Center for History and Culture
of Southeast Texas and the Upper Gulf Coast
Founded in 2016 by Dr. Mary Scheer as one Lamar University’s “Visionary Initiatives,” the Center serves the many constituencies of Lamar University students and faculty, the communities of Southeast Texas and the greater Gulf Coast, and the scholars and creatives who explore the region’s past and present. The Center promotes the study of these regions with a commitment to multicultural, interdisciplinary, collaborative, and community-focused projects.
The Center hosts programs that highlight the work of artists, authors, scholars, community leaders, and others who represent varied specializations and backgrounds. It also awards two annual book prizes and funds original research, creativity, and community outreach through its fellowship program.
February 12, 2026
Wrangling Pelicans with Tim Seiter.
4:30 to 6:30 pm, Tyrrell Historical Library (695 Pearl St, Beaumont, TX 77701).
Dr. Tim Seiter will talk about his new book Wrangling Pelicans that explores the everyday experiences of Presidio La Bahía’s Hispano soldiers and their families at the edge of the Spanish empire in Texas. From the publisher: "Although they were agents of the Spanish crown, soldiers at times defied their king and even their captain as they found ways to assert their autonomy. Offering a fresh perspective on colonial Texas, Wrangling Pelicans recreates the complexities of life at the empire’s edge, where survival mattered more than royal decrees." Dr. Seiter is an assistant professor of history at the University of Texas at Tyler and a 2022-2023 Fellow with the Center for History and Culture. Books available for purchase and signing. Refreshments provide. Free and open to all.