Major and Minor Fields

Elissa Branum

Elissa’s tips for new researchers: 
“Use apps like Camscanner or TurboScan that can turn images to PDFs. Don’t be afraid to ask archivists for help!”

Elissa’s research examines race, gender, and law on evangelical higher education campuses in Arkansas and Texas from 1845 to 1969.
What libraries, archives, or sites do you plan to visit in summer 2025 for your research?
Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives, Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, Mary Couts Burnett Library of Texas Christian University and Harrison County Museum.
What documents/artifacts are you hoping to examine during this archival research?
Students at Texas Christian University in the late 1930s who protested segregation were accused of communist behavior and investigated by South Texas Congressman Martin Dies. Dies was the first chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee, and at the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, where Dies materials are stored, I theorize that I will find records related to this investigation. Because some of these students were gay, this represents a much earlier example of the Lavender Scare than previously documented.

Read more: Elissa Branum