Our History, Our Diversity Lecture Series

Next Lecture: March 3, 2022 @ 7:00pm
Exhibit gallery at the Fort Bend Museum | 410 S. Fifth Street, Richmond, Tx 77469

Speaker: Dr. Erin Baumgartner, demographer at Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research
​
Topic: Dr. Baumgartner will provide a wide-ranging overview of diversity in our county, looking at the people and groups who have settled here and what has drawn them here.

This series is in-person and FREE to the public.
​Underwritten by Reliant Energy.  *RSVP below.
"Our History, Our Diversity" is a monthly speaker series that launches on March 3, 2022 at 7 p.m. in our revitalized museum gallery and event space.  The series is designed to elevate, celebrate, and illuminate the people of Fort Bend County.

    Our History, Our Diversity RSVP

Past Lectures

HerStory Lecture

The Fort Bend Museum shares the legacies of 10 female pioneers, activists, humanitarians and trailblazers in Fort Bend County history.

You can also support our programming with a general donation:

Lectures Available Upon Request

We offer a variety of lectures to organizations and clubs - in-person or virtually - free of charge.  Below is a list of traditional and unconventional topics presented by our staff.  To inquire about a lecture, please contact us at 281-342-6478.

Fort Bend County and the People Who Made It Great
​(Part One)

​If “a place is only as good as the people in it,” then there’s a reason Fort Bend County is one of the best communities in the state! Discover the county’s history through the lives of the people who shaped its beginnings, including Jane Long, Stephen F. Austin, Erastus “Deaf” Smith, William Ryon, B.F. Terry, Robert Bassett and more!

The Witch and What Goes Bump in the Night
​(October Series)

The Witch & What Goes Bump in the Night explores the history of the witch, cultural variations of the boogeyman and legends such as the tale of La Llorona.

The Blue Ridge Murder Trial

​“A man entered Blue Ridge State Bank at Hobby, 12 miles south of Houston, Texas, yesterday, beat the cashier, Robert L. Kirby, to death, and escaped with all the money in the bank except $10.” – Quebec Telegraph, Feb. 16, 1921
Delve into the details surrounding Fort Bend County’s sensational “Blue Ridge Murder” case. This case pitted two childhood friends against each other in court and was one of the first cases in the area to use fingerprint evidence to convict a man.

Omens & Superstitions
(October Series)

Why is it bad luck to open an umbrella indoors?  Learn the origins of some of the most well-known and obscure omens and superstitions across several cultures.

The Moore Family: A Perennial Tradition 

This flora focused presentation is perfect for your next Garden Club meeting! Join us as we learn the Moore family with a special focus on the women that called our historic house a home. Their love of plants and flowers inspired them become founding members of the Richmond Garden Club and beautify their beloved hometown. The presentation will also include rare home videos of the beautiful Moore Home grounds and gardens.

Tea Party Series 

The Fort Bend Museum hosts virtual tea parties and would love for you to attend! Join us for stimulating conversation around a variety of Victorian tea-related topics!
  • Origins of the Tea Party & Etiquette 
  • Dress to Impress – Victorian Fashion and Accessories
  • What’s in the Leaves? Fortune Telling & other Parlor Games ​

Suffrajitzuing Their Way to the Vote

Learn about the women and events that ultimately led to the 19th amendment. 

The Flapper and the Sexual Revolution
​(Taboo Topic Series)  

​During the 1920s a new woman began to emerge, the flapper! Not only did she cut her hair, but she also raised her hemline, lived in the city, worked outside the home, rejected social expectations, and even voted! Women of the 1920s challenged the boundaries between the sexes and sought emancipation through sexual liberation. Please join us as we explore this exciting taboo, topic!

The Under-told History of Hispanic Texans
(Taboo  Topic Series)

​From the Tejano to the Chicano, delve into the contributions of Hispanic Texans from the beginning of Texas colonization. Learn about the individuals who garnered national attention, fought for social change and became history-makers in Fort Bend County!

Draped in Black: Victorian Mourning & Spiritualism

​During the Victorian period, mourning was embraced as a way of life that impacted how people dressed, behaved in society, and even decorated their homes. This lecture will explore the role death played in shaping Victorian culture and the fascination and efforts to contact the dearly departed beyond the grave. Join us as we explore this macabre, but fascinating, topic. 

Texian Time Machine Programs and
​Characters – Texas Revolution

It’s time travel without the travel: Since 2003, the Texian Time Machine has been taking the living history experience to schools in the Houston area, giving students an out-of-the-textbook, hands-on look at history. Learn the details behind how the program was inspired and created – plus, discover current characters and rotations and fun changes coming with the program’s growth!

Trains and Start and Growth of Rosenberg

When was the steam engine developed?  Where were the first train tracks laid in Texas?  Why is Rosenberg built so close to Richmond?  All of these questions and more will be answered as we delve into the history of the railroad, the railroad in Texas, and how it all ties up in the history of Rosenberg.

Science in the Time of Texas Colonization

Learn about what was considered cutting edge science starting in the year 1824, when the first official land grant was issued to an Anglo settler in Texas.  Track the story of the optical illusion toy along the story of Texas.

Unraveling Thread Through Time

Learn about the history of fiber craft through time!