Alwyn Barr
Encyclopedia
Chester Alwyn Barr is an American historian who specializes in African American studies
, the American South
, the American Civil War
, and Reconstruction. He is a professor emeritus and former history department chairman at Texas Tech University
in Lubbock, Texas
.
from the University of Texas at Austin
with primary research focus on the history of the Civil War, Reconstruction, the American South, and African Americans. His publications include Polignac's Texas Brigade (published while he was still in graduate school in 1964, second edition, 1998), a study of Prince Polignac
and the Texan soldiers who fought in 1864 in the Battle of Mansfield
in northwestern Louisiana
. A monument to the Texan soldiers was dedicated at the site on the centennial of the Civil War battle in April 1964. His first major monograph came out in 1971, Reconstruction to Reform: Texas Politics, 1876-1906 (now in a second edition, 2000). Next came the first edition (1973) of Black Texans: A History of African-Americans in Texas, 1528-1971 that he later updated with a new preface, new chapter on 1970-1995, and new index (University of Oklahoma Press, 1996).
Another Barr work is The African Texans (2004), which describes the experience of free blacks and slaves prior to the Civil War and concludes with late 20th-century political developments. In 1981 Barr and Robert A. Calvert
, late historian at Texas A&M University
, co-edited Black Leaders: Texans for Their Times. In 2000 Barr wrote the introduction to Black Cowboys of Texas ed. Sara R. Massey.
In addition to his previously mentioned research interests, Barr has also done extensive research in military history. In 1990, he published a short study entitled Texans in Revolt: The Battle for San Antonio, 1835 that remains the primary study of the capture of San Antonio by Texans and Tejanos during the Texas Revolution
prior to the fall of the Alamo in the spring of 1836. He has published forty-eight articles in history journals including Civil War History, Military Affairs, the Journal of African American History, the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, the Social Science Quarterly, and Military History of the West. He has secured multiple awards for his teaching, research, and leadership at Texas Tech. In 1992-1993 academic year, he served as the president of the Texas State Historical Association
. In 2001, Barr received the Outstanding Researcher Award from the Texas Tech College of Arts and Sciences. In 2005, he obtained the Faculty Distinguished Leadership Award from the Texas Tech Association of Parents. In 2011, Barr was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters.
Thirty-three doctoral students at Texas Tech completed their studies under Barr, and eleven of their dissertations were revised and published as books. He has been a consultant for the National Park Service
, National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities Texas, the U.S. Department of Justice, Smithsonian Productions, and for the 2006 public television documentary Texas Ranch House
, a reality show in which modern Americans attempted to live as they would have in the year 1867.
Among Barr's colleagues at Texas Tech were Paul H. Carlson
, Allan J. Kuethe
, Dan Flores
, and the late Ernest Wallace
.
Barr and his wife, the former Nancy Dement, reside in Lubbock. Their daughters are Juliana Barr (born ca. 1966) and Alicia Barr (born ca. 1968).
African American studies
African American studies is a subset of Black studies or Africana studies. It is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to the study of the history, culture, and politics of African Americans...
, the American South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and Reconstruction. He is a professor emeritus and former history department chairman at Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
.
Works
Barr received his Ph.D.Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
with primary research focus on the history of the Civil War, Reconstruction, the American South, and African Americans. His publications include Polignac's Texas Brigade (published while he was still in graduate school in 1964, second edition, 1998), a study of Prince Polignac
Camille Armand Jules Marie, Prince de Polignac
Camille Armand Jules Marie, Prince de Polignac was a French nobleman, scholar and soldier who joined the Confederate States Army at the outbreak of the American Civil War and became major general before the end of the war...
and the Texan soldiers who fought in 1864 in the Battle of Mansfield
Battle of Mansfield
The Battle of Mansfield, also known as the Battle of Sabine Crossroads, occurred on April 8, 1864, in De Soto Parish, Louisiana. Confederate forces commanded by Richard Taylor attacked a Union army commanded by Nathaniel Banks a few miles outside the town of Mansfield, near Sabine Crossroads...
