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Post by tmdreb on Jun 9, 2007 21:07:23 GMT -5
I'm Phil Graf, I am from and continue to live in Houston. I use (ha!) my degree in History and Museum Studies in Quality Assurance at a title plant that does property research.
I am married and have a daugter who turned 1 back in February. My wife tolerates my hobbies of military history and reenacting, and my daughter's main interests are rocks and leaves, among other things.
My main area of historical interest is in material culture. I very much enjoy researching and reproducing historical clothing patterns and assembling them into garments. I've even sold a few. Though I am more familiar with the American Civil War, my childhood interest in the Alamo and the Texas Revolution has been resurrected and intensified over the past several years. For some reason known only to God, my main area of interest in this period is the uniforms, arms and equipage of the Mexican Army.
I do not have any published works on this or any other time period, and my only claim to related professional experience is the two weeks during one Christmas Break during college in 2000 when I worked in the San Jacinto Museum of History in the collections. I haven't visited there in awhile, but the Civil War cases in that museum did contain objects I selected for a few years thereafter. I've participated in several reenactments and living history interpretations at sites in and near Houston of this period since 2005.
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Post by jagjetta on Jun 11, 2007 13:10:15 GMT -5
From one Graf to another, Welcome Phil! John (Adams-)Graf (for those who wonder, I was born a Graf, married an Adams, divorced from the Adams but retained the name as a badge of valor )
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Post by Allen Wiener on Jun 11, 2007 20:21:50 GMT -5
I knew there was a reason why I never divorced. My wife already hyphenates her last name and the idea of going on to some later dimension makes me dizzy.
Welcome to both of you Grafs!
AW
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Post by tmdreb on Jun 11, 2007 23:20:06 GMT -5
Thank you, John and Allen!
Allen, it's good to see you again! John, we've never met in person or otherwise, but I know I've come across your name before when reading articles.
Thanks again to everyone for the welcome.
Phil
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Post by Doc Al on Jun 13, 2007 13:09:57 GMT -5
My name's Al Smith (yeah, I know . . .) and it's an honor to be here amongst so many knowledgeable and personable folks. I'm a retired English professor living in Norman, OK (yeah, I know about THAT too). My first and so far only visit to the Alamo was when I was six years old, and under the influence of Fess Parker I badgered my dad into making the long trek to San Antonio from northeastern Okieland. Of course, I don't remember squat, but I've been a big Alamo fan all my life, and I hope to make a visit down there soon to refresh my memory. I just have to say in closing that you guys are the greatest!
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Post by Jim Boylston on Jun 13, 2007 13:12:58 GMT -5
Welcome, Al. You'll have to get down to Bexar again one March. We all get together and have a big time! In the meantime, jump right in on the forum. Jim
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Post by kymw on Jul 3, 2007 10:31:06 GMT -5
Hello, Forum!
After reading all your introductions, I’m amazed Tom Kailbourn invited me to join. I’m honored! About two years ago I was helping my sister, the family genealogist, collect some information from the internet. One thing lead to another and I became hooked. I found not only did we have at least three ancestors who served in the Mexican War, but two of them left diaries/journals. This has lead to my research of the War with Mexico. I’m focusing primarily on the First Kentucky Mounted...what a wild bunch they were!
A little about me: I was in the Navy for 18 years as a dependent. Then I made my career in the Air Force, serving 26 years active duty. Prior to my military retirement, I managed to earn my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration going to night school. I’ve been married and divorced twice. Have a steady Hunk who’s been hanging around for nine years. My daughter received her PhD the same year I received my Bachelor’s, 1998. What’s wrong with that picture? And I have a granddaughter who will be one year old this month.
My interests are archeology, fishing, line-dancing, and travel. I’m fortunate to be living just outside of San Antonio. I frequent the Daughters of the Republic of Texas’s library which is on the Alamo grounds. Dr. Richard Bruce Winders is the Historian and Curator. If you’ve never been to this library, you’re really missing out. Not only does the library have all kinds of information about the Alamo and it’s history, but a wide collection on the Mexican War. They may also have Civil War information, I just haven’t looked.
Glad to meet you! I'll have a lot of questions.
Sandy “KYMW”
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Post by Jim Boylston on Jul 3, 2007 10:44:58 GMT -5
Glad to have you Sandy! Don't be a stranger. Jim
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Post by elcolorado on Jul 4, 2007 8:54:36 GMT -5
Sandy
From one Air Force retiree to another - Welcome Sister! I think you'll find this forum, as I have, a great place to discuss, discover, and learn (and re-learn) about the Alamo. The members here are very knowledgeable and will readily share their views and information with anyone who has a desire to better understand the battle of the Alamo and it's many elements. You'll enjoy chatting with the members...they are truly a terrific group of guys.
