Center for Big Bend Studies’ Upcoming 25th Conference

I have been the director of the Center for Big Bend Studies (CBBS) located at Sul Ross State University for the last 10+ years. The CBBS, a department of the university since 1987, conducts and facilitates research of the human presence—both prehistoric and historic—in the greater Big Bend region. We endeavor to discover, document, excavate, analyze, interpret, and preserve archaeological sites, including prehistoric nomadic and farming Indian sites, Spanish Colonial sites, historic Indian sites, and early ranching and mining sites.

A very important event of the Center’s is our annual conference at the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan University Center (UC) every November. The 25th annual conference, will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, November 9^th and extend through the early to mid-afternoon of Saturday, the 10^th. The conference is somewhat unusual in that it focuses on both history and prehistory, something occurring in only a few other conferences across the nation. Featuring a wide range of scholars, the event typically attracts 150 or more attendees. Kicking off the conference this year will be a baroque guitar concert at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 8^th, at the UC (Espino Conference Room C) by Mexico City native Manuel Mejia Armijo, an accomplished musician, composer, writer, teacher, and researcher of specialized ancient music. Mejia Armijo will also present his research on the history of the guitar at the conference. Another noteworthy presentation this year will be by Dean Smith, a longtime and legendary Hollywood stuntman who appeared in numerous movies and T.V. shows—many of them Westerns—including John Wayne’s movie The Alamo. His presentation will provide a unique perspective of the West and the portrayal of western history on the big and little screens.