
What we’re about
Austin, Texas History & Culture
A non-profit community organization.
Experience the history and culture of Austin, Texas - and the world!
Meetup:
https://www.Meetup.com/ATXHistoryAndCulture/
Eventbrite:
https://ATXHistoryAndCulture.Eventbrite.com
Facebook:
https://www.Facebook.com/ATXHistoryAndCulture/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TexasHistoryAndCulture
We look forward to seeing you. : )
Thanks!
Robert Kelleman
rkelleman@yahoo.com
202-821-6325 (text only)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkelleman/
Featured event

South Congress Walking Tour with The Salty Doughnut Before and/or After
South Congress Walking Tour with The Salty Doughnut Before and/or After
Saturday, January 3 - 10:00 am. All are welcome.
Meeting Point: In front of The Salty Doughnut: 2000 South Congress - Austin.
Meet people, see beautiful and historic Austin scenery, get some steps in, and have fun!
Join Robert, Michele, and a group of friendly people for a casual walk up and down South Congress Avenue (SoCo).
South Congress (abbreviated SoCo) is a neighborhood located on South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, United States. It is also a nationally known shopping and cultural district known for its many eclectic small retailers, restaurants, music and art venues and, more recently, food trucks.
South Congress begins at the Colorado River and Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge and runs due south towards Ben White Boulevard/TX-71. The area is bordered by two historic South Austin neighborhoods: Travis Heights to the east and Bouldin Creek to the west.
Since its humble beginnings in the 1850s, South Congress Avenue has been transformed from a rural country road to the capital city gateway and, finally, to the shopping district that it is today. Some Austinites attribute its enduring popularity to the unobstructed view of the Texas State Capitol.
***
Event Details ...
Cost: FREE for the guided walking tour. Doughnuts before and/or after at your own expense.
Weather: The event will take place light rain or shine. If it’s on our calendar then we’re proceeding as planned.
Parking: Many options throughout the area (free and paid). If driving, please arrive in the area several minutes early so that you have plenty of time to find parking and walk to our meeting point.
Meeting Point: 10:00 am in front of The Salty Doughnut: 2000 South Congress - Austin. Look for your hosts Robert (wearing a fedora-style hat) & Michele (also wearing a hat), along with a group of friendly people.
Before the Event: Socializing from 9:45 am - 10:10 am at The Salty Doughnut, and we’ll depart on our walk at approximately 10:10.
Icebreaker Introductions: We should have a good-sized group and so instead of everyone introducing themselves to the group we will get to know each other by distributing blank stickers and colored markers and we’ll invite everyone to write down on their sticker: 1). first name. 2). favorite food. 3). dream vacation. Example: “Michele - Strawberries - Kenya” or “Robert - Chocolate - Japan”.
Late Arrivals: If you arrive after our start time just catch up.
Itinerary - Subject to Change:
The Salty Doughnut (starting point)
South Congress Avenue (south to north – east side of the street)
South Congress Avenue (north to south – west side of the street)
The Salty Doughnut (ending point)
Walking Distance: Approximately two miles with a few short breaks for photos, hydration, rest, etc. along the way.
Ending Point: The Salty Doughnut (our starting point).
After the Event: To be determined. Lunch?
Additional Questions: Anything that can't be answered by the event description, Google, or common sense, please let us know.
***
Your host for this program is Robert Kelleman, the founder/director of the non-profit community organizations Texas History & Culture and Washington, DC History & Culture.
Texas History & Culture
A non-profit community organization
Experience the history and culture of Austin, Texas - and the world!
Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/AustinTexasHistoryAndCulture/
Eventbrite:
https://ATXHistoryAndCulture.Eventbrite.com
Facebook:
https://www.Facebook.com/ATXHistoryAndCulture/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TexasHistoryAndCulture/
We look forward to seeing you - thanks!
Robert Kelleman
rkelleman@yahoo.com
202-821-6325 (text only)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkelleman/
Photo credit:
https://www.atasteofkoko.com/visit-austin/south-congress-austin
Upcoming events
11
•OnlineFrank Sinatra's 110th Birthday Celebration - Music History Livestream
OnlineFrank Sinatra's 110th Birthday Celebration - Music History Livestream - Hosted by Robert Kelleman
It's Frank Sinatra's birthday, born December 12, 1915, so let's celebrate the musical legacy of Ol' Blue Eyes - The Chairman of the Board.
Our music history livestream program will play video selections from Frank Sinatra's best musical and film performances along with commentary on his fascinating life and career.
