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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Center for Big Bend Studies at Sul Ross State |
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University has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the |
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Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia of Mexico and the |
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city of Ágreda, Spain, to pursue archaeological and historical |
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research; and |
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WHEREAS, SRSU has enjoyed a relationship with Mexican |
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research institutions since the 1930s, and the CBBS renewed this |
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relationship on July 18, 2017, by signing a memorandum of |
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understanding with INAH, the federal agency that oversees all |
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archaeological research in Mexico; this agreement seeks to secure |
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viable archaeological and historical research areas in Big Bend |
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National Park in southwest Texas and the La Junta de los Rios region |
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of northern Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, On April 12, 2019, the CBBS also executed an MOU with |
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the city of Ágreda; situated in the Soria province of Spain, Ágreda |
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was the home of Sor María de Jesús, the 17th century abbess of the |
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Convento de la Concepción popularly known as "the Lady in Blue"; her |
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inspirational writings were brought to Texas by Franciscan friars, |
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and one of them, Antonio de Olivares, founded Mission San Antonio de |
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Valero, now known as the Alamo, on May 1, 1718; the mission's |
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original location at San Pedro Springs Park in San Antonio has been |
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recognized by CBBS, INAH, the city of Ágreda, and other entities; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Early research into the Spanish, Mestizo, and |
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Mexican history of Texas was conducted by Herbert Eugene Bolton in |
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the Spanish archives in Mexico City, and his textbook, With the |
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Makers of Texas: A Source Reader in Texas History, influenced the |
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work of Adina de Zavala, an early member of the Daughters of the |
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Republic of Texas; in addition to leading the effort to save the |
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Convento at the Alamo from destruction in 1908, she helped found the |
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Texas Historical Commission and published a book based on Bolton's |
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research titled History and Legends of the Alamo and Other Missions |
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In and Around San Antonio; and |
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WHEREAS, Bolton's research also influenced the work of |
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J. Charles Kelley, a pioneering archaeologist of the Borderlands |
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region who first conceived of a center for Big Bend studies in the |
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1930s; after the founding of the INAH in 1939, he worked with the |
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institute on several large-scale excavations in Chihuahua and |
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Zacatecas between 1949 and 1993, and as an adjunct professor at Sul |
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Ross, he helped establish the CBBS in 1987, freely sharing his |
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lifetime of accumulated knowledge with other researchers; and |
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WHEREAS, The history of the Big Bend region is inextricably |
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linked to the histories of Spain and Mexico, and the research |
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agreements between CBBS, INAH, and the city of Ágreda will provide |
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invaluable insight into the proud legacy of the Spanish and Mestizo |
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founders of Texas; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the signing of the memorandum of |
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understanding between the Center for Big Bend Studies, the |
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Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia of Mexico, and the |
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city of Ágreda and extend to all involved sincere best wishes for |
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success in their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for CBBS, INAH, and Ágreda as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |