Herbert H. Lang
Encyclopedia
Herbert Howard Lang was an historian
of the American West who spent nearly all of his academic career at Texas A&M University
in College Station
, Texas
.
Lang was born in New York City
to Edward and Estelle Lang. He served in the United States Navy
during World War II
, when he met his wife of fifty-eight years, the late Elizabeth Brian Lang. After the war, Lang earned his Bachelor of Arts
and Master of Arts
degrees and in 1954 his Ph.D.
from the University of Texas at Austin
. His dissertation topic was "Nineteenth Century Historians of the Gulf States". Lang first taught at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
in Socorro
, New Mexico
. This first assignment (1954–1956) proved fortuitous for Lang in that he became a scholar of the mining frontier of the Trans-Mississippi
West. In 1956, Lang joined the TAMU history faculty. He was elevated to full professor
in 1965. In his later academic years, Lang was a founder of the TAMU honors program and was the graduate-student history advisor under department chairman Henry C. Dethloff
.
In 1970, Lang received an "Achievement Award" from the TAMU Association of Former Students. At the ceremony, Lang said that liberal arts
instruction should "liberate man from the tyranny of out-moded man-made habits, assumptions, and institutions . . . [which] restrict the development of his highest potential." The remark is similar to Thomas Jefferson
's swearing to God
"eternal hostility to every form of tyranny over the mind of man".
Lang edited and wrote the introduction of the book, Pat Nixon of Texas: Autobiography of a Doctor, by Pat Ireland Nixon (1883–1965), no relation to the former First Lady of the United States
. Lang wrote the article "Fort Worth
's Role in the Origins of the Helium
Industry" in the Year Book of the West Texas Historical Association
. Lang wrote "Uranium
Mining and the AEC
: The Birth Pangs of a New Industry" in Business History Review.
One of Lang's understudies, Dan Louie Flores
(born 1948), acknowledges his debt to his mentor in his 2001 book, The Natural West: Environmental History in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. Flores writes that Lang "not only introduced me to environmental history but handed down to those of us who studied the West with him the legacy of Walter Prescott Webb
."
On his retirement in 1984, TAMU named Lang a professor emeritus. He and his wife retired to Brenham
, the seat of Washington County, Texas. He died at the age of eighty-four in Beaumont
, the seat of Jefferson County
. Survivors were a daughter, Emily Lang Rhine (born 1949), and a grandson, Eric Jonathan Rhine, both of Beaumont. The Langs are interred at Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
of the American West who spent nearly all of his academic career 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...
in College Station
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Lang was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Edward and Estelle Lang. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when he met his wife of fifty-eight years, the late Elizabeth Brian Lang. After the war, Lang earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degrees and in 1954 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...
. His dissertation topic was "Nineteenth Century Historians of the Gulf States". Lang first taught at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is a university located in Socorro, New Mexico....
in Socorro
Socorro, New Mexico
Socorro is a city in Socorro County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It stands in the Rio Grande Valley at an elevation of . The population was 9,051 at the 2010 census...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. This first assignment (1954–1956) proved fortuitous for Lang in that he became a scholar of the mining frontier of the Trans-Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
West. In 1956, Lang joined the TAMU history faculty. He was elevated to full professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in 1965. In his later academic years, Lang was a founder of the TAMU honors program and was the graduate-student history advisor under department chairman Henry C. Dethloff
Henry C. Dethloff
Henry Clay Dethloff is a professor emeritus of history at Texas A&M University in College Station who has written more than two dozen books on topics ranging from the space program to agriculture, American business, and Texas A&M itself, the institution with which he was primarily affiliated...
.
In 1970, Lang received an "Achievement Award" from the TAMU Association of Former Students. At the ceremony, Lang said that liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
instruction should "liberate man from the tyranny of out-moded man-made habits, assumptions, and institutions . . . [which] restrict the development of his highest potential." The remark is similar to Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's swearing to God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
"eternal hostility to every form of tyranny over the mind of man".
Lang edited and wrote the introduction of the book, Pat Nixon of Texas: Autobiography of a Doctor, by Pat Ireland Nixon (1883–1965), no relation to the former First Lady of the United States
Pat Nixon
Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and was First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was commonly known as Patricia or Pat Nixon.Born in Nevada, Pat Ryan grew up in Los Angeles, California...
. Lang wrote the article "Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
's Role in the Origins of the Helium
Helium
Helium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602, which is represented by the symbol He. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table...
Industry" in the Year Book of the West Texas Historical Association
West Texas Historical Association
The West Texas Historical Association is an organization of both academics and laypersons dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of the total history of West Texas, defined geographically as all Texas counties and portions of counties located west of Interstate 35.-Formation of the...
. Lang wrote "Uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
Mining and the AEC
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
: The Birth Pangs of a New Industry" in Business History Review.
One of Lang's understudies, Dan Louie 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...
(born 1948), acknowledges his debt to his mentor in his 2001 book, The Natural West: Environmental History in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. Flores writes that Lang "not only introduced me to environmental history but handed down to those of us who studied the West with him the legacy of Walter Prescott Webb
Walter Prescott Webb
Walter Prescott Webb was a 20th century U.S. historian and author noted for his groundbreaking historical work on the American West. As president of the Texas State Historical Association, he launched the project that produced the Handbook of Texas...
."
On his retirement in 1984, TAMU named Lang a professor emeritus. He and his wife retired to Brenham
Brenham, Texas
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, Texas, United States, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
, the seat of Washington County, Texas. He died at the age of eighty-four in Beaumont
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
, the seat of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Texas
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Texas, United States. As of 2000, the population was 252,051. Its county seat is Beaumont, and it is named for the former U.S...
. Survivors were a daughter, Emily Lang Rhine (born 1949), and a grandson, Eric Jonathan Rhine, both of Beaumont. The Langs are interred at Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham.