When we think of early Texas history, a lot of names come to mind: Stephen F. Austin, Juan Seguin, or Sam Houston. But what about Mary Austin Holley, Emily West, or Margaret Houston? Women cared just as much as men about building and shaping their new homeland – and had just as important an impact.

Listen to Dr. Adrienne Caughfield at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 24, a free live event that will also be shared virtually at allentx.swagit.com at the Allen Public Library!

In her book, True Women and Westward Expansion, Collin College professor Adrienne Caughfield looks at women’s contributions to the creation of Texas as a republic, as a state, and as a dramatic example of the 19th-century American ideal of “manifest destiny.” Dr. Caughfield will share stories that are a less well-known but crucial part of the development of Texas history, and how these stories shape not just how Texans, but Americans, see themselves today. 

Dr. Adrienne Caughfield: teaches United States and Texas history at Collin College in Plano, Texas. Her area of interest is American expansion and exceptionalism. Her doctoral dissertation for Texas Christian University dealt with women’s perceptions of expansion and “manifest destiny” in Texas prior to the Civil War; it also introduced Dr. Caughfield to the works of Mary Austin Holley. That dissertation was published by Texas A&M University Press as True Women and Westward Expansion.

The library is located at 300 N. Allen Dr. Call 214-509-4911 for additional information