Reviving the truth of one man’s history in the Rio Grande Valley
The Museum of South Texas History (“MOSTHistory”), a museum chronicling the heritage of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico, welcomes Dr. Joe Chance, who will present a historical program, “The Man and the Myth”, about one of the Valley’s most controversial figures: Dr. Alexander M. Headley Nov. 29 at 2 p.m.
In “The Man and the Myth”, Chance – himself a well-known amateur South Texas historian and author – draws upon his own knowledge about Dr. Headley, and upon the research of Headley’s grandson, the late George Edgerton of Rio Grande City. Over many years, Edgerton sought to establish his grandfather’s legacy as that of a respectable man, instead of the villain as historians have often portrayed him.
In Chance’s half-hour presentation, attendees will hear more about Dr. Headley’s time in the Rio Grande Valley from 1880 until his death in 1912. Some historians have denounced Dr. Headley as a villain for leading several armed rebellions against political rivals in the border communities of Camargo and Rio Grande City. Although many fought and died alongside Dr. Headley in those rebellions, many also survived under his care during the yellow fever epidemic of 1882-1883 in Camargo.
Chance is a retired professor of mathematics and the author of several books about Valley History.
Visit the museum to learn more about Dr. Headley and his illustrious life in the Rio Grande Valley and northeastern Mexico in MOSTHistory’s Courtyard Gallery Sunday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. Sunday Speakers Series is included in the fee of regular museum admission. FRIENDS of the Museum are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship.
This program is made possible with generous support from the Carmen C. Guerra Endowment. Mrs. Guerra was deeply committed to supporting educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley. This named endowment was created at the museum by her family to honor her memory and to continue her commitment to providing opportunities for education to the community.
About Museum of South Texas History
The Museum of South Texas History is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is located in downtown Edinburg at 200 N. Closner Blvd. on the Hidalgo County Courthouse square. Hours of operation are from 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday. Founded in 1967 as the Hidalgo County Historical Museum in the 1910 Hidalgo County Jail, the museum has grown over the decades through a series of expansions to occupy a full city block. In 2003 following the completion of a 22,500 square foot expansion, the museum was renamed the Museum of South Texas History to better reflect its regional scope. Today, the museum preserves and presents the borderland heritage of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico through its permanent collection and the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives and exhibits spanning prehistory through the 20th century. For more information about MOSTHistory, including becoming a FRIEND, visit MOSTHistory.org, like us on Facebook, follow on Twitter, connect on LinkedIn, find on Google+ or call +1-956-383-6911.
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