Glenn a.k.a. El Colorado
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Post by highplainsman on Aug 7, 2007 11:08:01 GMT -5
Hello evryone! Thanks Jim for your invitation to post over here! My name is Wallace Stalcup and in times past I have posted quite a bit on another site and many of you have posted there as well. First of all I have been kind of moseying around here for the last few days and I feel kind of out of place with folks that are so knowgeable. What a wealth of information you guys have and are sharing with us folks who have a love for all things Alamo but are only humble students! I am a sheriff in a rural county in the High Plains area of West Texas and was born and raised here and except for a couple of years in the US Army and about six years as a peace officer in other areas I have spent my life right here as a farmer and a Peace Officer. My interest in the Alamo started when I was a child. I can remember my parants speaking of the Alamo. I found one of the old "Comic History" books that was passed out in the schools back before the middle of the last century. The school librarys had books for youth about Houston, Crockett and Bowie that I read and by Junior High I had developed an avid interest when time came around to study Texas History. I was in high school by the time the Davy Crockett Disney style hit but that didn't keep me from watching it numerous times. I was a Young Adult when The Dukes version hit the big screen and it made a profound effect on me and I have watched more times than I can remember. Being an avid reader I pored over Lon Tinkles and John Myers Myers books. For a long time I veiwed anything else as revisionist and not "real history". Hancocks version came along and I stood ready to reject it altogether but found myself intrigued and with a rekindled interest have began reading other authors with a more open mind. I have much that has been written by folks that have posted here and on other sites and am becoming appreciative of the hard work that so many have put in to work at getting at least a glimmer of the truth about what occured not only on March 6th 1836 but what was occuring in that whole time frame. I am now looking forward to reading Stuart Reids book. I'm sure it is an excellent one. I am looking forward to reading what you guys have to say. Like Crockett said in his letter to his daughter " I am among Friends".
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Post by Allen Wiener on Aug 7, 2007 12:08:28 GMT -5
Welcome! Thanks for joining and for posting your Alamo background. Be sure to check out the lists of "essential Alamo books" that several of us have posted -- here's link: alamostudies.proboards58.com/index.cgi?board=alamohistory&action=display&thread=1178029031I highly recommend Stuart's book for a completely new look at the Texas Revolution from a different perspective. One thing's certain -- no matter how much we think we know about the Alamo, you can bet it's going to change. AW
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Post by highplainsman on Aug 8, 2007 10:31:00 GMT -5
I have three of the five listed and several others including Sleuthing the Alamo, I belive Crisp is the author and Gronmans Death of a Legend. Also have Thomas Ricks Lindleys book. The title escapes me at the moment.
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Post by michaelalamo on Aug 11, 2007 18:31:31 GMT -5
font=Verdana]Michaelalamo here. Some might know me as Mike Boldt from the John Wayne Tribute CD. Same guy. Thanks for rowing me aboard on the message board. Looks like a very distinguished group of posters...I hope I can add to the mix. Like most of us, I fell in love with the Alamo thanks to Uncle Walt. Wayne put the final spike in my coffin. My greatest pleasure has been making so many good friends though the years because of my interest in the Alamo. Right now I am working with Lee Pfieffer and Dave Worrell on an illustrated book on John Wayne's Alamo. I've been collecting Alamo stuff since 1969 and there is stuff in this book I've never seen. With Mark Lemon's incredible Alamo images book, it looks like there will be some great books coming out on the Alamo. Thanks for making me a part of the Alamo Studies Forum. Mike[/font]
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Post by Allen Wiener on Aug 11, 2007 20:17:28 GMT -5
Hi Mike! Welcome aboard! I had the pleasure of meeting you in New York when Bill hosted an Alamo Symposium at the historic Fraunces Tavern a few years ago. I was even luckier in that Bill awarded me a copy of your CD with songs from the Duke's movie, still a prized possession in my Alamo music/audio library. You also have my undying envy for having actually worked with my childhood hero, John Zacherley ("Zach" to the initiated and, boy, was I ever initiated back in the 50s). Hope to see you in Bexar one day.
AW
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Post by michaelalamo on Aug 11, 2007 21:57:54 GMT -5
Thanks Allen,. As Duke Wayne would say,"it's nice to be well thought of". Mike
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