Texas State Historical Association at UNT names executive director

DENTON (UNT), Texas — J. Kent Calder, director of Arizona State University's Scholarly Publishing Program, has been named the executive director of the Texas State Historical Association, which will be housed at the University of North Texas' Denton campus beginning this fall.

Calder, who was selected after a national search, will begin his full-time position July 1. As executive director, he will be responsible for representing the association at public and governmental functions, managing its personnel, leading strategic planning and other initiatives of the Board of Directors and developing and implementing the association's annual budget and fund raising activities.

Founded on March 2, 1897, on the 61st anniversary of the Texas Declaration of Independence, TSHA is considered in academic circles as one of the nation's most dynamic regional history organizations, with a mission of furthering the appreciation, understanding and teaching of the unique history of Texas. In January, the TSHA announced that it had chosen UNT as its new home, based on the UNT Department of History's commitment to teaching and research of Texas history and on UNT's extensive library holdings. The TSHA Press, which is the state's oldest publisher, will seek opportunities to collaborate with the UNT Press, which has Texas history as one of its core thematic areas.

Calder, a Fort Worth native, was the TSHA's director of publications from 2003 to 2006 before being hired by ASU. He said he is honored to be chosen by the Board of Directors to lead the TSHA as it moves to UNT.

"Along with a chance to work again with TSHA's talented staff, the connection with UNT is a big reason why I'm returning," he said. "It feels good to be coming home to Texas and have TSHA associated with a university that cares so much about Texas history. UNT provides a solid foundation for building a bright future for TSHA."

Calder said he is familiar with the UNT Department of History because he worked with faculty members as TSHA's director of publications.

His son, Clay Calder, is a 2006 UNT graduate. In addition, his wife, Tara Carlisle, received her master's degree in art history from UNT in 1996 and her master's degree in information science from the university in 1998. She was also employed by UNT Libraries. 

Calder said he is looking forward to working with the Board of Directors and with Dr. Mike Campbell, UNT Regents Professor of history and editor of the association's journal, Southwestern Historical Quarterly. Calder was a managing editor for the publication.

Fran Vick, TSHA president, said Calder "brings a lot of enthusiasm and a wealth of knowledge" to his new position, after holding management positions with the Indiana and Wisconsin Historical Societies. 

"He knows other state associations, but he also knows TSHA. We're thrilled to death to have him," Vick said.

In addition to his work on Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Calder has edited the journals Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History and Wisconsin Magazine of History. He currently edits the journal Documentary Editing for the Association for Documentary Editing and serves on the editorial board and program committee for the American Association for State and Local History.

He received his bachelor's degree in English from the University of Texas at Arlington and master's degree in history and political science from Butler University in Indianapolis. He received additional education at the Seminar for Historical Administration in Williamsburg, Va., and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission Institute for Editing Historical Documents, held in Madison, Wis.

The University of North Texas is a student-centered public research university and the flagship of the UNT System. One of Texas' largest universities, UNT offers 96 bachelor's, 111 master's and 50 doctoral degree programs, many nationally and internationally recognized. UNT's more than 34,000 students Discover the Power of Ideas.