Booker T. Washington School in Gainesville, TX

On my way back from meeting Mr. Bill Webb, Sallie Capps's grandson, in Oklahoma City, I stopped by a couple of historical locations in the quaint, steadily-growing North Texas City of Gainesville. While eating a double cheeseburger from McDonalds, I walked around the former location of the Booker T. Washington School, the old Gainesville Colored School. Although only a pile of loose bricks and a historical marker remain (the facility was sadly demolished in 2014), I felt as if I had stepped back in time and was able to mix among the ghosts. In this blog post, I intend to provide a brief history of the institution that left a significant mark on Gainesville.

A photograph of the Booker T. Washington School during demolition in 2014. The brick structure was built by the WPA in 1939. (photograph from The Living New Deal)

Island Sparks, a young mulatto whose passion for learning was infectious, began tutoring the colored children in the City of Gainesville in the early 1880s since there was only a school for white children - during the Reconstruction Era, this was the case in many Texas cities. The city's school district (created in 1882) ultimately decided to erect a school specifically for African American children in 1886. A $450 plot of land on the west side of Gainesville was chosen as the location, and the city spent $5,000 to construct a spacious two-story, wood-framed building, which was later equipped with student tables, chalkboards, and pencil boxes. Originally called the Gainesville Colored School, the facility was one of the only 19 black schools operating in Texas in the late 1880s. 186 students, ranging in ages between 5 to 17 years-old, were enrolled on the first day of classes, yet only three teachers presided over the crowded classrooms... a tragic nightmare for any educator that has faced a large, overbearing class. Despite the impressive facility, the city only allocated $5,000 for the colored school's annual budget - 1/3 of the white schools' budgets.

A photograph of the grassy site where Booker T. Washington School once stood. Notice the church and gymnasium in the background. (photograph from author's collections)

The school's initial graduating class had four seniors. The city's renowned newspaper, the Gainesville Daily Hesperian (now known as the Gainesville Daily Register) noted the significance of the festivities: "This quartet will be the first colored graduates of the Gainesville School and will mark a noted epoch in the history of public education in the city, so far as the consideration of the colored people goes, that will forcibly remind the people of the North that the educational welfare for the colored children in Gainesville is carefully looked after by the city Board of Education." Since not many graduated from the colored institution - as students left their classes after a few years of schooling to work and support their families - exiting the school with a high school diploma became a prestigious and rare ritual. The motto for the class of 1947 reflects the school's seniors' desire to graduate and join the rank of "distinguished alumni": "Not by Brawn, by Brain." The colored school was appropriately renamed Booker T. Washington School in 1927, in honor of the esteemed African American educator and Civil Rights activist (who had peacefully died in November 1915).

The base of flagpole that once sat outside of the Booker T. Washington School can be seen in this photograph. The school's historical marker is in the background. (photograph from author's collections)

The modernizing student body outgrew the original building, and a new brick structure was erected by the laborers of the Works Progress Administration in 1939 (this was part of FDR's New Deal plan to revive the American economy during the Great Depression). The Booker T. Washington School "was the center of our world, education wise and socially..." alumnus Don Williams once said in an interview. "We knew the teachers and they knew us. They were a part of our lives before, during and after school." The school had become part of the larger Gainesville story, influencing the scholarly pursuits of many talented young adults... thus, it was a tough time for students and teachers when the school closed and merged with the white schools in the city. After the monumental Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954, which required all American public schools to integrate, the Gainesville School Board decided to "abolish" Booker T. Washington School and transfer its black students to the white Newsome Dougherty Memorial High School in 1965. The African American students suddenly found themselves in a different world, one that was not comforting nor supportive at first. Mr. Williams noted the difficult transition in his interview: "...it was the end of a community in which black students were suddenly in a world they did not know." The white teachers were not adequately prepared for the new black students, and their white peers often had mixed feelings on integration. The African American teachers from Booker T. Washington School were found jobs in the school district, but not necessarily in their area of expertise, initiating a significant amount of challenges for them too. In spite of the challenges, the students and teachers from the Booker T. Washington School soon thrived in their new environment as dedicated intellectuals and community leaders.

Although the Booker T. Washington school building was demolished 8 years ago, you can still notice the brick outline of the facility. (photograph from author's collections)

After Gainesville's integration of schools, the Booker T. Washington School was boarded up and fell into disrepair. The city erected a historical marker on the property in 1986, 100 years after the colored school had opened. Alumni and staff reconvened and attended the marker ceremony. The building was razed in 2014 and most of the bricks were recycled. The surviving objects that remain in place serve as a reminder that the City of Gainesville gave young black children a quality public education when many areas of the state did not.

