~The West Texas Historical Association ~

Latest WTHA News

Welcome to the West Texas Historical Association Web page. Please feel free to browse our site and get to know us. Our executive and editorial offices are located at Texas Tech University.

 

The 2023 Annual Meeting of the West Texas Historical Association
will take place on April 14th-15th in Abilene, Texas.

 

The meeting hotel is the MCM Eleganté Suites at 4250 Ridgemont Drive Abilene, Texas 79606, telephone # 325-698-1234 or 888-897-9644. The meeting room rate is $114 for a single bed room, and $119 for a double bed room. The rooms rates are available for April 12th (Wednesday) through April 16th (Sunday). The cutoff date for making a reservation at the meeting rate is March 13th.

The 2023 meeting session program is now available.

The 2023 meeting registration is now available at our new website.


Other News

WTHA is transitioning its website to a new one hosted by Wild Apricot. The new site is now accessible at https://wtha.wildapricot.org/

Donations sought:
Donations to the Student Scholarship Award and the R. C. Crane Heritage Service Award can be made online now by clicking on the donate buttons to the right.

 Who Are We?

The West Texas Historical Association has always been an organization committed to people who are interested in the history of West Texas. Because of our open-membership policy our association has been filled by a healthy cross-section of lay and professional historians. These include teachers, students, business people, farmers, ranchers, and engineers who have contributed to the growth of the organization. In addition, our membership has had solid institutional support from colleges, universities, libraries, museums, county historical groups, and corporations throughout the region and across the nation.

Pictured right: Scene from the WTHA Saturday business meeting, 2000.

Our Association is active. Each year we hold a conference in a West Texas city. We visit, present papers, and exchange ideas and information. We publish a selection of papers in our annual scholarly journal, The West Texas Historical Review. Also, twice a year, we put out a newsletter highlighting people, places, and events throughout West Texas. In addition, the Association works cooperatively with other historical groups such as the East Texas Historical Association and the Texas Oral History Association.

Pictured left: Past president Darlene Bellinghausen presiding over a session at the Midland meeting.

In addition, the WTHA promotes research and writing by giving cash awards. These include prizes for the best West Texas Historical Review article, the best nonfiction and best fiction books on West Texas, and the best student article. The Association also provides research funds on a competitive basis.

Please take time to look us over. Contact us if you would like to attend our annual meeting, present a paper, preside over one of the sessions, and submit one of your articles or books for an award. If you are from West Texas, or if in your heart you are a West Texan, we encourage you to become a member. Our dues are inexpensive. Our journal is well-known, and highly regarded. Our membership is international. And, the hospitality is just right.

Tai Kreidler, Executive Director
email: tai.kreidler@ttu.edu

 

 A Brief History
The West Texas Historical Association was organized in 1924 in Abilene at Simmons College (as Hardin-Simmons University was then called). In 1996, the WTHA moved its editorial offices to Lubbock and Texas Tech University, and in 1998 it moved its executive offices there as well. Since 1924 the association has held an annual meeting and published its scholarly journal, West Texas Historical Review (formerly the WTHA Year Book.) Officers and board members of the organization are all dedicated volunteers.

Throughout its long and distinguished history, the WTHA has encompassed a wide range of both professional and non-professional historians-- from lawyers and physicians to ranchers, business people, and teachers. Although their interests vary, members share a common desire to preserve the rich history of the West Texas region for present and future generations.

Pictured right: The book dealers tables and silent auction at the 2000 Midland meeting.

2805 15th Street
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas
79409-1041
Ph. 806-742-9076
wthayb@ttu.edu

WTHA's Facebook page



ANNUAL CONFERENCE INFORMATION
CONFERENCE SUMMARIES (includes photos and Session programs)

Submitting Articles and Book Reviews to the West Texas Historical Review

For those planning to submit articles or book reviews to the West Texas Historical Review, you can view submission guidelines here. You should also view our recommendations regarding style and format of articles.


DONATE
Please consider making a donation to these worthy causes by clicking on the "donate" button. Both awards are funded solely through donations and the Silent Auction.

The R. C. Crane Excellence in Heritage Award

The Student Scholarship Award