March 10, 2020–July 30, 2021
Briscoe Center for American History, Austin, Texas
Hall Gallery
The Texas Observer launched in 1954, with its mission printed manifesto-style in the first issue: to “hew hard to the truth as we find it and the right as we see it.” In the years since, the publication has lifted marginalized voices, been a disinfectant for dastardly deeds, and remained one of the few truly independent media outlets in the United States.
The Texas Observer archive is housed at the Briscoe Center, along with the papers and records of some of its most notable contributors and supporters, including John Henry Faulk, J. R. Parten, Molly Ivins, and Bernard Rapoport. This exhibit presents a selection from across the Observer’s history, reflecting the publication’s tradition of reporting on civil rights, the nuances of Texas culture, the problems in public health care, the richness of the border, the people in rural Texas, the beauty—and exploitation—of our natural environment, and the endless dealings of the Texas Legislature.
