Last Friday, I spoke at the Monroe Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. My talk was titled, “1968: The Press and Photojournalism.” ‘68 witnessed riots, assassinations, resignations, and many other events that left a deep imprint on the American psyche. The Vietnam War, Prague Spring, and Paris riots show how… read more 

The Briscoe Center’s vast collections enable us to contemplate the significance of Black History Month from a number of angles and perspectives. Black Power is perhaps one of the most controversial and misunderstood. This month, the center opened a new exhibit of work prints from the newly acquired Stephen Shames Photographic Archive.… read more 

When R. C. Hickman arrived in Mansfield, Texas, on August 30, 1956, he knew it would be a dangerous assignment. Arriving at the local high school in order to document its integration, he saw three figures swinging from the playground trees: effigies of black students, mock-lynched by a white mob.… read more 

Earlier this month, the center was proud to host renowned journalist Dan Rather for a symposium celebrating the launch of our latest digital humanities project, Dan Rather: American Journalist. The symposium, which took place on campus at the Moody College for Communication, also included a panel discussion with three former CBS producers—Dana… read more 

In late August 2015, UT president Gregory Fenves decided to relocate Pompeo Coppini’s statue of Jefferson Davis from the South Mall of the campus to the Briscoe Center for placement in an educational exhibit. This April, the center unveiled the Davis statue in From Commemoration to Education. But that’s not the end of… read more 

Summer 2017 The summer is always a busy at the Briscoe Center, as we begin to gear up for our fall semester initiatives. Right now that means preparing for the roll out of two digital projects (one related to journalist Dan Rather and the other to former Texas governor Bill… read more 

Last month, the Briscoe Center reopened after a 14-month renovation. This was a very proudmoment for the center and a deeply satisfying event for me. It represents a game-changing enhancement of our mission. News of the reopening was picked up by the Austin American-Statesman, the Associated Press, and the majority of local TV… read more 

This Briscoe Center’s reopening of new public spaces on the UT campus is now at hand. Next week we’ll begin final preparations, applying the finishing touches to the new reading room, exhibit spaces and seminar rooms. We’ll reopen on April 10, but you’re invited to a special open house preview… read more 

As you may have guessed, the focus of the Briscoe Center’s recent communications has been its renovation and pending reopening. However, the center’s day-to-day work of collecting, preserving and making available evidence of the past has continued at its usual brisk clip. An outstanding example of this is the acquisition of the John Dominis… read more 

2017 is shaping up to be one of the most significant years in the Briscoe Center’s history. That’s because in April our newly renovated reading room, seminar rooms and exhibit spaces will open to the public. In short, that means we will finally have the facilities needed to fully showcase… read more