Music History Livestreams present noteworthy songs from featured artists along with the historical and cultural context of their music.
During and after our program you'll have the opportunity to discuss the music with your fellow participants via Zoom.
Frank Sinatra (December 12, 1915 - May 14, 1998) was an American singer, actor and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide.
Born to Italian immigrants in Hoboken, New Jersey, Sinatra began his musical career in the swing era with bandleaders Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. Sinatra then found success as a solo artist becoming the idol of the "bobby soxers".
Sinatra released a string of successful albums and was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards. Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base, he toured both within the United States and internationally until shortly before his death in 1998.
While Sinatra never learned how to read music, he worked very hard from a young age to improve his abilities in all aspects of music. A perfectionist, renowned for his dress sense and performing presence, he always insisted on recording live with his band. His bright blue eyes earned him the popular nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes".
Sinatra also forged a highly successful career as a film actor and led a colorful personal life, including turbulent affairs with many women.
Frank Sinatra continues to be seen as iconic figure in music, film and popular culture.
***
Zoom Connection Link
Click (or Copy and Paste) and Follow the Instructions:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81764605670?pwd=NmxDYThSSDh6QzdkUXJjZTBzelBaQT09
Meeting ID: 817 6460 5670
Passcode: 482534
Dial by your location
• +1 253 205 0468 US
Connecting a few minutes early is recommended.
If you experience any technical issues please restart your Zoom session and/or your device.
When all else fails please follow the directions.
***
Your host for this program is Robert Kelleman, the founder/director of the non-profit community organizations Texas History & Culture and Washington, DC History & Culture.
Texas History & Culture
A non-profit community organization.
Experience the history and culture of Texas - and the world!
Meetup - Austin:
https://www.meetup.com/AustinTexasHistoryAndCulture/
Meetup - Dallas-Fort Worth:
https://www.meetup.com/DallasFortWorthHistoryAndCulture/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TexasHistoryAndCulture/
Eventbrite:
https://TexasHistoryAndCulture.eventbrite.com
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TexasHistoryAndCulture/videos
Donations Support Our Non-Profit Community Programs - Thank You!
PayPal: DCHistoryAndCulture@gmail.com
Venmo: @DCHistoryAndCulture
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/d29491c0
We look forward to seeing you - thanks!
Robert Kelleman
rkelleman@yahoo.com
202-821-6325 (text only)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkelleman/103 attendees
UT-Austin Art, Architecture & History - FREE Guided Walking Tour
Blanton Museum of Art, University of Texas at Austin, MLK at Congress (200 East MLK), Austin, TX, USUT-Austin Art, Architecture & History - FREE Guided Walking Tour
Saturday, December 13 - 10:00 am. All are welcome.
Meeting Point: Medici Roasting - 2222B Guadalupe Street, Austin.
We invite you to join us for a FREE guided walking tour throughout the University of Texas at Austin. The focus of our tour will be the area’s incredible public art collection and interesting architecture. We’ll also visits sites connected to the 1966 University of Texas tower shooting. The tour will be at casual pace and will cover approximately 1.5 to 2.0 miles.
The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 students as of fall 2023, it is also the largest institution in the system.
The university is a major center for academic research, with research expenditures totaling $1.06 billion for the 2023 fiscal year. The university houses seven museums and seventeen libraries, including the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and the Blanton Museum of Art, and operates various auxiliary research facilities, such as the J. J. Pickle Research Campus and McDonald Observatory.
UT Austin's athletics constitute the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns have won four NCAA Division I National Football Championships, six NCAA Division I National Baseball Championships, thirteen NCAA Division I National Men's Swimming and Diving Championships, and the school has claimed more titles in men's and women's sports than any other member in the Big 12.
As of 2020, 13 Nobel Prize winners, 25 Pulitzer Prize winners, 3 Turing Award winners, 2 Fields Medal recipients, 2 Wolf Prize winners, and 3 Abel Prize winners have been affiliated with the school as alumni, faculty members, or researchers. The university has also been affiliated with three Primetime Emmy Award winners, and as of 2021, its students and alumni have earned a total of 155 Olympic medals.
The University of Texas tower shooting was an act of mass murder that occurred on August 1, 1966, at the University of Texas at Austin. The perpetrator, 25-year-old Marine veteran Charles Whitman, indiscriminately fired at members of the public, both within the Main Building tower and from the tower's observation deck. He shot and killed 15 people, including an unborn child, and injured 31 others before he was killed by two Austin Police Department officers approximately 96 minutes after first opening fire from the observation deck.
