Past Matters, Summer 2025, Published 6/23/2025
My CV on the website says a great deal, but it doesn’t hint at why my work is so important to me and why I am passionate about historic preservation in all of its forms, and by extension, why the work of the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission is so meaningful to me.
I am not a native Texan, but I have been here for over 50 years. From the very beginning, I was captivated by the breadth and depth of Texas history and culture. I remember discovering the deliciousness of kolaches in West, Texas. I also remember getting lost in the deep Piney Woods and ending up in the wetlands near Louisiana. Then there was the time I adventured from Brownsville to Del Rio and found myself drifting through the beauty of Big Bend National Park and then on to Presidio. Through all of these journeys, the varying changes in landscape, people, towns, and buildings I discovered inspired me. The kaleidoscope of places and communities served to highlight the vast and complex nature of our state, yet no matter where in Texas I was, I kept hearing one repeated phrase from the people with whom I spoke – “I’m a Texan.”
Even though our state stretches far and wide and holds many histories, Texans are united around their Texan-ness. This is a fact I am reminded of whenever I think about the work of the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission (FTHC). Even when things around us seem to change rapidly, our missions have held true. At the FTHC, our work to support the THC ensures that future generations can also connect with their Texan-ness.
Our role as the nonprofit partner to the THC means that we step in to support the projects and programs of the THC when sufficient funding does not exist. But that is not all. We are nimble and are able to move quickly on projects where time is of the essence. We are also the conduit between all of the communities that dot our Texas Landscapes and the work of historic preservation. As we work to find philanthropic support for the programs of the THC, we make connections with the people of Texas, helping them leverage their giving to support the histories of their communities.
When I look back on the nearly 30 years since the FTHC was founded, I am reminded of the people I met when I first arrived in Texas. Our work over all this time has remained true to its path – supporting the work of the THC in preserving the real places and the real stories of Texas so that more people can find themselves represented in our historical narrative. “I am Texan” is a state of mind – and here in Texas, we treasure our unique histories of this Texan-ess which are amplified by the work of the THC and FTHC.
Preservation is for everyone, and FTHC hopes that everyone sees themselves in preservation. Every place has a story, and every person has a place in our state. Preservation and what we do serves all Texans, and the FTHC remains committed to this vital work – now and into the future.
Donna Carter, Chair