2021-2022 Teaching Reflection

I have recently taken some time to reflect on my first year teaching high school history (2021-2022). I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and am immensely blessed to work in a top-notch school district and inspire future generations of leaders to achieve their goals. I never had a bad day in the classroom; my negative emotions evaporated whenever I walked into my classroom (which looks like a museum due to all the antiqued treasures in there!) because the students gave me energy! I labored days and nights to plan engaging, interactive activities for my students, where they had unique opportunities to learn writing, collaboration, and oral communication skills - skills that they will need to succeed in college. During my lectures, I elaborated on the key concepts, answered every student question, and drew many connections between the historical events and my students' prior knowledge. Moreover, we consistently practiced multiple-choice, document-based, and longer-essay questions in preparation for the AP exam. Most of my fabulous students took the exam and performed very well - 61% of my students passed with a score of a 3 or higher, while 33% of those students received a commended score of a 4 or 5. Regardless of the exam scores, I was very proud of all my students, who went above-and-beyond in their classwork, learned new skills that they will further develop in their lifetimes, and (hopefully) found a new appreciation for United States history! I am incredibly thankful for the support that I received during my first year at Coppell ISD, including from Diane de Waal, Kevin Casey, Laura Springer, Kim Pierce, as well as the staff at iTeach (my alternative teacher-certification program - which was a significant amount of after-school work!) and Mr. Roy Culberson. This year (my second year teaching high school history and fourth year overall in public education), I have been tasked to teach APUSH and regular U.S. history... I am very fortunate to again have wonderful students who are passionate about education and enthusiastic to learn history! I am really looking forward to continue to change the world in a positive, profound manner, one step at a time. I have put some photographs from last year in this blog post, all from my collections.

The first day of my 2021-2022 school year; last year was my first teaching high school students. I fell in love with my job and have since reconfirmed my decision in staying at Coppell High School for 30 years!!

Phoenix & May were stellar students and performers - May sewed a colorful Antebellum-Era dress by hand for a project! I was honored to be their outstanding, favorite teacher at the theater's teacher appreciation night last year!

My swimmers have a special place in my heart since I used to be a swimmer. Aaryak was a terrific AP student and a gold-medal swimmer in the pool. I enjoy watching swim meets (and this make me miss the sport I used to devote many hours to...).

Shereef, Riva & Aditya presented me with a framed portrait of the Queen at the end of last year (I used to talk about the Queen and Royal Family a lot in class). I now have a "shrine" to the Queen behind my desk.

Alejandro was a super-star in the classroom and on the soccer field!! I was very proud of his academic accomplishments, and humbled to have been recognized as his teacher at the soccer teacher appreciation game last year.

Lillian was a quiet yet studious scholar. She was also a tremendously-talented athlete on the soccer field. I was recognized for being an outstanding teacher at a soccer game last year.

Addison was a diligent scholar and star athlete on the volleyball court!! I thoroughly enjoyed watching several of her JV (and now varsity) volleyball games. I was honored to be Addison's teacher at the volleyball teacher appreciation nights in 2021 & 2022.

My APUSH 2nd period were my loudest class yet they always did their work. They were also my "role-model" class because Mr. Culberson from iTeach monitored my teaching during this class (the students were on their best behavior on those observation days!).

My APUSH 1st period... although the class was early in the morning, this group of students knew how to make me laugh and concentrate on loving history! They were a fantastic group of scholars.

Mr. Andrew Schultz was a cheerful, motivated scholar and athlete. I was honored to be his APUSH teacher and recognized at a baseball game last year! Go Cowboys!!

This group of young ladies were wonderful students and knew how to make me laugh and smile (even on my bad days!). Pictured are Nivi, Mithilia, Hanvitha, and Shivani.

A photo of myself with three top-notch AP students, Priyanka, Brianna, and Aaron. All three of them were consistently smiling when they entered my classroom!

Phoenix was one of my best APUSH students and a talented individual. I saw them perform in a silent performance of "Lord of the Flies" and it was AMAZING!

One of my Sidekick students Nandini took this action shot when I was presenting material on the American Revolution. I am not the best with technology, yet my students were able to help me resolve tech-related issues.

Dhruva was only a sophomore when he took my junior-level AP class, yet he showed great maturity and academic excellence. His hard work in class paid off when he scored a perfect 5 on the AP exam.

ETHA Meeting (Coppell Research) - Oct. 2022

Two weeks ago, I presented my research on the history of Coppell at the East Texas Historical Association in the quaint, beautiful Nacogdoches. This was my 2nd time at the ETHA meeting since I presented my research on Sam Whitley and East Texas State Teacher's College back in 2019... it was good to be back and I felt at home, surrounded by my tribe of esteemed scholars and educators. I was reunited with my former mentor from UT-Arlington (where I received my master's in history), Dr. Stephanie Cole, as well as two of my favorite people in the world, Drs. Light & Victoria Cummins (former distinguished professors at Austin College). Also, I had the fantastic opportunity to discuss cowboys and the western frontier with Dr. Bill O'Neal, a historian who I had a lovely phone conversation with about East Texas State University in April 2020. I was warmly welcomed into the association by Dr. Scott Sosebee, a renowned professor of history at Stephen F. Austin State University, who enthusiastically suggested that I submit my Coppell research to the association's journal when it is completed... one of my long term goals is to submit an article to the well-read East Texas Historical Journal. My wife and I were also able to walk the cobbled streets and closely examine the fascinating antiques in the state's "oldest town" (and a few antiques were purchased for my classroom). I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, and I plan to continue to become more engaged with the East Texas Historical Association in the future. The paper that I delivered at the conference may be read below - this is the start of a larger research project I am embarking on... the history of Coppell & its acclaimed school district will be the subjects of my next book. Arianna Morrison, a reporter for Star Local Media, recently wrote an article on my scholarly endeavors (it is a wonderful piece and also found below - thank you Ms. Morrison!).

Coppell ISD Teacher Talks Coppell History article- click link (published in Coppell Gazette).

I presented my research about the City of Coppell at the East Texas Historical Association meeting in Nacogdoches. This research is part of a larger project I am working on. (author's collections)

 Coppell: An Oasis amid a Bustling Metroplex

I was born and raised in London, England. In 2004, my dad received a job transfer to either Boston or Dallas. I love Dallas (including “Texas-sized” food portions) but I personally would’ve preferred moving to Boston because of the city’s rich colonial history. My dad, who hated the damp, dreary weather in England, chose to relocate the family to the sunny Lone Star State. We settled in a small North Texas suburb named Coppell. And Coppell became my home. The many wonderful experiences I had in Coppell parks, schools, and restaurants as a teenager later prompted me to return to Coppell as a high school history teacher after graduate school. Since its creation in the 1880s, the City of Coppell has managed to grow and sustain a budding population (similar to the surrounding areas of Dallas), yet still retains its homey and antiqued charm. In this brief paper I intend to shed light on the history of Coppell, a little-known paradise  nestled in the middle of a colossal, concrete metropolis. 

Coppell’s origin story is no different from the other agricultural communities that developed out of the Peters’ Colony in the early 1840s. The first families—the Howells, Moores, Cozbys, and Gentrys—settled on grass plains sporadically inhabited by the Wichita Natives. Encroachment initially was a problem, yet Native-Anglo relationships gradually improved, bolstered by a peace conference held by Sam Houston, then-president of the Texas Republic, at Grapevine Springs Park in Coppell in 1843. Anglo settlers lived in tiny wood-framed huts and engaged in farming, ranching, and carpentry. Coppell farmers—who had as many as thirteen children to help them on the properties—originally grew vegetables, including corn and potatoes, before turning their attention to cotton. Since demand for cotton considerably increased in the 1850s, the Sidney Webb Gin Co. built two large cotton gins in Coppell. Many infrastructure projects followed—the first brick house in Dallas County was built by Coppell minister Washington Bullock, and later, one of the first two-story drug stores in North Texas was erected in Coppell by a cheerful, crazy woman named Minnie McGee—Ms. Minnie, who reportedly had the “best soda fountain in the state,” was later admitted to an asylum in Dallas. A tiny breakfast establishment named Dolly’s Cafe and a facility housing Coppell’s short-lived newspaper, the Informer, were built during the Reconstruction years.

Coppell’s thriving cotton economy and developing downtown led to the creation of the town’s first post office in the 1880s. Coppell was originally named “Gibbs” in honor of Barnett Gibbs, the lieutenant governor of Texas—according to the National Archives, the name was changed in 1892, crediting George Coppell, a wealthy New York financier who greatly contributed to the St. Louis Southwestern Railroad. Mr. William O. Harrison, owner of Coppell’s general store, was appointed the town’s first postmaster. As Coppell’s population grew, the number of churches in town increased. John Stringfellow donated a plot on West Bethel Road to the Methodist church in 1879. The church was a gathering spot for those who sought religious guidance, and in the words of resident Theresa Eby, out of the worshippers’ “steadfast, self-controlled personalities, the future began to become reality.” Community Christmas celebrations occurred at the Baptist church, which had a high ceiling to accommodate the town’s giant Christmas tree. Camaraderie between Baptists and Methodists in Coppell was evident—when a storm moved the Baptist church off its foundation in 1926, the women in both congregations rolled up their sleeves and volunteered to resolve the problem. Coppell resident Jack Kirkland, recalled a time she sang a jolly tune at church as a child: “I’m Momma’s little darling, don’t you think I’m sweet, with roses on my shoulders and slippers on my feet!”