Prior to arriving at the University of Texas, Whitman had stabbed his mother and wife to death—in part to spare both women "the embarrassment" he believed his actions would cause them.
At the time, the University of Texas tower shooting was the deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in U.S. history.
***
Event Details ...
Cost: FREE.
Weather: The tour will take place light rain or shine. If it’s on our calendar then we’re proceeding as planned.
Parking: Many options (free and paid) throughout the area. Please arrive in the area several minutes early so that you have time to find parking and walk to our meeting point.
Before the Event: Socializing and icebreakers from 8:45 am - 9:00 am at Medici Roasting which has beverages, snacks, and a restroom.
Meeting Point: Medici Roasting - 2222B Guadalupe Street, Austin. Look for your hosts Robert (wearing a fedora-style hat) and Michele (also wearing a hat) along with a group of friendly people. We’ll depart on our walking tour at approximately 9:00 am.
Icebreaker Introductions: We should have a good-sized group so instead of everyone introducing themselves to the group we will get to know each other by distributing blank stickers and colored markers and we’ll ask everyone to write down on their sticker: 1). first name. 2). favorite food. 3). dream vacation. Example: “Michele - Strawberries - Kenya” or “Robert - Chocolate - Japan”.
Walking Distance: Approximately 1.5 to 2.0 miles.
Ending Point: Medici Roasters.
After the Event: To-be-determined. Lunch?
Additional Questions: Anything that can't be answered by the event description, Google, or common sense, please let us know.
***
Your host for this program is Robert Kelleman, the founder/director of the non-profit community organizations Texas History & Culture and Washington, DC History & Culture.
We look forward to seeing you - thanks!
Robert Kelleman
rkelleman@yahoo.com
202-821-6325 (text only)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkelleman/191 attendees
•OnlineEleanor Roosevelt - Birthday Celebration and Film History Livestream
OnlineEleanor Roosevelt - Birthday Celebration and Film History Livestream
Let's celebrate First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's 138th birthday - born October 11, 1884.
This is a special program where we'll explore Eleanor's fascinating life and inspiring career, and we'll do it through the context of the Eleanor Roosevelt PBS documentary "American Experience".
During and after the screening you are welcome to join your fellow participants in a live online discussion of the film via Zoom.
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
Eleanor Roosevelt struggled to overcome an unhappy childhood, betrayal in her marriage, a controlling mother-in-law, and gripping depressions — all the while staying true to her passion for social justice. This biography includes rare home movies, contemporary footage, and reflections from Eleanor’s closest surviving relatives, as well as biographers Blanche Wiesen Cook, Allida Black, and Geoffrey C. Ward, bringing to vibrant life one of the century’s most influential women.
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (October 11, 1884 - November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She served as the first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office, making her the longest-serving first lady of the United States. Roosevelt served as United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1945 to 1952. President Harry S. Truman later called her the "First Lady of the World" in tribute to her human rights achievements.
Roosevelt was a member of the prominent American Roosevelt and Livingston families and a niece of President Theodore Roosevelt. She married her fifth cousin once removed, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in 1905. She persuaded Franklin to stay in politics after he was stricken with a paralytic illness in 1921, which cost him the normal use of his legs, and began giving speeches and appearing at campaign events in his place. Following Franklin's election as Governor of New York in 1928, and throughout the remainder of Franklin's public career in government, Roosevelt regularly made public appearances on his behalf; and as First Lady, while her husband served as president, she significantly reshaped and redefined the role.
Though widely respected in her later years, Roosevelt was a controversial first lady at the time for her outspokenness. She was the first presidential spouse to hold regular press conferences, write a daily newspaper column, write a monthly magazine column, host a weekly radio show, and speak at a national party convention. On a few occasions, she publicly disagreed with her husband's policies. She advocated for expanded roles for women in the workplace, the civil rights of African Americans and Asian Americans, and the rights of World War II refugees. Following her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt remained active in politics for the remaining 17 years of her life. She pressed the United States to join and support the United Nations and became its first delegate. She served as the first chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights and oversaw the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. By the time of her death, Roosevelt was regarded as "one of the most esteemed women in the world"; The New York Times called her "the object of almost universal respect" in her obituary.
***
Zoom Connection Link
Click (or Copy and Paste) and Follow the Instructions:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89211545078?pwd=QnK9Dnttn7ndd8al8CCrpjTvmaafgB.1
Meeting ID: 892 1154 5078
Passcode: 154121
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,89211545078#,,,,*154121# US (Houston)
+16694449171,,89211545078#,,,,*154121# US
Join instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/89211545078/invitations?signature=DrW0NCrGSACuuidXBy0UJyvEIIAgGZuLdJf2K4H3uZ0
Connecting a few minutes early is recommended.
