Center for History & Culture of Southeast Texas and Upper Gulf Coast

10/20/2026

This Thursday, 4:30 pm, October 22. We are looking forward for Gary Pinkerton's presentation at the Tyrrell Historical Library (695 Pearl St, Beaumont, TX 77701). He will talk about his new book Bridles and Biscuits: Contraband Culture in Spanish East Texas. He will also have copies for sell. Refreshments provided. Free and open to all.

10/16/2026

Historic cemetery re-discovered in Beaumont. Here's the story from the The Examiner

Beaumont takes action proctecting burial grounds
By News Staff on Thursday, October 15, 2026


Beaumont, Texas (October 14, 2026)- In late 2025, while moving forward with an important water infrastructure project, the City of Beaumont was made aware of the possible presence of historic burial grounds dating back to the late 1800s on City-owned property near Pine Street and Marina Drive. These burial grounds, associated with the Martha Mack and Sheffield Cemeteries, have a history spanning more than a century. Recognizing the significance of these sacred sites and the importance of protecting those laid to rest there, City staff took immediate steps to investigate the property, working with historical experts and archaeologists to better understand its history and to ensure the burial grounds are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

The discovery was made as the City was moving forward with the Pine Street Raw Water Line project, which is partially funded through federal dollars. As part of the required permitting process, the City worked with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to conduct historical research and obtain clearance before beginning construction.

The City received clearance for the original water line route and was authorized to proceed with construction. At the time of that review, the historic burial grounds had not been identified.

The project involved installing a water line along Pine Street and connecting it to an existing line near Marina Drive. As construction moved forward, plans were developed for a temporary detour near Marina Drive to maintain access to City facilities while work was underway.

When the contractor contacted Magnolia Cemetery about the proposed detour, concerns were raised about the possible presence of historic African American cemeteries in the area.

Those concerns were brought to the City's attention in late November 2025. Upon receiving this information, City staff immediately placed work affecting the area along Marina Drive on hold and began coordinating with the Jefferson County Historical Commission and professional archaeologists to investigate the property.

Although the City had received state clearance for the original project, the new information raised questions that required additional investigation. The City recognized the importance of understanding the location and extent of the burial grounds before proceeding with work that could affect these sacred sites.

On December 3, 2025, the City engaged Acacia Heritage Consulting to conduct additional historical and archaeological research.

On December 11, the Jefferson County Historical Commission submitted documentation to the Texas Historical Commission requesting historic cemetery designations.

On January 9, 2026, City Engineering staff and archaeological consultants met with representatives of the Jefferson County Historical Commission to review historical records, maps and documentation associated with the burial grounds.

On January 16, the City obtained an historical permit for the archaeological investigation.

From February 10 through February 12, professional archaeologists conducted an on-site investigation of City-owned property north of Marina Drive. Members of the Jefferson County Historical Commission participated in the process, along with a licensed surveyor.

The investigation identified 33 grave shafts, confirming the presence of historic burials within the area being evaluated.

On August 5, the City received archaeological site number 41JF137 from the Texas Historical Commission. On September 22, the City received the consultant's final edited archaeological report documenting the investigation and its findings.

These findings provided important information about the location of historic burials and reinforced the need to make significant changes to the City's construction plans.

As a result, the City began a substantial redesign of the Pine Street Raw Water Line project to avoid the identified burial area.

This was not a minor adjustment. The changes require additional engineering, coordination and significant anticipated expense. While the redesign is still being finalized, the City is working toward a route that protects the identified burial grounds.

Through the research and investigation, the City has gained a greater understanding of the historic Martha Mack and Sheffield Cemeteries, as well as the nearby Murray Cemetery, historically known as the Black Pauper Cemetery.

Historical research indicates that the Martha Mack and Sheffield Cemeteries date back to the late 1800s and had largely fallen out of use by the 1920s. Over the years, the properties were used for other purposes before being acquired by the City in 1945. According to Acacia Heritage Consulting's archaeological report, the cemeteries had been largely forgotten by the time the current investigation began.

