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Feature Article
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For the coming year, The Alamo Messenger will focus on Mexico's Early National Period as a topic of interest. The purpose of this focus should be clear: Texas was a part of Mexico until it declared its independence on March 2, 1836. Therefore, events that occurred in Mexico affected Texas and its inhabitants. Hopefully, our examination of this period will give readers a deeper understanding of the reasons for the Texas Revolution, as well as subsequent events in Texas history. Keep Reading
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Artifact of the Month
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The document transcribed below is a letter of introduction for Erastus "Deaf" Smith sent to Governor Henry Smith by William B. Travis. It is part of the Phil Collins Texana Collection at The Alamo.
To Gov. Henry Smith
San Felipe or Washington
To his Excellency H. Smith Governor of Texas
Sir-- I take pleasure in introducing to your acquaintance + friendly notice my friend + your namesake, Erastus Smith, who has proven himself to be "the Bravest of the Brave" in the cause of Texas. He has been the friend of Texas in time of need; Texas ought to befriend + protect him + his helpless family.
He will give you the news relative to everything here-- + upon him you may rely.
your friend
W. Barret Travis
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As a result of liberal immigration policies enacted during Mexico's Early National Period, throughout the 1820s American and European colonists immigrated to Texas. Most of them were drawn there by the cheap land and the glowing descriptions empressarios like Stephen F. Austin and Green Dewitt gave of the abundant resources of the land. Noah Smithwick immigrated to Texas from Kentucky in 1827 after hearing about Texas from Sterling C. Robertson, who had received a large land grant from the Mexican government. The following passage from Smithwick's memoirs, written late in his life, recalls his arrival in Texas, the greeting he received there and the living conditions of the early colonists. Keep Reading
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Erastus "Deaf" Smith
This year, The Alamo Messenger is exploring Mexico's Early National Period. As part of this exploration, we are featuring in-depth looks at the people living in Texas during this period. This month we're taking a look at the life of Erastus "Deaf" Smith and his influence on Texas history. Read More
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EDUCATORS' CORNER
In 2011, Shane Ferguson was assigned a project in his Spanish II class at Shenandoah High School in Senacaville, Ohio. Some students might have written a paper or made a paper mache model. Not Shane. Shane began work on carving the fa�ade of the Alamo Shrine out of a solid piece of hardwood that he acquired from an Amish mill. Read More
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