Sam Houston Center Hosts Free WWI Traveling Exhibit, On Loan from State Archives in Austin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Liberty, TX - The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Liberty invites the public to view a new temporary exhibit, Texans Take to the Trenches: World War I and the Lone Star State, on loan from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission through January 2025.

A series of panels present photographs, documents and dispatches documenting the Texans who responded to Uncle Sam's "I Want You" rally cry, showcasing the individual experiences of Texans dealing with the war both at home and abroad. More than 198,000 Texans answered the call to join the Allied Forces in an effort to defeat the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria between 1917 and 1919. While battles raged on land, sea and air, the war effort was more than just mortar shells and mustard gas. And Texans on the home front felt the ravages of war through rationing and the pain of missing their dearly beloved.

"We are so excited to bring this traveling exhibit to the community," said the Center's Manager, Alana Inman. "The opportunity to see reproductions of materials in the State Archives and read about the experiences of both powerful leaders and the everyday Texans who contributed to the war effort is valuable for all ages."

Texans Take to the Trenches will be on view for free through January in the historic Hull-Daisetta Rosary Building on the Center's campus at 650 FM 1011 in Libert. The exhibit is open Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov/shc or call (936) 336-8821.

The Sam Houston Center is a component of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and serves as the official regional historical resource depository for the 10 Southeast Texas counties of Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto and Tyler. The Center's primary mission is to collect, preserve and provide access to historically significant state and local government records and publications of the designated region and secondarily to serve as a library of Texana and genealogical resources.

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The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information needed to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov.