Annual Report ---------------.
L------------Fiscal Year 1990
---------------~
Annual Report for Fiscal Year 1990
This report summarizes an impressive variety and quantity of
Institute staff accomplishments and activities during fiscal year 1989-
1990. I urge you to peruse the report carefully so that you may gain an
appreciation of their talents.
We sponsored more public programs, with a wider variety of subject
matter. And it didn't just happen. The programs, in development for
several years, were designed for children, families, the general public,
and students and scholars. We were pleased to see people in impressive
numbers attending these programs, reflecting a level of interest which
encourages us to continue this effort in the future.
Although it can't be confirmed statistically beyond the increased
attendance figures below, I believe that we finally began to break the
information barrier this year. There truly seems to be a rising public
awareness of the Institute and its educational role . I believe that
excellent planning and comprehensive information and marketing
programs within the News and Information and Marketing Departments
deserve a great deal of credit for this. They've done an excellent job.
Because of these and other factors, and despite the continuing
weakness of the Texas economy, I am confident that the next few years
will see the Institute continue to reach more and more of its potential.
It certainly will do so with your continuing support.
John McGiffert
Executive Director
Summary of Institute Accomplishments
VISITATION AND OUTREACH
This year the Institute of Texan
Cultures shared the state's heritage
with 381,798 people, an increase
of 9.580/0 from the previous year.
School Tours 75,473
Adult Tours 29,434
General Public 118,852
Special Events 50,341
Texas Folklife Festival
(including participants) 106,698
In addition, educational
programs were taken to 71,013
people in schools and communities
throughout Texas.
Outreach to Communities
(adult groups) 8,737
Outreach to Schools 62,276
RESEARCH AND COLLECTIONS
The Research and Collections
Department conducted numerous
1
and varied projects in fIscal year
1989-1990, including exhibits,
publications, audiovisuals, and
special events.
A major new exhibit, The
Hungarians in Texas, opened in
November 1989. Programming
for this exhibit included a public
discussion, "Hungarian Immigration
to Texas," and a family activity day,
"Salute to Hungarians in Texas."
James Patrick McGuire, research
----------------------~
associate for this project, completed
the text for The Hungarian Texans,
a new book in The Texians and
the Texans series.
New exhibits continued to appear
on the exhibit floor. An exhibit
about shooting clubs was installed
in the German area. A buffalo-hide
tipi and a mural depicting Apache
life were added to the Indian area.
A new Texas relief map completed
the introductory area of the exhibit
floor. Dr. Gerald E. Poyo continued
research on renovation of the
Mexican and Spanish exhibit areas
and edited text for the publication
Tejano Origins in Eighteenth-Century
San Antonio.
Phyllis McKenzie, curator of
collections, assisted the City of San
Antonio in exhibiting San Antonio
artifacts in our sister city of
Kumamoto, Japan.
The Institute library grew in
stature as an archive for Texan
photos and research material. In a
concentrated effort to draw
photographic contributions from
the general public, the library held
photo copy clinics in New Sweden,
Goliad, Palm Valley, Pleasanton,
Floresville, and at the Institute.
The Research staff worked with
the Audiovisual Department to
produce videos about German
architecture, European folk
dancing, the Alabama-Coushatta
Indians, and Panna Maria, Texas.
Esther MacMillan continued
the "Small Town Texas" oral
history project. She also worked
with the City of San Antonio
Parks Department and the
Conservation Society to produce
accurate markers for the historic
buildings in HemisFair Park.
Three summer interns assisted
staff members and contract
researchers in studies on Mexican­American
material culture and
Arabic-speaking and Vietnamese
Texans. Research progressed on
the Alabama-Coushattas, the
Wendish Texans, Texas printer
Carl Hertzog, "Day of the Dead"
commemorations, and West Texas
adobe buildings.
In an ongoing effort to study
prehistoric settlement in the
region, Dr. Thomas Guderjan
completed an excavation at Cueva
Corbin, a rock shelter in Medina
County. Dr. Guderjan also
moderated the Institute symposium
"Texans in the Land of the Maya."
Fulbright Fellowship funding
enabled him to do basic
archaeological research in Belize.