in northwestern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. A monument to the Texan soldiers was dedicated at the site on the centennial of the Civil War battle in April 1964. His first major monograph came out in 1971, Reconstruction to Reform: Texas Politics, 1876-1906 (now in a second edition, 2000). Next came the first edition (1973) of Black Texans: A History of African-Americans in Texas, 1528-1971 that he later updated with a new preface, new chapter on 1970-1995, and new index (University of Oklahoma Press, 1996).
Another Barr work is The African Texans (2004), which describes the experience of free blacks and slaves prior to the Civil War and concludes with late 20th-century political developments. In 1981 Barr and Robert A. Calvert
Robert A. Calvert
Robert Arnold Calvert, Jr., known as Bob Calvert , was a historian and professor at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, best known for his standard textbook, The History of Texas, co-authored with Arnoldo De Leon and Gregg Cantrell.Calvert was born in Stephenville, the seat of Erath...
, late historian at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, co-edited Black Leaders: Texans for Their Times. In 2000 Barr wrote the introduction to Black Cowboys of Texas ed. Sara R. Massey.
In addition to his previously mentioned research interests, Barr has also done extensive research in military history. In 1990, he published a short study entitled Texans in Revolt: The Battle for San Antonio, 1835 that remains the primary study of the capture of San Antonio by Texans and Tejanos during the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
prior to the fall of the Alamo in the spring of 1836. He has published forty-eight articles in history journals including Civil War History, Military Affairs, the Journal of African American History, the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, the Social Science Quarterly, and Military History of the West. He has secured multiple awards for his teaching, research, and leadership at Texas Tech. In 1992-1993 academic year, he served as the president of the Texas State Historical Association
Texas State Historical Association
The Texas State Historical Association or abbreviated TSHA, is a non-profit educational organization, dedicated to documenting the rich and unique history of Texas. It was founded on March 2, 1897. As of November 2008, TSHA moved from Austin to the University of North Texas in Denton.The executive...
. In 2001, Barr received the Outstanding Researcher Award from the Texas Tech College of Arts and Sciences. In 2005, he obtained the Faculty Distinguished Leadership Award from the Texas Tech Association of Parents. In 2011, Barr was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters.
Thirty-three doctoral students at Texas Tech completed their studies under Barr, and eleven of their dissertations were revised and published as books. He has been a consultant for the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities Texas, the U.S. Department of Justice, Smithsonian Productions, and for the 2006 public television documentary Texas Ranch House
Texas Ranch House
Texas Ranch House is an PBS American reality television series that premiered in May 2006. Produced by Thirteen/WNET New York, Wall to Wall Media Limited, and PBS, the show placed fifteen modern day people in the context of 1867 Texas...
, a reality show in which modern Americans attempted to live as they would have in the year 1867.
Among Barr's colleagues at Texas Tech were Paul H. Carlson
Paul H. Carlson
Paul Howard Carlson , an historian of Texas, the American West, and Native Americans, is a professor emeritus at Texas Tech University in Lubbock....
, Allan J. Kuethe
Allan J. Kuethe
Allan J. Kuethe is an American historian specializing in Latin American studies. He is a distinguished Paul Whitfield Horn professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, an honor named for the first president of Texas Tech...
, Dan Flores
Dan Flores
Dan Louie Flores is an American historian who specializes in cultural and environmental studies of the American West. He holds the A.B...
, and the late Ernest Wallace
Ernest Wallace
Ernest Wallace was an historian of Texas, the American West and the southern Great Plains, who was affiliated with Texas Tech University in Lubbock.-Historical works:...
.
Barr and his wife, the former Nancy Dement, reside in Lubbock. Their daughters are Juliana Barr (born ca. 1966) and Alicia Barr (born ca. 1968).