The East Texas Historical Association:
What We Stand For

Welcome to the 2023 Annual Meeting of the East Texas Historical Association. We are glad you are here and hope that you enjoy our sessions, our fellowship, and — most of all — our friendship. Today, among many groups and organizations, there is talk and action that does more to accentuate our divisions rather than our unity. That is not the case within the East Texas Historical Association. We have core beliefs within our Association, ones that we firmly believe in and uphold so that we can all work together to promote an honest and open dialogue about the past. We believe:

  1. That interpretation of the past is not “owned” by one “group” or segment of society, but instead that our history is shared by ALL people in society and that EVERYONE deserves to have an honest and open discussion about what has shaped who we are today.

  2. Part of an honest discussion about such a path is that we believe that no one in our society is to be excluded or denigrated because of their gender, religious preference, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity. In fact, our Association celebrates diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our Meetings, publications, symposia, and any functions of the Association.

  3. The East Texas Historical Association does condemn and does not condone any efforts that discriminate in any of the above-mentioned categories and will not allow any such efforts that do so to become a part of any aspect of our organization.

  4. We do recognize that very often “honest history” will confront and counter some preconceived notions about the past that may cause discomfort. We will never advocate avoiding such discussion, but instead believe that it is only through meeting such ideas head-on can we collectively find ways to get past issues that divide us and find a way to reach common ground in which we can find solutions that will unite all people.

The East Texas Historical Association will always strive to meet these goals and we welcome any feedback you may have to help us accomplish our mission.

Thank you and welcome, again, to our meeting!

 

     Deborah Liles, Ph.D                                                    M. Scott Sosebee

     President, ETHA                                                          Executive, Director, ETHA

(download a PDF of this statement here)