Three Questions is an initiative to share the value that our faculty, students, and external patrons derive from using the Portal to Texas History at UNT Libraries.
1. How important is the Portal in your teaching, learning or research?
The project I worked on at The Grace Museum highlighted Abilene history, and the Portal was instrumental in allowing me to access a wide variety of sources about my hometown. I was able to quickly find photos and documents relating to Abilene history, such as Independence Day Celebrations, immigrant heritage, and environmental advocacy.
2. How has the Portal changed the way you approach your research, teaching or learning?
With the Portal, I can dive right into sources. It serves as a great jumping off point and often inspires endless research questions. These questions have often compelled me to take a different approach to topics than the initial search may suggest. For example, when looking into the history of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) structures in Abilene, I discovered a story of integration and segregation.
3. What do you want others to know about your research, teaching or learning?
My research on the CCC crews at the Abilene State Park not only tells the story of the first all-black CCC crew in Texas, but also connects Abilene to national events, revealing local attitudes and experiences. This perspective invites a more personal history of ordinary people, and I find the approach captivating.
Jane Anne Carroll is a first year masters student at UNT. She has worked for The Grace Museum (Abilene), The Old Jail Art Center (Albany), and MuseWork. She has a passion for public history and spends her free time reading all of the signs at museums, state parks, and historical markers.