10/14/2026

Last week at the East Texas Historical Association meeting in Nacogdoches, the Center sponsored a joint session on "Eco-Storytelling on the Texas Gulf Coast." The panelist included Allison Grace Harmon (left; Rice University; 2025-2026 Center Fellow) who presented “After the Storm: Storytelling as Regional Archive.” Chaney Hill (2d from right; Rice University; 2026 Greater Gulf Symposium Fellow) presented on “Subsiding Futures: Environmental Memory and Industrial Extraction in the Greater Gulf.” Paul Del Bosque (right; University of Texas at Austin; 2025-2026 Center Fellow and 2026 Greater Gulf Symposium Fellow) presented on “Celia Stories: Oral Histories of Hurricane Survival on the Texas Coastal Bend." Thanks to the ETHA and to everyone who attended and brought their questions to the session.

10/08/2026

If you subscribe to the Beaumont Enterprise, check out Andy Coughlan's story on Dr. Demetrius Pearson's talk on Black Salt-Grass Cowboys that appears in the October 8 issue.

https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/

10/05/2026

Thanks to Dr. Demetrius W. Pearson for sharing his work on "Black Salt-Grass Rodeo Cowboys: Descendants of the Original Texas Cattle Herders" here at Lamar University. Thanks to all the Lamar students and faculty and to our SETX neighbors for the great turn out. Next week (October 22), Gary Pinkerton will talk about his book Bridles and Biscuits at the Tyrrell Historical Library. For our events, follow this link: https://www.lamar.edu/arts-sciences/research-centers/center-for-history-and-culture/events-and-news.html

10/01/2026

The Center for History and Culture is looking forward to hosting Dr. Demetrius W. Pearson and learn more about Black Salt-Grass Cowboys. Dr. Pearson will give his presentation at 4:30 pm, Thursday, October 1, in the Reaud Event Space (985 Jim Gilligan Way, Beaumont, TX 77705). Refreshments provided. Free and open to all. Follow this link for our Fall Events.

09/28/2026

The Center for History and Culture is looking forward to hosting Dr. Demetrius W. Pearson and learn more about Black Salt-Grass Cowboys. Dr. Pearson will give his presentation at 4:30 pm, Thursday, October 1, in the Reaud Event Space (985 Jim Gilligan Way, Beaumont, TX 77705). Refreshments provided. Free and open to all. Follow this link for our Fall Events. https://www.lamar.edu/arts-sciences/research-centers/center-for-history-and-culture/events-and-news.html

09/18/2026

On Monday morning, Director Jimmy Bryan will visit with KVLU’s Jesse Doiron to talk about Dr Demetrius Pearson’s presentation on Black Salt-Grass Cowboys that will take place on October 1.

The Center is excited about its slate of Fall 2026 programming.

On October 1, 2026, Dr. Demetrius W. Pearson will present "Black Salt-Grass Cowboys," 4:30-6:00 pm at the Reaud Event Space (985 Jim Gilligan Way, Room 101). Dr. Demetrius W. Pearson will share his research on the long history of Black cowboys and cattle raisers of the SETX and Gulf regions. Some of the earliest ranching enterprises in Texas emerged in the tall grass prairies and coastal marshes of the region. Dr. Pearson is associate professor and co-founder of the Sport and Fitness Administration Program, University of Houston, and author of Black Rodeo in the Texas Gulf Coast Region (2021). He is also two-time Center Fellowship recipient. Refreshments provided. Free and open to the public.

On October 22, 2026, Gary L. Pinkerton will talk about his new book Bridles and Biscuits: Contraband Culture in Spanish East Texas, 4:30-6:00 pm, at Tyrrell Historical Library (695 Pearl St, Beaumont, TX 77701). From the publisher: Pinkerton "explores the complex economies and shifting structures of a borderland environment. In 1773, as residents of Los Adaes were abruptly forced to relocate to Béxar, the Spanish retreat from the region created a greater opening for unregulated trade among French, American, and Italian settlers ... Pinkerton demonstrates how the region that hosted the exiled Adaeseños “became the entry point for those with bigger goals than trading horses and skins.” Pinkerton is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Texas History and the author of Trammel’s Trace: The First Road to Texas from the North (2016) and other books. Refreshments provided. Free and open to all.