Special events during the year
included "Bowie Street Blues"
during Fiesta, the Institute's first
"Texas Book Fair" in May, and
participation in the "Early Music
Festival." Symposiums were
presented on the topics
"Documenting Texas Communities"
and "Cultural Adaptation at the
Edge of the Spanish Empire."
A variety of special exhibits
occurred during 1989-1990, which
demonstrated the wide range of
Texas' ethnic and cultural life .
El Dia de los Muertos Of rend a
The Falcon Dam Story
Guerrero Viejo:
A Photographic Essay
Remember Me: Photographs from
a Black Family's Album
"Art Gives Us Wings" - Art from
the Bexar County Jail
Panna Maria: An Image of
Polish Texans
Cryin' for Daylight
The Jewish Art of Celebration
Rural Texas Women at Work
Susan Harwell, curator of
special exhibits, continues with
plans to produce a traveling
version of Remember Me:
Photographs from a Black
Family's Album.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
The Educational Programs
Department carried out the
mission of the Institute with a
full schedule of tours, outreach
programs, and public events
during the year. On the exhibit
floor, staff and docents handled a
25% increase in tours and a 16%
increase in total visitation. In
order to accommodate these
numbers, staff continued to give
2
both general and specialized
training to new Institute docents.
A one-room schoolhouse was
constructed on the "Back 40" in
July, compliments of the Colgate­Palmolive
Company, affording
much-needed additional space for
student participation. "Back 40"
program coordinator Mary Burchell
continued to expand both the
availability and programming of
this Institute resource in order to
schedule more student tours.
Educational outreach programs
touched the lives of more than
71,000 people in FY 1989-1990.
Tex-Kits made their way to schools
and community organizations,
colorfully presented by staff,
docents, and Ambassadors. The
Institute's ethnomusicologist, Jim
Fox, gave numerous performances,
and staff members Cindi Gonzales,
Penny Caldwell, and Ginna Frnka
made presentations to special
groups. In addition to managing
the usual bookings, Sandra Merrifield
coordinated an extensive program
for the Northeast Independent
School District's "Festival of
Families," which involved Tex­Kits,
a puppet show, "steer"
roping, and crafts.
Public programs continued to
entice visitors of all ages to the
Institute. Family days such as
"Spooky Sunday," "Pioneer
Sunday," "Holiday Traditions from
around the World," and "Celebrate
Jewish Texans" have established a
tradition of entertaining,
educational events. They were
supplemented by more specialized
programs such as an Indian Guide
"Pee-Wee Pow-Wow," a "Folklore
for Kids" camp, Archaeology
Awareness Week activities,
and the first of many Elderhostel
programs anticipated for the
Institute. Performances for
children were an integral
part of the citywide "Early
Music Festival."
Once again the Institute provided
training for fourth and seventh
grade Texas teachers at its annual
"Institute on Texas History and
-.
----------~-----------~
Culture" workshops, and classes
filled quickly. In addition, the staff
accepted the challenge of taking
the workshop on the road to El
Paso fourth grade teachers­testimony
to both the effectiveness
and popularity of these training
opportunities for teachers.
The Institute of Texan Cultures
has continued its cosponsorship
with UTSA of the Upward Bound
Program, which provides academic
instruction, tutoring, and counseling,
as well as social and cultural
support services for high school
students capable of succeeding in
higher education.
Special recognition was
bestowed on Department Director
Bonnie Truax by the Texas State
Historical Association, which
presented her with the "Leadership
in Educ.ation" award in May.
DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
The year was a productive one
for the Institute, marked in particular
by Development and Advisory
Board organization and increased
activity. By-laws were adopted,
committees formed, and assignments
made. Annual Fund, Long Range
Planning, Communications,
Nominating, and Endowments/
Major Gifts Committees began to
play active roles in supporting
the Institute.
The Development and Advisory
boards conducted the Institute's
first Annual Fund Campaign,
raising nearly $95,000 by
September 1, 1990. The Annual
Fund provides discretionary funds
primarily supporting projects and
programs such as the yearly
"Institute on Texas History and
Culture" workshops for fourth and
seventh grade teachers.