School have played an important role in Coppell’s evolution as a family-friendly city. At the end of the nineteenth century, Coppell had three schools that served different sections of the town—Bethel, Gentry, and Gibbs Schools. Students of all ages were crammed into small, one-room framed huts together. The rudimentary facilities lacked air conditioning and plumbing; students who braved the creepy spiders in the outhouse latrine used Sears Roebuck catalogues for toilet paper! When the heaven’s opened and rain fell on Coppell, the dirt roads would flood and students were unable to travel to class—disappointing the teachers yet fueling the students’ excitement. Despite the inadequate schoolhouses, Coppell’s teachers were among the best educators in the region. Ples Corbin taught at Bethel and Gibbs Schools, and according to old-timer Clifton Harrison, introduced his students to scholarship from his European-style personal library and “instilled in us high ideals and principles for living…” Another Coppell educator who tirelessly worked to create a positive and engaging classroom atmosphere was Sallie Kirkland Brooks. Bernice Graham, a Bethel School student in the 1920s, described Ms. Brooks as a teacher who “devoted her nights to grading papers and planning lessons,” and ensuring each student received textbooks to help them academically succeed. A brick-built school in South Coppell was constructed in 1927, and with support from the citizens, the Coppell Independent School District was created in 1959. As the community grew, the number of schools in Coppell increased, and teachers continued to redefine success in the classroom. Today, CISD attracts many families who want their children to be scholars, innovators, and leaders—and they arrive at the right place since Coppell’s schools are ranked 4th in the DFW Metroplex (according to the 2022 Texas Education Agency report).

Coppell experienced a whirlwind of change in the twentieth century. After Denton Tap and Sandy Lake Roads in the city became lawless honkytonk havens during prohibition, Coppell plunged into economic despair in the Great Depression. FDR’s Works Progress Administration in 1935 brought needed relief—a group of young lads constructed benches, picnic tables, and gravel pathways in Coppell’s parks. Yet the tired men could not take a break since they were swept away to Army barracks at the start of World War II. Immediately after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, eighty-four men from Coppell, between the ages of 21-35 years, eagerly enlisted. Coppell’s war heroes played vital roles in defeating the Axis Powers. Johnny Dobecka served in the Pacific Theatre, where he chased the Japanese from one island to the next island. Sergeant Dobecka led his men in the recapture of Manila in the Philippines. At the end of the war, he had been wounded four times and saved many lives, earning him a Purple Heart with two clusters. Also, Coppell’s Seaman First Class George T. Corbin received a citation for heroism when he boarded a barge that was loaded with explosives (and 500-pound bombs) in Italy. The impact of the war was felt at home, and Coppell citizens contributed to the home front in many ways, including rationing, planting victory gardens, and operating heavy construction machinery. As events were reported on the radio—including the use of atomic warfare—citizens in Coppell, once spread apart over a vast landscape, soon found common ground and embraced a rapid evolution of technology.

At the start of the 1950s, the Dallas Morning News summed up the pronounced progression in North Texas: “King Cotton has abdicated to King Commuter—the man or woman who makes his living in an industrial plant, a bank, or a store—but who prefers to live in a suburb.” In 1955, Coppell was officially incorporated with the assistance from Denton attorney Shirley Peters. An influx of veterans, yearning to settle and start families, flocked to the calm, open spaces of the metroplex, including Coppell. A local government was created and businessman R.M. Johnson was elected the first mayor. In 1958, the mayor announced the town’s first volunteer fire dept., who had to host chili suppers at Wagon Wheel Ranch to raise money for coats, helmets, and boots. Cookie-cutter, prefabricated homes materialized in the blink of an eye, and by the end of the decade, Coppell, as reported by Dallas newspapers, became a “last frontier.” The 1960s in Coppell saw an overhaul in the city’s water and sewer systems, assisted by a $106,000 award from the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. Mayor Bill Cozby tirelessly worked to bring large infrastructure projects to Coppell: the 1970s construction of the LBJ Freeway to the North and the massive DFW International Airport to the South of the city, both of which contributed to Coppell’s booming growth (land was selling for as much as $7,500 an acre in Coppell in 1970!). As a result, Coppell was a treasure trove for real estate agents. Bill Troth developed over 1,000 homes on 557 acres of land in South Coppell, encouraging many families to settle in the area. By the year 2000, the population had soared to an astonishing 36,000—a large percentage included immigrants from Europe and Asia. 

Despite Coppell becoming a magnet for prospective homeowners and businesses during the Cold War, the city has preserved its natural beauty and antiqued charm. Today, residents are treated to 116-acres of parks, lakes, walking trails, and picnic areas. Also, Coppell has since built a vintage downtown, an area which happily reflects on the past yet looks forward to a bright future. In sum, the hustle and bustle of the DFW Metroplex might have altered Coppell’s physical landscape in its 180-year history, yet the community I love, I grew up in, and I plan to stay in, still dearly holds on to a special, comforting, and and rather magical ambience. And that my friends, is why I consider the City of Coppell to be Dallas’s oasis.