On November 6, 2026, Dr. Alison Fields will present, "John Sayles's Lone Star at 30 with Alison Fields," 1:00-2:00 pm, Reaud Event Space (Reaud Rm 101, 985 Jim Gilligan Way, Beaumont, TX 77705). Refreshments provided. Free and open to all.

Later that evening, Dr. Fields will introduce Lone Star (1996) before the screening of the film at the Jefferson Theater. Doors open at 6:00 pm (345 Fannin St, Beaumont, TX 77701). Lamar Students receive free admission with presentation of valid ID.

Critically ranked as one the best and most important films about Texas, Lone Star uses the backdrop of a border town murder-mystery to examine themes of national, generational, and personal borders and the ways communities enforce those divisions with stories about the past. It features outstanding performances by Ron Canada, Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey, Joe Morton, Elizabeth Peña, and many others. Dr. Fields is the director of the University of Oklahoma School of Visual Arts and author of Lone Star (2026), a new book about the film.

Follow our events at https://www.lamar.edu/arts-sciences/research-centers/center-for-history-and-culture/events-and-news.html

09/11/2026

The Center is excited about its slate of Fall 2026 programming.

On October 1, 2026, Dr. Demetrius W. Pearson will present "Black Salt-Grass Cowboys," 4:30-6:00 pm at the Reaud Event Space (985 Jim Gilligan Way, Room 101). Dr. Demetrius W. Pearson will share his research on the long history of Black cowboys and cattle raisers of the SETX and Gulf regions. Some of the earliest ranching enterprises in Texas emerged in the tall grass prairies and coastal marshes of the region. Dr. Pearson is associate professor and co-founder of the Sport and Fitness Administration Program, University of Houston, and author of Black Rodeo in the Texas Gulf Coast Region (2021). He is also two-time Center Fellowship recipient. Refreshments provided. Free and open to the public.

On October 22, 2026, Gary L. Pinkerton will talk about his new book Bridles and Biscuits: Contraband Culture in Spanish East Texas, 4:30-6:00 pm, at Tyrrell Historical Library (695 Pearl St, Beaumont, TX 77701). From the publisher: Pinkerton "explores the complex economies and shifting structures of a borderland environment. In 1773, as residents of Los Adaes were abruptly forced to relocate to Béxar, the Spanish retreat from the region created a greater opening for unregulated trade among French, American, and Italian settlers ... Pinkerton demonstrates how the region that hosted the exiled Adaeseños “became the entry point for those with bigger goals than trading horses and skins.” Pinkerton is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Texas History and the author of Trammel’s Trace: The First Road to Texas from the North (2016) and other books. Refreshments provided. Free and open to all.

On November 6, 2026, Dr. Alison Fields will present, "John Sayles's Lone Star at 30 with Alison Fields," 1:00-2:00 pm, Reaud Event Space (Reaud Rm 101, 985 Jim Gilligan Way, Beaumont, TX 77705). Refreshments provided. Free and open to all.

Later that evening, Dr. Fields will introduce Lone Star (1996) before the screening of the film at the Jefferson Theater. Doors open at 6:00 pm (345 Fannin St, Beaumont, TX 77701). Lamar Students receive free admission with presentation of valid ID.

Critically ranked as one the best and most important films about Texas, Lone Star uses the backdrop of a border town murder-mystery to examine themes of national, generational, and personal borders and the ways communities enforce those divisions with stories about the past. It features outstanding performances by Ron Canada, Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey, Joe Morton, Elizabeth Peña, and many others. Dr. Fields is the director of the University of Oklahoma School of Visual Arts and author of Lone Star (2026), a new book about the film.

Follow our events at https://www.lamar.edu/arts-sciences/research-centers/center-for-history-and-culture/events-and-news.html