The Center for East Texas Studies

Our Mission

The Texas Legislature has created a Center for East Texas Studies (CETS) at Stephen F. Austin State University in order to promote the study of all aspects of the East Texas area. The Center will provide services, programs, and resources to scholars, public schools, organizations, businesses, government entities, and others interested in the region. CETS seeks to become the focal point for innovative research, education, and preservation of the heritage of the East Texas region. In accomplishing these goals, the Center will act as a vehicle for region-specific grants and contracts which propose to research, edit, collect, exhibit, and distribute historical and cultural information on East Texas. To support such efforts, CETS has begun to inventory the materials available in the region, such as archival materials which are not indexed in digital databases, in order to support systematic access to research materials throughout the region.

A Call for Proposals

Consistent with the above stated purposes, the Center for East Texas Studies would like to announce a call for proposals for the summer and the fall of 1998. While the funds for this summer are very limited and will be designated for proposals contributing to the Center's initial database formations and summer workshops, the funds for next fall are more generous. In addition to in-house funds, the Center also stands ready to help applicants find outside funds for specific projects. Fundable projects include the following:

• Research focusing on some aspect of the history, culture, society, environment, or economy of East Texas.
• Acquisition and preservation of archival materials related to East Texas.
• Colloquia, symposia, conferences, and other forms of scholarly communication aimed at enhancing understanding of East Texas.
• Programs aimed at schools, businesses, governmental agencies or the general public intended to enhance public understanding of East Texas.

Funding for each project will not exceed $6,000. The usual amount of grants runs from $2-4,000. All grant funds must be expended no later than August 31, 1999.

Application Deadlines

Application Instructions
Application forms are available in the CETS office (Ferguson 340). Applications must be received in the CETS office no later than the stated deadline; if Departmental, College, or University Division approval is necessary, this approval must be completed by the application deadline listed above. Late applications will not receive consideration.

Completed applications will consist of the following:

• A completed CETS cover sheet;
• An abstract, a statement of purpose, and justification;
• A current curriculum vita or résumé, not to exceed three pages;
• Eight copies of the project proposal and cover sheet, prepared at individual or departmental expense.
  
  Applications will be reviewed by the Center's Executive Committee as soon as possible after the final submission dates.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should be associated with SFASU: faculty, staff, librarian, or graduate student. The recipient may not accept another concurrent grant for the same research. Recipients must make a final report about the project and any publications resulting from the grant must acknowledge the aid of CETS.

Help with Applying
Applicants are encouraged to discuss the nature of their research interest before submitting a proposal. If you need help or information about applying for a stipend, please contact Jere Jackson at the Center for East Texas Studies. By telephone: (409) 468-1392; by fax: (409) 468-2190; or by e-mail at CETS@SFASU.EDU