***

I finally got to meet one of my heroes in Texas history, Dr. Bill O'Neal! Dr. O'Neal and I had a pleasant phone conversation about his alma mater, East Texas State University, in April 2020 when I was writing my e-book on the history of Texas A&M-Commerce. This scholar is one of my favorite authors and I have read several of his 53-plus monographs. Dr. O'Neal immediately recognized my accent and we engaged in a long, magnificent conversation on cowboys and the West. Dr. O'Neal taught at Panola Community College for 40-plus years and was the Texas State Historian between 2012 and 2018. (author's collections)

I reunited with my former MA mentor and eminent historian Dr. Stephanie Cole at the conference. Dr. Cole provided me with a considerable amount of support during my master's degree research at the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Cole, who has since become the chair of the History Department at UTA, presented research with her husband, Dr. Gregg Cantrell, another historian I admire and a history professor at TCU. (author's collections)

Presenting my research at the conference. Dr. Sosebee of SFA and Dr. David M. Anderson, an award-winning professor at Louisiana Tech University, partook in my session and both spoke of twentieth-century industrialization in North Texas. (author's collections)

Podcast Interview & The Queen in Texas

Hello, again! I have yet to blog during the start of this academic year since I have been very busy with grading papers, writing college recommendation letters, and planning engaging lessons for my U.S. history students. I recently was interviewed by Zane Porter, associate principal at Coppell High School, and discussed my lesson planning methods and how I consistently provide different learning/assignment options to my students (I enjoy giving my students choices on how to learn the material, where they also are able to further develop their strengths). The interview is on the high school's Cowboy Fight podcast (link to Spotify is below). I had a fantastic time laughing with a jolly colleague and talking about my passion for education and love for Coppell High School! Thank you, Mr. Porter!

"Building Engaging Lessons and Providing Choices and Options" Podcast w/ Mr. Chanin (Oct. 12, link)

Also, I wrote a small piece about the Queen's passing in the widely-read North Texas E-News Magazine. Like many others around the world, I was shocked and saddened by the death of the beloved Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022. I had long considered the Queen an icon for Britain and the modern world. This was a life-changing event (and history!). In the brief article, I detail the Queen's 1991 visit to Texas, where she and husband Prince Philip dined with Lady Bird Johnson, enjoyed a barge ride on the pleasant River Walk in San Antonio, and knighted Cecil Howard Green, the British-born founder of Texas Instruments. Interesting fact: King Charles III stopped in Texas in 1986 and embraced our state's famously colossal culture by cutting into a 45-ton birthday cake with a Texas-sized sword (he was the Prince of Wales at this time). Everything is bigger in Texas... and it's true! The article was published on the front page on September 27, 2022, and is linked to this blog post.

"The Queen's Stamp of Approval: Texas Edition" (North Texas E-News article link)

At the start of September, I was chosen as the "Lariette Teacher of the Week". The Lariettes are Coppell High's award-winning dance team and are a fantastic group of talented student-athletes. They are amazing! I love my job!! (photograph from author's collections)

More blog posts will be published in the near future, including my Boston adventures (summer 2022), scholarly endeavors (& research), and classroom undertakings (APUSH projects, etc.)...

At the end of the 2021-2022 academic year, three of my students gave me a framed portrait of Her Majesty The Queen... the same three students recently presented me a portrait of His Majesty King Charles III when the Queen died. I currently have a "shrine" dedicated to the late Queen in my classroom. Thank you, Shereef, Riva & Aditya! (photograph from author's collections)

Meeting Sallie Capps's Grandson

At the end of July, I traveled to Oklahoma City and had a pleasant lunch with Bill Webb, the grandson of Sallie Capps, the woman who I wrote about in my 2021 book. Mr. Webb, a retired engineer who graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington, was very interested in my research and enthusiastically praised the biography (he had given copies of Sallie Brooke Capps: Education Trailblazer in North Texas to his sons and close friends). Since he was born one year after Sallie's death and had only heard short stories of his grandmother's distinguished career, he was delighted to find out that my book filled some holes in his own genealogy research. We had a fantastic conversation on the close relationship he had had with his dad, Count Brooke Capps (Sallie's son), who unfortunately passed away from pancreatic cancer when Mr. Webb was a child. After lunch I gave Mr. Webb a signed copy of my book. I am tremendously grateful for the support I have received from Mr. Webb and Ms. Grace Byrd, and will cherish the memories of our fond conversation for a long time!! I stayed the night in Oklahoma City at a Best Western Hotel, and visited a few antique shops and tourist destinations while I was in the Sooner State. At the end of the day, this was a brief yet productive and exhilarating excursion to Oklahoma, where I discovered a paradise and further cemented my interest in studying local women's history.

Mr. Bill Webb and I, July 2022. Mr. Webb has been a generous supporter in my research and I can not thank him enough for publicizing the book I wrote about his now-famous grandmother! Author's Collections.

