Explore Texas History Books by Dr. Jody Edward Ginn in Woodway, TX

East Texas Troubles 

https://www.ktre.com/2019/08/01/san-augustine-hosts-book-signing-author-detailing-history-criminal-gang-racial-segregation-s/

https://academic.oup.com/jah/article-abstract/108/1/193/6295218

"That Texas was a lawless, violent place in the early twentieth century is not surprising.... State law enforcement was only as good as the gubernatorial administration in power, meaning that corruption, more often than not, ran rampant. Jody Edward Ginn tells a more surprising story, revealing an exception that historians must contemplate. By exploiting the mores of Jim Crow Texas, the McClanahan-Burleson criminal gang had dominated economic and social relations in San Augustine County in east Texas since the mid-1920s. Composed of white criminals, this particular gang robbed blacks at will, extorted and bribed whites and blacks to maintain their control, and even murdered those who stood in their way. Corruption in the gubernatorial administration of Miriam A. Ferguson enabled the lawlessness because members of McClanahan-Burleson gang held commissions in the Texas Rangers. Local law enforcement did nothing to squelch the criminal activity, because of fear of retribution and through complicity in the misdeeds." Journal of American History


Palmito Ranch BaTTLEFIELD

Dr. Ginn and William McWhorter's collaboration, Palmito Ranch: From Civil War Battlefield to National Historic Landmark, provides both cutting-edge research which boosts the National Historic Landmark Site's significance and documents the process to preserve and promote the site in the more than 150 years since those events occured.


https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781623496364/palmito-ranch/


While most famous as the site of the last land battle of the Civil War in May 1865, Palmito Ranch was actually the site of two (2) Civil War battles, including a much larger battle in August-September 1864. Both battles were won by Texas Confederate troops under command of Col. John Salmon “Rip” Ford. 


The First Battle of Palmito Ranch was not only a larger and longer engagement than the “last battle,” it was the ONLY Civil War battle to involve foreign troops on US/Confederate soil. Mexican troops in service to Juan Cortina crossed over the Rio Grande and joined Union forces during the first battle - and were captured after the Confederates won.


The Palmito Ranch Battlefield National Historic Landmark Site is partially owned and maintained by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) https://thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/palmito-ranch-battlefield, with 90% owned by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (see attached map). 


Compared to other Confederate states, Texas escaped most of the destruction of the Civil War and therefore has few historical sites associated with that conflict. 


That, along with the significance of Cortina’s involvement in the first battle, and as the site of the last battle, makes the Palmito Ranch National Historic Landmark Site a particularly rare and unique historic site worthy of preservation and continued education. 

Discover Dr. Ginn’s Books on Texas History!

Explore the fascinating world of Texas history through the insightful books written by Dr. Jody Edward Ginn. Ready to learn more? Contact Dr. Ginn in Woodway, TX, at 512-410-8428 and uncover the stories that shaped the Lone Star State!