The Best of the Best

Our documentary style on the Birth of Texas Series is to use a diverse array of the most knowledgeable and engaging voices to tell a story. It is our belief that pacing and comprehension is improved if multiple voices speak on a given point. In the case of the Texas history topics covered in The Birth of Texas Series, the goal is to utilize the people who have written about and taught the subject matter since they know the material better than anyone, having spent years immersed in primary research and carrying a passion that comes through loud and clear to the viewer.

Because many of the subjects covered in the Birth of Texas Series are intertwined with others, a majority of the interview subjects will appear in multiple titles. About 60 experts skilled in telling the stories of this period of Texas history appear in the Birth of Texas movies or are on the list to be interviewed. They truly are the best of the best on the subject matter.

The list of interview subjects, both completed and planned, and part of their background in early Texas history, with relevant books listed first, is as follows:
Stephen Hardin, on-camera host – Texian Iliad; Texian Macabre; Professor of History at McMurry University
Frank de la Teja – San Antonio de Bexar: A Community on New Spain's Northern Frontier; Former Texas State Historian; Professor of History and Department Chair at Texas State University
Light Cummins – Texas: A Political History; Emily Austin of Texas: 1795-1851; Former Texas State Historian; Professor of History at Austin College
C. W. Swede Anderson- Admiral, Texas Navy; U.S. Navy, retired
Liz Appleby- Former Curator, San Jacinto Museum of History
Alwyn Barr – Texans in Revolt: The Battle for San Antonio 1835; The African Texans; Professor Emeritus in History at Texas Tech University
Jim Bevill- The Paper Republic
Donaly Brice - The Great Comanche Raid; Land Owner of Plum Creek Battlefield; Texas State Archives
J. P. Bryan - Past Chair Institute of Texan Cultures; Past President Texas Historical Foundation; Texas State Historical Foundation; Torch Collection
Randolph B. "Mike" Campbell-Gone to Texas: A History of the Lone Star State; Regents Professor of History at the University of North Texas
Gregg Cantrell- Stephen F. Austin: Empresario of Texas; Professor of History at Texas Christian University
Tom Castanos - Education and Youth Initiatives Coordinator, San Antonio Missions National Park
Mike Cox- The Texas Rangers: Wearing the Cinco Peso: 1821-1900;  
Carolina Castillo Crimm - DeLeon: A Tejano Family History; Professor of History at Sam Houston State University
Jim Crisp – Sleuthing the Alamo; How Did Davy Die and Why Should We Care?; Professor of History at North Carolina State University
William C. Davis – Lone Star Rising; Three Roads to the Alamo; Professor of History at Virginia Tech University
Gregg Dimmick- Sea of Mud: The Retreat of the Mexican Army After San Jacinto; General Vicente Filisola's Analysis of Jose Urrea's Military Diary: A Forgotten 1838 Publication by an Eyewitness to the Texas Revolution
Jeff Dunn- Co-Founder, Friends of the San Jacinto Battleground
David Gracy- Moses Austin: His Life; State Library and Archives of Texas; Professor at University of Texas at Austin
Casey Greene- Head of Special Collections, Galveston and Texas History Center, Rosenberg Library
James L. Haley- Sam Houston; Passionate Nation: The Epic History of Texas; Apaches: A History and Culture-Portrait
Sam Haynes- James K. Polk and the Expansionist Impulse; Major Problems in Texas History; Professor of History at UT Arlington
Daniel Howe- What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848; Pulitzer Prize Winner; Professor Emeritus in History, University of California Los Angeles
Frank Jackson- Prairie View A&M University
Ron J Jackson, Jr. – Joe: The Slave Who Became an Alamo Legend
Dwayne Jones - Executive Director, Galveston Historical Foundation
Jonathan W. Jordan- The Texas Navy
Kevin Ladd- Gone to Texas: Genealogical Extracts from the Telegraph and Texas Register: 1835-1841; Chambers County: A Pictorial History; Executive Director, Wallisville Heritage Park
John Lindon - Site Manager, Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site
Paula Mitchell Marks - Women of the West; Professor of History at St. Edward's University
Bryan McAuley- Site Manager, Stephen F Austin State Historic Site; Site Manager, Levi Jordan State Historic Site
Carol McDavid- Archaeologist, Bernardo Plantation Archaeology Project; Co-Founder, Community Archaeology Research Institute
Michael Moore - Historian, Stephen F Austin State Historic Site; Director, Fort Bend Museum Association
Helen Mooty - Director, Galveston County Museum
Jim Nonus- Lafitte Society, Galveston
R. Dale Olson- Lafitte Society, Galveston
Merline Pitre- Dangers, Toils and Snares; Past President Texas State Historical Association; Professor of History at Texas Southern University
Ginny Raska - The Uncompromising Diary of Sallie McNeill
Craig Roell- The Matamoras Expedition; professor of History at Georgia Southern University
Tom Scaggs- Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site
Robert Schaadt - Former Director, Sam Houston Regional Library
Larry Spasic - Director, San Jacinto Museum of History
Paul Spellman -The Old 300; Forgotten Texas Leader: Hugh McLeod and the Texan Santa Fe Expedition; Professor of History at Wharton County Junior College
Lee Spencer White- Joe: The Slave Who Became an Alamo Legend
Peter Stines- Wallisville Heritage Park
Andres Tijerina- Tejanos and Texas Under the Mexican Flag: 1821-1836; Early Tejano Ranching; Professor of History at Austin Community College
Janet Wagner - Chair, Harris County Historical Commission
R. Bruce Winders - Sacrificed at the Alamo: Tragedy and Triumph in the Texas Revolution; Crisis in the Southwest: The United States, Mexico and the Struggle Over Texas; Former Historian and Curator, The Alamo
Cary Wintz-Black Dixie; Professor of History at Texas Southern University
James V. Woodrick- Austin County: Colonial Capital of Texas; Battle of Gonzales; , Bernardo Plantation Archaeology Project
Mac Woodward - Curator, Sam Houston Memorial Museum