Whilst in OK City, I visited the state Capitol, which was constructed in 1917. The building is topped with a statue of a Native - Oklahoma was known as the Indian Territory for several decades. Author's Collections.

A funny, cute photograph of my cat Pink. Author's Collections.

A silly photograph of my dog Jessie, July 2022. I missed my pets while I was out of town. Author's Collections.

My wife was invited to a science/mathematics conference in Boston a week after my Oklahoma trip and I was lucky to travel with her. I will be documenting my Boston trip in future blog posts. Here I am pictured outside the Boston Tea Party Museum - Sam Adams, leader of the Boston Sons of Liberty, looms over my shoulder. Author's Collections.

Marie Antoinette’s Hameau de la Reine Article

I have always been fascinated by France and Americas' special relationship (I discuss it frequently in my high school history classes), and thus have contributed to the online and print editions of French Quarter Magazine, a renown periodical that publishes articles on French/American history, culture, and food. My good friend and the magazine's talented editor Isabelle Karamooz has been very supportive in my early writing career, and I enthusiastically leap at the chance to share my research with FQM readers whenever she has an article idea for me. The fifth print edition of French Quarter Magazine (prints are published annually) was recently released in May 2022. I was fortunate to have contributed to this fantastic volume. My article (found on pages 28-30 of the print edition) closely analyzed French Queen Marie Antoinette's rustic and whimsical retreat at the Palace of Versailles, the Hameau de la Reine. I have previously written a FQM article on the troubled and often (sexually) lackluster marriage of Antoinette and King Louis XVI, so it was a wonderful experience retracing my steps and diving deeper into the lavish, yet fiscally-careless world of France's most infamous monarchs. The article is found below - happy reading!!

My article in the fifth print edition of French Quarter Magazine in May 2022. (Author's Collections)

Marie Antoinette’s Hameau de la Reine

By Joshua V. Chanin (published in FQM print edition, May 2022)

Let’s take a walk in Marie Antoinette’s Hameau de la Reine…

Upon entering the English Gardens, the first section of the Hamlet, one would find Antoinette’s favorite classical arrangement, the Love Monument. Crafted by Richard Mique, an architect whose chiseled jaw and sultry gaze caught the attention of the queen, the Love Monument comprises of twelve Corinthian columns atop a circular platform. The centerpiece features a breathtaking copy of Edme Bouchardon’s Cupid fashioning his bow from Hercules’ Club, and perches on an embellished floor that incorporates veined white, Languedoc red and Flanders marble. Antoinette usually commenced her tour of the gardens at the Love Monument when the sun kissed its columns and glistened on the surface of the lake. The structure’s romantic ambience has invited couples to share an intimate smooch on its steps since 1778.

Another structure included in the English Gardens, requested by the queen, was the Belvedere. Also designed by Mr. Mique, this folly is an enclosed octagonal pavilion that is adorned with marvelous mural paintings by Sébastien-François Le Riche, a renowned artist and admirer of the queen, as well as low-relief sculptures depicting the four seasons. Four patio doors were installed prior to its 1781 completion to allow the playful monarch to frolic among the white silk curtains when a strong breeze descended on the gardens. The open-air lounge played host to many light-hearted gatherings in the 1780s, which included Antoinette’s closest girlfriends and rumored lovers. Among platters of sandwiches and biscuits, the queen entertained her guests by gently pulling the strings of her harp, creating a beautiful sound that softly reverberated off the living room’s walls. Today, the Belvedere is a beautiful reminder of the queen’s gaiety. 

Besides the frequently-used English Gardens, Marie Antoinette also amused her royal court in an ornamental village, a collection of quaint farm buildings—including a dairy, mill (although no mechanism was installed in the structure), dovecote, and layered farmhouse. Trimmed shrubs, colorful flower arrangements and blooming orchards dot the landscape where the queen used to caper. Despite rustic exteriors and thatched roofs, the interiors are of a different world, where French aristocrats felt at ease, playfully enjoying the fruits of life in very elegant rooms. The queen’s imagination ran wild in the dummy village—after gracefully strolling through the farm, Antoinette and her friends would milk the sheep and cows (laborers were hired to mind the farm’s animals, as well as produce fresh fruits and vegetables that would later be served at the royal table. According to a nineteenth-century historian, the host took her role seriously, “where, at a table set out under a bower of honeysuckle, she would pour out their coffee with her own hands, boasting of the thickness of her cream, the freshness of her eggs, and the ruddiness and flavor of her strawberries…”

Beyond the towering walls of the queen’s creative, whimsical paradise sat thousands of French serfs, starving and angry at the palace’s thriftless spending. Antoinette’s world, once a rather frivolous, extravagant retreat, collapsed during the bloody French Revolution as several of the garden buildings were burned and the queen’s head was severed on a guillotine. Antoinette’s Hamlet reminds us that the thrills, beauty and riches of the French palace mirrored a poorer, dismal reality for the masses.  

