THERE IS DEATH IN THE POT - The University of Texas at Arlington

support, collegiality, and humor. They along with my other faculty colleagues, Gary
Smith and Joy Summer-Smith, and our administrative assistant Marcia Cooper have
made the transition to teaching and to Baylor a delight. The Museum Studies department
shares space with the Mayborn Museum Complex. As a result, I have the gift of working
with an outstanding group of museum professionals. I appreciate the support and
friendship of Anita Benedict and Denise Seaman, in particular. I am especially grateful
to Tom Haddad for the thoughtfully designed monkey diorama he left on my desk during
a particularly stressful period. I know he did not act alone. I have benefitted as well
from my students in the MST program. Our discussions inside and outside the classroom
have shaped my thinking about this project and my development as a teacher and scholar.
One group of students in particular played an important role in my transformation from
museum administrator to teacher — Ca-Caw!
I appreciate the support I have received from my colleagues in other departments
at Baylor. In the history department, T. Michael Parrish and Stephen Sloan have
provided encouragement and advice. While working on this dissertation, I had the
opportunity to participate as a fellow in Baylor’s Summer Faculty Institute, a unique and
important opportunity to focus on my development as a teacher, scholar, and individual.
Tom Hanks and Lenore Wright and my colleagues in the SFI provided support and
friendship at a critical turning point in the writing of this dissertation.
I began this dissertation while working at the Pearce Civil War and Western Art
Museums at Navarro College. I appreciate the encouragement I received from Tommy
Stringer, Tim Kevil, Richard Sanchez, Kenneth Martin, and Cubie Ward. I also
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