Roberts reached out to the TTHEI because the work being done in Washington County with untold stories around the topic of freedom colonies.  In 1870, formerly enslaved Texans owned 2% if farmland in Texas, and by 1920, they would own more than 31%. On this the land they founded hundreds of Freedom Colonies, settlements where formerly enslaved African Americans, and other immigrants lived and traded among themselves. Over the years, these safe havens and their residents dispersed, leaving little memory of their existence. However, these Freedom Colonies played a significant role in African American and Texas history. The Texas Freedom Colonies Project is an evolving, social justice initiative dedicated to documenting settlement names and locations, African American planning history, community origin stories, cultural practices, and providing evidence-based support to grassroots preservation groups and their planning activities. Their goal is to put freedom colonies on the map, on policy, and in the center of Texas History.

 

In April of 2019, Dr. Roberts of the Texas Freedom Colony Project held a community event where many organizations and groups were invited to learn more on this project’s structures and how to navigate their website to enter information. The meeting also provided an opportunity for attendees to provide input on how we can all collaborate together on getting these oral histories recorded about Freedom Colonies in our perspective areas.  We will continue to collaborate with this project to assist in helping to collect data.

 

Brenham Heritage Museum continues to update its museum content regarding African American History.  Several TTHEI members has assisted in contributing content as well as exhibits such as for Black History Month and Juneteenth.  Eddie Harrison contributed much content on what Blacks in the early years of Texas contribute to the development of Washington County. Janel Jefferson, Cheryl DaBera, Tina Henderson are working with Natearah Austin (BHM Board member) on the African American content committee to make sure the African American community is respectfully represented. In doing this, Janel actively search the photo archives of the Winklemann and Harris studios, searching for images of African Americans to use in telling these stories. These collections are housed at the Brisco Center in Austin Texas.