Nearly $600,000 in gifts and
grants, including gifts-in-kind, was
received in FY 1990, compared to
$442,000 in FY 1989. Although
the Annual Fund was the primary
revenue producer, other gifts
included:
Visitor Donations
Colgate Palmolive Co.
(new schoolhouse)
Associate Membership
Houston Endowment
Belize Archaeological
Project
Fiesta Music Affair
Carl Hertzog Project
Tejano Public
Discussion
Historical Photo
Traveling Exhibit
State Fair
$ 40,298
35,000
30,555
20,000
16,190
11,500
9,425
5,249
3,214
3,000
The major gift-in-kind was a
collection of historical photographs
from the San Antonia Express­News
with an estimated value
of $250,000.
The University of T~xas Board of
Regents formally established the
William Al"mour BaH ,Endowment,
its interest de;ignat~d. for
enhancement of the I?ioneer Area
of the Texas Folklife ,Festival.
The Ball Endowment brought
the number of endowments at
the Institute to four. Total
amounts donated by September 1,
1990, were: '
Cultural Heritage
Endowment $180,603
Maguire Outreach
Endowment 58,086
Maguire Alliance '. '
Endowment 23,590
William ./\rmour Ball
Endowment . 10,225
As part of The University of
Texas System, the Institute
receives state general revenue
appropriations. However, since
that support amounts to only 45%
of its total annual budget, the
Institute must raise and earn more
than 90% of program costs, 30% of
salaries, and 10% of utilities and
general upkeep funds to help
its people, publish books, produce
exhibits, and host seminars and
teacher workshops. Gifts, grants,
and donations continued to be a
major source of supporL
The Marketing Department of
the DevelopmenfDivis~o!l continued
to expand, Irlstitute~a.le§. and
promotion by participatj,ng in
programs with other San Antonio
3
attractions and tourism/hospitality
organizations. In addition, it
conducted a month-long State Fair
exhibition, a "Tex-Book" Fair in
May, educational and tourism
trade shows, and special traveling
exhibit and publication promotions.
The department also upgraded the
TFF kiosk operations and increased
advertising in tourism and
humanities trade publications.
A signage campaign was launched
which included public service
outdoor boards around the city;
HemisFair Park kiosk directionals
and special exhibit announcements;
and colorful downtown street
banners. Marketing efforts were
also devoted to the development
of a long-range prospectus for
promoting the Institute and its
products. As a result of these
efforts, traveling exhibit rentals
were up 19%, publication sales
were up 2%, and Texana Gift
Shop sales increased 19%.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS
The Institute receives the
generous support of a large
contingent of voluntyers who
serve both locally and statewide.
ALLIANCE
The Alliance enjoys the
reputation of being one of the
most successful volunteer
organizations in Texas. During
FY 1990 the volunteer staff
worked 53,580 hours in support
of paid staff, at a monetary value
of $535,800 to the Institute. There
were 423 active adult volunteers
and 16 teenaged volunteers. In
addition to donating their time,
they raised $1,060 for the Alliance
by selling popcorn at the annual
Texas Folklife Festival and an
additional $1,500 by offering their
services as exhibit floor interpreters
for outside events. Two primary
docent-training sessions were
conducted in FY 1990, qualifying
74 people as new volunteers.
Volunteers make many of the
Institute's programs possible. They
---------------------~
give tours on the exhibit floor and Texans increased their knowledge television interviews and coverage,
on the "Back 40," teach Texas about their state's ethnic and and solid active relations with
history in schools and throughout cultural history. local and statewide media. The
the community using Tex-Kits, and Institute enjoyed excellent media
perform hands-on activities for the coverage on numerous events,
public during special events. PRODUCTION I including the dedication of the
Volunteers also help Research and new one-room schoolhouse on the
Collections with the care of The Production staff was "Back 40" in July.
artifacts, catalog and protect the responsible for a wide variety of
photographic collection, maintain projects during FY 1989-1990,
fIles for the library, and facilitate ranging from the exhibit, "Art
the oral history program. Some Gives Us Wings" - Art from the
volunteers work in the Texana Bexar County Jail, to a videotape
Gift Store, at the information on Panna Maria, Texas, the oldest
desks, and in offices, handling Polish settlement in the United
clerical and secretarial States. Revisions continued in
responsibilities. They also several areas of the exhibit floor ,
represent the Institute at and work in the Hungarian area
conventions and at both local was nearly completed. The staff
and state events. worked with an outside
AMBASSADORS
Ambassadors continued to
benefIt both the Institute and their
own communities by providing
educational programs, products,
and services to Texans across the
state. By the end of the fIscal year,
a total of 229 Ambassadors were
giving their time and abilities to
extend the educational and
promotional outreach capabilities
of the Institute.
