HERE: Faces and Voices of Native Aggies

April 19–July 14, 2022
Opening Reception: April 19, 2022 at 6 p.m.
Forsyth Galleries | Learning Gallery | Memorial Student Center, MSC 2428

 
HERE: Faces and Voices of Native Aggies celebrates Native American students and the influence they have had on Texas A&M University. Native Aggies have made a difference in campus life from athletics to the Corps and military history to the arts. With oral history interviews, artifacts, and photographs, the past and continued presence of Native Americans is illustrated throughout the school’s history. By opening the week of Muster, the exhibition echoes the community’s recognition of past and present A&M students to show that Native Aggies are ‘HERE.’

The exhibition provides historical context for Native American history at Texas A&M. This is accompanied by a discussion of the school’s status as a Land Grant University. The presence of Native Americans at Texas A&M is positioned within this history and the relationship the school has to its funding parcels sold throughout the country. At Texas A&M, Native American Students represent several tribes, including the Choctaw, Quapaw, Muscogee, Navajo, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Citizen Potawatomi, and Sioux Assiniboine, among others. They have attended the school between 1900 to the present day and have represented majors from all of the university’s colleges.

The collection of items and images in this exhibition presents the faces and voices of these students. While these stories reflect just a small portion of the vital and impactful contributions Native American Aggies have made within and outside of this school, it shows their unique place in the community. Like many A&M students, they have participated in a wide variety of clubs, organizations, sports, and traditions, including the Corps, the 1906-10 A&M football, baseball, and track teams, dance clubs, and much more. Outside of A&M, they continue to positively affect their communities in various roles, such as musician, soldier, lawyer, scientist, and teacher.

HERE: Faces and Voices of Native Aggies is an exhibition curated by Texas A&M University students as part of their coursework in Advanced Museum Studies (ANTH 421).
 

Virtual Tour


Step inside the galleries and view this exhibition…virtually! This interactive tour lets you move through the space while viewing high-resolution images, in-depth descriptive text, and video. You can find more digital resources to explore on our Virtual Tours page.
 

 

Inside the Exhibition

George Hass class of 2022 wearing his traditional dress poses in front of the Corps of Cadets Quad to celebrate Native American History Month.
Rose Red Elk, professionally known as Red Feather Woman, wears her traditional dress and plays a drum as she walks down a dirt road.
Yearbook photo spread from 1910 of All Southwestern Team
Portrait of Native Aggie, James Keese Ross. Historical photo from 1908 of male figure in Block T sweater.
Display case featuring old yearbook photos of athletes.
Portrait of Native Aggie. Modern day photo of female student in graduation and ceremonial regalia.
Michael R. Balenti Jr. wearing a baseball uniform for the St. Louis Browns is photographed mid-action during baseball practice.
Photo of Corps Cadet in Corps uniform and ceremonial attire. Case with NAISO graduation stole, T-shirts, yearbook, baseball cap, and turquoise necklace.
Otis Wilson Leader is photographed in his military uniform. He is proudly displaying the several medals he earned for his bravery during World War I.
1906 Yearbook Photo of Glee Club.
Map depicting Texas A&M ties to Native American lands and tribes across the United States based on the school's land grant history.
Projection screen. Image being projected is that of Allison Gilmore. The title reads "Regarding Difficult History."
Old yearbook photo of three men in T Club sweaters.
Gallery title walls. Two walls side-by-side. One reads "Here: Faces and Voice of Native Aggies." The other wall has multiple variations of the word 'here' in native languages.
Display case with drawing, yearbook, and photograph of person working with tools.

Video

Learn about the history of Native Aggies at Texas A&M from the early days to present time. This video was assembled and produced by student Hannah Eckenfels.
 

 

Exhibition Guidebook and Resources

This guidebook was produced by student curators in Advanced Museum Studies (ANTH 421) to serve as documentation of their work and the research conducted to produce this exhibition. It includes educational information and resources for further study and reflection.

Exhibition digital guidebook cover. It is tan with colorful triangles at the bottom. It reads HERE: Faces and Voices of Native Aggies, April 19–July 29, 2022, Runyon Learning Gallery, Forsyth Galleries, Memorial Student Center

 
 
View Guidebook