At the Heart of Texas: 100 Years of the Texas State Historical Association, 1897-1997 (review)

2??8Book Reviews93 Council ofJewish Women. One chapter explains diat progressive council members worked to establish kindergartens, promoted anti-lynching campaigns, and supported Planned Parenthood. Other chapters provide short vignettes about politicians and activist such as Dr. Ray K Daily, Florence Sharpiro, and Judge Rose Spector. In one of the strongest chapters, Jane Guzman not only describes the Levy family of Sweetwater, but also compares Sweetwater to other small Texas towns. Furthermore, Guzman analyzes the rise and fall of rural communities throughout Texas. This section also recounts other business struggles in far south and west Texas. And it includes the story of visionary businessman Morris ZaIe, who pioneered selling jewelry on credit and who eventually owned stores across the country. Success was tempered with failure in the story of Al Neiman, former partner in Neiman-Marcus, who died poor and alone. The book offers many tidbits of information; however, several chapters provide almost a shotgun pattern of information, hitting here and there without pulling everything together. For example, in "Most Politics Is Local," the authors throw out many names and gloss over nineteenth-century political contributions, even omitting Morris Lasker, who served as a state senator from Galveston in 1 895. Additionally, readers see hints of the cultural differences between the older German Jewish Texans and newer Eastern European immigrants but this subject is never explored. Finally, although the editors note that Lone Stars ofDavid was intended as a popular history, the omission of notes makes locating documentation difficult, and by relying on previously published material for several essays, the editors have lost the opportunity to bring fresh unpublished information to readers. Despite these limitations, readers and historians interested in Texas history and Jewish history can hope that Ms. Weiner's wish comes true, and that "this collection will stimulate others to record and to publish" (p. 15) additional works on TexasJewish history. Texas AàfM UniversityKay Goldman 1 At the Heart of Texas: 100 Years ofthe Texas Slate Historical Association, 1897—1997. By Richard McCaslin, foreword byJ. P. Bryan, illustrated and with captions and sidebars by Janice Pinney (Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 2007. Pp. 352. Illustrations, appendices, note on sources, notes, index. ISBN 9780876 1 1 2 1 68. $39.95, cloth.) You might think that the centennial history of a historical society would be dreary—a dull recounting of leaders, committees, meetings, finances, members, and accomplishments—as is the case with many institutional retrospectives. This history of the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), however, is neither dreary nor dull. The narrative written by Professor Richard McCaslin of the University of North Texas is pleasant, upbeat, lively, and flowing. It is organized chronologically according to the various directors—George P. Garrison, Eugene 94Southwestern Historical QuarterlyJuly C. Barker, Walter P. Webb, H. Bailey Carroll, Joe B. Frantz, L. Tuffly Ellis, James W. Pohl, and Ron Tyler—and taken mainly from the records of the association along with some archival collections, interviews, and secondary sources. McCaslin provides analysis of the leadership and problems of the society without heavy criticism and generally agrees withJ. P. Bryan who writes the foreword that the "golden age" of the association came during the tenure ofJoe B. Frantz and L. Tuffly Ellis. This was a time of inclusion for blacks, Hispanics, and young historians ; increased membership; additional publications; expanded annual meetings ; and a cordial relationship with the University ofTexas, the host institution. The numerous sidebars and photographs with extensive commentary provided by editor Janice Pinney are major reasons for the vivacity of the book. There are pictures of the directors, staff members, executive council presidents, offices, book auctions, cartoons, and annual conventions. It is a little bit like a college yearbook, except, of course, that this one covers over a century of activity . Consequently, anyone who has been involved in the administration or who has been closely connected to the Texas State Historical Association will enjoy immensely At the Heart of Texas. It will arouse memories and remind readers of the notable accomplishments of the staff, directors, nonacademic volunteers, and professional historians. The work of the TSHA in the twentieth century was a triumph. This one-hundred-year history, however, somewhat raggedly continues into the...