Ambassadors perform numerous
important tasks, all tailored to
their own talents and interests and
to the communities they serve.
They give Tex-Kit presentations,
distribute Institute and Texas
Folklife Festival promotional
materials, and make presentations
to countless organizations.
Additional oral histories, which
Ambassadors help conduct, now
enhance the collections of both the
Institute and of the libraries in
communities from which they
were gathered. Several of the
Heritage Tours were made more
interesting because of the
Ambassadors who served as
historical guides in the towns
visited. Thirty-three Ambassadors
attended the annual Ambassador
Appreciation Day held in June.
As Ambassadors continued to
increase in numbers and activities,
photographerlresearcher and
our own photo archivist to
produce companion exhibits
on Guerrero Viejo and the
Falcon Dam.
Eight exhibitions were also
produced for outside clients.
Junior Galvan, exhibits installation
supervisor, traveled to Kumamoto,
Japan, with the City of San Antonio
exhibit, prepared by our Research
Department and produced by
Production, to coordinate its
installation. Exhibitions were also
produced for The University of
Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
and The University of Texas
Health Center at Tyler.
Work progressed on three
books: The Swedish Texans, Texas
Rangers: Images and Incidents, and
a book for O. Scott Petty presenting
a memorial service for artist
John Groth.
NEWS AND INFORMATION I
The News and Information
Department provided support for
every exhibit, public program,
symposium, and special event,
including the Institute's biggest
production, the annual Texas
Folklife Festival held in August.
This support was composed of
press releases, public service
announcements, radio and
4
SPECIAL EVENTS
The 19th Annual Texas Folklife
Festival was enjoyed by 106,698
people who came to savor the rich
cultural diversity of Texas. The
Festival continued to provide
Texans with a special occasion in
which to celebrate their customs,
foods , crafts, and stories.
Dignitaries from around the
city attended the dedication of the
new one-room schoolhouse on the
"Back 40" in July. The building
was funded by the Colgate­Palmolive
Company. Other events,
such as "Bowie Street Blues," and
Grand Prix activities, brought
additional crowds to the Institute.
The Special Events Department
coordinated a host of events, from
lecture luncheons and seminars, to
public hearings and special
gatherings, which contributed a
signifIcant amount of revenue
towards Institute operations.
I
BUSINESS OFFICE
The Business Office of the
Institute was especially active in
FY 1989-1990. In addition to
providing general business support
to all departments and programs,
staff members acquired and
provided training on a
comprehensive new computer
system. Mike Lester and Anna
Arechiga continue to offer training
assistance to the staff. Two
purchasing workshops, presented
by Ruth Phillips, Minnie Collins,
and Robert Brodeur, offered
training to staff members involved
in any type of procurement.
A fInancial summary of fIscal
year 1990 is displayed on the
following page.
I
..-----FINANCIAL SUMMARY------.
3000000
1989-1990
2500000 Ea REVENUES
~ EXPENDITURES
2000000
1500000
1000000
50000
0
A B c D E F G
Annual Report for Fiscal Year 1990
Graph Data REVENUES EXPENDITURES
A State Appropriations $1,896,201 2,197,318
B Local Income $210,000 $0
C Sales and Services $422,039 $615,865
D TFF, Parking, Store $1,655,726 $1,598,230
E Voluntary Giving $292,544 $212,791
F Interest Income $90,640 $0
G Endowment Income $39,016 $50,962
~~}i~f~~S
r.o. Box 1226. San Antonio, Texas 78294
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
San Antonio, TX
Permit No. 364