Newsletter

Humanities Texas will host its fourteenth annual Holiday Book Fair at the historic Byrne-Reed House in Austin on Saturday, December 7!

Nineteen Texas authors—Sarah Bird, Jenny Browne, Don Carleton, Breanna Carzoo, Cary Clack, Chad S. Conine, Natalie Musgrave Dossett, Jessica Goudeau, Joe Holley, Bret Anthony Johnston, Eliza Kinkz, Monika Maeckle, Naomi Shihab Nye, Catherine O'Connor, Erin Purdy, ire'ne lara silva, Thao Votang, Roy Vũ, and James Wade—will visit with the public and sign copies of their latest books, which Humanities Texas will offer for purchase at a discounted price.

Available titles include works of fiction and nonfiction, with selections for both adult and young readers. All proceeds benefit Texas libraries. More»

Former Humanities Texas Board Member Nicolás Kanellos—scholar and publisher of Hispanic literature—has been recognized as a 2023 National Humanities Medalist. Kanellos was presented with his award by President Joseph R. Biden during a ceremony at the White House on October 21, 2024. The National Humanities Medal honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation's understanding of the humanities and broadened our citizens' engagement with history, literature, languages, philosophy, and other humanities subjects. More»

Humanities Texas recently launched two new rounds of Texas Storytime, our bilingual family reading program, at El Progreso Memorial Library in Uvalde and at Oak Springs Elementary School in Austin. Texas Storytime supports school readiness and promotes early childhood literacy. At each event, facilitators present dynamic readings, and families join in book-related activities. More»

In 1951, journalist Julia Scott Reed joined the Dallas Express, the area’s dominant Black newspaper at the time. She worked her way through the ranks at the Express to become its city editor. Reed’s coverage of historic events such as the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education case and the 1964 trial of Jack Ruby brought her recognition and respect as a journalist. In 1967, Reed was hired by the Dallas Morning News, becoming the first African American employed full-time at the newspaper. At a time of widespread racial tension, Reed’s writing helped promote dialogue between the city’s white and Black communities. More»