Past Matters Summer 2024; posted on 6/7/2024
We are thrilled to introduce the newest member of our team, Traci! She is our new Office and Finance Manager and Bookkeeper. Traci is a native Austinite, who grew up in towns scattered throughout south, central and east Texas before returning to her Austin roots to attend St. Edward’s University. Armed with a B.A. in History, she worked at the French Legation as a docent and events coordinator before transitioning to the private software industry. Most recently she was on staff at Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine where she spent a decade overseeing the magazine’s finances, while also serving as contributing writer and photographer, website administrator and assisting with marketing and subscriber acquisition. Not surprisingly, much of her published content focuses on the history of the places she has visited.
History has always been a passion for Traci, much to the consternation of her family, as they were forced to stop at historical markers and museums on every family road trip. Something her family does all agree on, however, is baseball. She enjoys cheering on her husband and sons as they play, umpire or coach. Her non-profit volunteer experience includes serving on the Board of the Oak Hill Youth Sports Association (the largest recreational youth baseball and softball program in Central Texas), where she is currently President.
Working for the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission will bring together Traci’s nonprofit and history backgrounds, giving her the opportunity to support the stories and histories of the various cultures, people, and places of Texas for present and future generations.
Fun Fact: Her favorite historical marker is a relatively new one! Her maternal family’s home place is represented in the Undertold Stories Program with the Alba Ranch marker, marking the location where her grandfather was literally born!