It’s Texas History Week in Corpus Christi

History buffs get ready. Several historical organizations in Nueces County have put together a week of events highlighting local history, including presentations of a new book about Corpus Christi history and the photographs of Doc McGregor. The week begins with a celebration on Texas Independence Day, Monday, March 2, and concludes over the following weekend with the 119th annual meeting of the Texas State Historical Association. Most activities are free and all are open to the public.
“We encourage everyone to come on out to all the activities,” said Allan Hayes, President of the Nueces County Historical Society. “There’s something for everybody.” 
Events planned include: 
— Texas Independence Day Observance, 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, Nueces County Courthouse
Admission is free. Sponsored by the Daughters of the Texas Revolution and the Nueces County Historical Commission, the event celebrates the day in 1836 when Texas declared itself free from Mexico. Refreshments and remarks highlight the Toast of Texas event.
— Author presentation and book signing by Alan Lessoff, author of “Where Texas Meets the Sea: Corpus Christi and Its History,” 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 4, Retama Room Harvin Center, Del Mar College East
Co-sponsored by Del Mar College’s Mexican-American Studies Program & Department of Social Sciences. Admission is free. The book, which was will be officially published Feb. 28, presents an urban history of the area “that will reshape the way Texans look at all their cities,” reads a review on amazon.com. Lessoff,  professor of history at Illinois State University, will discuss how conflict has shaped the city over the years since its founding in 1839 to present day. 
— Presentation by Ron Randolph of “The Man Behind the Lens: McGregor”, 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 4, First Presbyterian Church, 430 S. Carancahua Street. Also a book signing by author Alan Lessoff.  Presentation and reception sponsored by the Nueces County Historical Society and the Nueces County Historical Commission. Admission is free. As caretaker of the John Frederick “Doc” McGregor photography collection for over 20 years, Randolf brings a unique perspective to his look beyond the lens of the amateur photographer who made it his mission to record life in his city. 
— Texas Hisorical Association 119th Annual Meeting, Thursday, March 5-Saturday, March 7, Omni Corpus Christi Hotel. The event, which travels the state, was last in Corpus Christi in 2008. On-site, day-of registration is available for individual events, which include breakfasts, lunches, dinners, workshops and presentations throughout the four days. Fees apply for most events. For more information visit the association’s website at tshaonline.org.
As an enthusiastic local buff, Hayes says he will be attending each of the Texas history events during the week. 
“I have always admired the people who came here so many years ago and built this city into what it is today,” Hayes said. “They civilized it, populated it, made it into the interesting things we can still see today.”
A main focus of his interest is the Old Bay View Cemetery, which is currently in disarray. 
“It could be a beautiful place, but it’s in bad shape right now,” he said. “A lot of people that made this area what it is are buried there. I’d like to see that be restored.” 
After a week of absorbing local history, a trip to the old cemetery, with a renewed interest in the names on the 600 gravestones there, would be in order, he suggested. And then maybe a clean-up campaign.