***

Bibliography

The Private Life of Marie Antoinette by Jeanne Louise Henriette Campan (Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2009).

Marie Antoinette: The Last Queen of France by Evelyne Lever (New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2000). 

Portrait of Marie Antoinette, 1775. Antoinette, originally from Austria, married the heir to the French throne at the young age of 14; she became Queen of France at age 18. She clearly was unconcerned about the poor, hopeless situation of millions of hungry French citizens outside the palace walls during her reign, and engaged in reckless spending. Like her husband, she was executed by guillotine in 1793 during the French Revolution. (History Channel)

History of Coppell Article

I recently had an article published in the Texas Escapes Magazine, an online journal that explores towns, historical characters, and cultures in Texas. This is the fifth article I have written for Texas Escapes, and I am immensely grateful to editor Kate for her tremendous support and patience - I have penned articles on Wesley and Burleson Jr. Colleges in Greenville, Whitley Hall at A&M-Commerce, as well as a in-depth study of Hell's Half Acre in Forth Worth. The most recent piece focused on the history of Coppell, a DFW suburb that holds a special place in my heart (and, coincidently, has a vibrant past!). Instead of writing an ordinary survey of the city, I approached this project with a twist - a history of Coppell mixed with some of my favorite memories as a Coppell teenager. My hope is that the reader will acknowledge that Coppell is a drastically-changing community as well as an oasis where memorable vignettes are created... consider this article to be my "love letter" to Coppell (Coppell gave me many unique opportunities to grow into a well-behaved gentleman, and one day, I would like my kids to grow up in Coppell). I thoroughly enjoyed researching this article (which included glancing at hundreds of black-and-white photographs and city council documents, in addition to reflecting back on my own past), and my excitement in writing about a community I love definitely resonates in my penmanship. The Texas Escapes article link is found below. I have moved houses, spent time with my wife and family, been on vacations, rested, begun writing a piece on Liz Carpenter for a upcoming conference, and recollected my fond memories from the previous school year during the summer break - I will be writing more blog posts before the start of the 2022-2023 year in the middle of August (including a 2021-2022 APUSH reflection).

What Makes Coppell, Texas Special? Recollections & History article (click on link) 

Enjoying a scrumptious breakfast at the Local Diner, a hotspot in Coppell. I regularly ate at this 1950s-style establishment during high school with the swim team, and recently introduced my wife to its tasty bites. I will continue to love Coppell, and am incredibly blessed to work in such a great school district! (Author's Collections)

The Queen's Visit to Texas, 1991

A few days ago, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 96th birthday. The Queen will celebrate 70 years on the throne this summer (her Platinum Jubilee!). This unique occasion launches the Queen into unfamiliar territory as she becomes Great Britain's longest-reigning monarch as well as one of the longest-reigning monarchs in European history (if she is still on the throne on May 27, 2024 at age 98, she will surpass the reign of Louis XIV of France -- the great "Sun King" who ruled just over 72 years). In the blog post, I am going to detail the amiable relationship between the Lone Star State and Royal Family as well as the Queen's visit to Texas in 1991 (a time when I wish I was alive!).

The Queen, photographed outside Windsor Castle in spring 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, will celebrate 70 years on the throne this summer! Royal Family Photographs.

Throughout its history, Texas has had a friendly relationship with Great Britain. Following the successful Texas Revolution in 1836, the new republic was recognized as a sovereign state by Britain (one of the first nations to do so). When Texas was admitted into the Union in 1945 as the 28th state, Britain continued to have a warm connection with the Lone Star State through its connections with government ambassadors and dignitaries. In 1986, Prince Charles, the Queen eldest son and heir to the throne, visited Texas to help celebrate the Texas sesquicentennial (150 years old!). The Prince of Wales, who had married Lady Diana Spencer five years prior in what was called "the wedding of the century", cut into a 45-ton birthday cake with a Texas-sized sword! At the the state Capitol, the prince was given a giant gavel by legislators. With a smile, he laughed and exclaimed that the huge judicial instrumental was "extremely appropriate coming from Texas." Prince Charles also toured the Alamo and San Antonio (he had briefly visited in 1977, where he had met with progressive Governor Dolph Briscoe). 

Prince Charles, the Queen's eldest son, shakes hands with a follower when he briefly visited Texas in 1977. The Prince of Wales returned to the Lone Star State in 1986. Photograph from MySA News.