If you experience any technical issues please restart your Zoom session and/or your device.
When all else fails please follow the directions.
***
Your host for this program is Robert Kelleman, the founder/director of the non-profit community organizations Texas History & Culture and Washington, DC History & Culture.
Texas History & Culture
A non-profit community organization.
Experience the history and culture of Texas - and the world!
Meetup - Austin:
https://www.meetup.com/AustinTexasHistoryAndCulture/
Meetup - Dallas-Fort Worth:
https://www.meetup.com/DallasFortWorthHistoryAndCulture/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TexasHistoryAndCulture/
Eventbrite:
https://TexasHistoryAndCulture.eventbrite.com
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TexasHistoryAndCulture/videos
Donations Support Our FREE Non-Profit Community Programs - Thank You!
PayPal: DCHistoryAndCulture@gmail.com
Venmo: @DCHistoryAndCulture
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/d29491c0
We look forward to seeing you - thanks!
Robert Kelleman
rkelleman@yahoo.com
202-821-6325 (text only)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkelleman/107 attendees
•OnlineGeneral Douglas MacArthur (Gregory Peck) - Film History Livestream
OnlineMacArthur: Gregory Peck as General Douglas MacArthur - Film History Livestream - Hosted by Robert Kelleman
We’re remembering the 75th anniversary of the Korean War (1950-1953) and we invite you to join us for a film screening of the 1977 film “MacArthur” starring Gregory Peck as legendary general Douglas MacArthur.
The first portion of our program, approximately 15-20 minutes, will be a brief overview of the film, including its historical context, plot summary, things to look for, accuracy, etc.
The second portion of our program will be a full screening of the film.
During the screening we invite you to participate in a discussion of the film with your fellow participants via Zoom.
MacArthur
MacArthur is a 1977 American biographical war film directed by Joseph Sargent and starring Gregory Peck in the eponymous role as American General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.
The film portrays MacArthur's (Gregory Peck) life from 1942, before the Battle of Bataan in World War II, to 1952, after he had been removed from his Korean War command by President Harry Truman (Ed Flanders) for insubordination. It is recounted in flashback as MacArthur visits West Point in 1962.
Film Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sQHicTHlSw
Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880 – 5 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army. He served with distinction in World War I; as chief of staff of the United States Army from 1930 to 1935; as Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area, from 1942 to 1945 during WWII; as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers overseeing the occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1951; and as head of the United Nations Command in the Korean War from 1950 to 1951. MacArthur was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times, and awarded it for his WWII service in the Philippines. He is one of only five people to hold the rank of General of the Army, and the only person to hold the rank of Field Marshal in the Philippine Army.
***
Zoom Connection Link
Click (or Copy and Paste) and Follow the Instructions:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89211545078?pwd=QnK9Dnttn7ndd8al8CCrpjTvmaafgB.1
Meeting ID: 892 1154 5078
Passcode: 154121
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,89211545078#,,,,*154121# US (Houston)
+16694449171,,89211545078#,,,,*154121# US
Join instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/89211545078/invitations?signature=DrW0NCrGSACuuidXBy0UJyvEIIAgGZuLdJf2K4H3uZ0
Connecting a few minutes early is recommended.
If you experience any technical issues please restart your Zoom session and/or your device.
When all else fails please follow the directions.
***
Your host for this program is Robert Kelleman, the founder/director of the non-profit community organizations Texas History & Culture and Washington, DC History & Culture.
Texas History & Culture
A non-profit community organization.
Experience the history and culture of Texas - and the world!
Meetup - Austin:
https://www.meetup.com/AustinTexasHistoryAndCulture/
Meetup - Dallas-Fort Worth:
https://www.meetup.com/DallasFortWorthHistoryAndCulture/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TexasHistoryAndCulture/
Eventbrite:
https://TexasHistoryAndCulture.eventbrite.com
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TexasHistoryAndCulture/videos
Donations Support Our FREE Non-Profit Community Programs - Thank You!
PayPal: DCHistoryAndCulture@gmail.com
Venmo: @DCHistoryAndCulture
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/d29491c0
We look forward to seeing you - thanks!
Robert Kelleman
rkelleman@yahoo.com
202-821-6325 (text only)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkelleman/102 attendees
Past events
134