Five years later in 1991, Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to visit Texas. She traveled to Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston, and she loved the Lone Star State!! The Queen reportedly asked her chief of protocol, "why didn't I come here sooner?" She was amused at the beautifully decorated River Walk barge she rode on in San Antonio in addition to NASA and Antioch Mission Baptist Church in downtown Houston. When the Queen arrived at Love Field Airport in Dallas, she was greeted with a very lively crowd and dynamic band playing the western folk-song "The Yellow Rose of Texas." Afterwards, officials sang "God Save the Queen", Britain's national anthem, in hopes the TX audience would not start chanting "My Country 'Tis of Thee," which happens to be the same tune. While in downtown Dallas, the Queen knighted Cecil Howard Green, a cofounder of Texas Instruments (calculators and electronics) and a philanthropist for the University of Texas at Dallas and St. Mark's School of Texas. I recently found out that Green died in early 2003 at the ripe age of 102! What a great life that was blessed by the Queen!!

The Queen was greeted by Governor Ann Richards in Austin, 1991. Richards was the second woman governor of Texas (1991-1995). Photograph from a Texas Co-op Power Article on the Queen's visit.

As he used to do, Prince Philip, the Queen's late husband, accompanied his wife on the trip to Texas and dutifully stood by her side, waving to ecstatic onlookers and cracking jokes with government officials. He sat next to Louise Caldwell, president of the Dallas Historical Society, who later remarked, "it was very hard to find anything that he didn't know more about than me, including Texas history." The Duke of Edinburgh was known to be an avid fan of historical and military biographies. When the monarch and her husband arrived in Austin, they were warmly greeted by Governor Ann Richards and a massive crowd of 8,000 well wishers. The Queen declared, "no state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born Texans...", which elicited a thunderous roar of approval. I am glad to hear that the Queen certainly approves of Texas!!

In 1991, the Queen dined with Governor Richards and Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady (1963-1969). Photograph from the LBJ Presidential Library Collections.

The Presidents - Simplified on Twitter (Part IV)

The fourth edition of the Twitter Presidents series introduces a new, consequential era in American history. The politicians who ascended to the highest office at the end of the Gilded Age and in the first half of the twentieth century were influential trailblazers as well as unavailing placeholders. America's economy gradually strengthened following the Civil War and was steamrolling at the same time when the government attempted to engage in imperialism. The United States experimented its military strength against a crippling European power in the 1898 Spanish-American War; as a result, Uncle Sam acquired a small overseas empire (which included Cuba, Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Sandwich Islands). In spring 1917, America entered the Great War in Europe, flexing its muscles and cementing its global position as a defender of liberty and the authoritative policeman of the world. At the start of the 1920s, America experienced a growth in culture and fine arts - theaters, radio, moving pictures, and dance halls shaped vibrant communities. Since the 'Roaring Twenties' saw a rise of consumerism, overproduction and credit debt soared to unbelievable heights, terminating in the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression (our darkest days). At the start of the 1940s, America was a different place than it was at the conclusion of the Gilded Age, built on prosperity and greediness. Presidential portraits are located in the National Portrait Gallery in D.C., photographs from author's collections.

William McKinley– 25th man to hold the office & last president to have served in the Civil War. In office, McKinley raised protective tariffs to promote domestic industry, kept the nation on a gold standard & won the Spanish-American War (1898). Yet, he was killed in 1901. (December 15, 2018)

W. McKinley, 1897-1901

Theodore Roosevelt– a young gun who was thrust into political office following the assassination of W. McKinley. A driving force in the Progressive Era, Roosevelt championed domestic policies for the common man, regulated food & drug principles, and created the national parks. (December 15, 2018) 

T. Roosevelt, 1901-1909

William H. Taft– America’s biggest pres. Roosevelt’s secretary of war & handpicked successor, Taft swayed away from conservative progressive policies his predecessor had put forth & reached beyond party lines. He also focused on East Asian affairs. Later he was SC chief justice. (December 16, 2018)

W. Taft, 1909-1913

Woodrow Wilson– the ‘professor’ president. A PhD in poli science, president of Princeton Uni, and gov. of New Jersey, Wilson brought a different approach to D.C. He enforced economic regulations, gave women the vote, and won WWI. However, his League of Nations vote failed. (December 16, 2018)

W. Wilson, 1913-1921

Warren G. Harding– the Republican lone horse who stole the show in 1920. A former senator, Harding ascended to the highest office during a time when peace was wanted and money was spent. Harding executed a plan to limit naval programs worldwide, however scandals clouded his tenure. (December 17, 2018)

W. Harding, 1921-1923

Calvin Coolidge- an intelligent, quiet man. Coolidge, the former governor of Massachusetts, was sworn in by his father, a justice of peace, upon the sudden death of W. Harding. He championed small government, progressive conservative policies & restored public confidence in D.C. (December 17, 2018)

C. Coolidge, 1923-1929

Herbert Hoover- an engineer who exceeded expectations in his role as secretary of commerce in the 1920s, however, failed as president. Hoover’s usual energetic self was destroyed within the first year in office w/ the 1929 Wall Street Crash. He tried to lift the economy–no luck. (December 18, 2018)

H. Hoover, 1929-1933