UTA Libraries opens access to Texas history journal
UTA Libraries has partnered with the Alliance for Texas History—a new historical association committed to expanding public access to historical research—to help launch the Alliance’s inaugural publication, Journal of Texas History, through the MavMatrix platform.
MavMatrix is a comprehensive digital research environment designed to showcase the scholarly work of UTA and its partners. The platform offers seamless open-access publishing and digital archiving capabilities, making academic content accessible to readers anywhere with an internet connection.
"MavMatrix offers a user-friendly platform that supports transparency, discoverability and engagement," said Vanessa Garrett, digital publishing librarian in UTA Libraries’ Open Educational Resources and Digital Scholarship Department. "This journal is a perfect example of how the platform enables broad public access to quality research."
The peer-reviewed journal is a key part of the Alliance for Texas History's broader mission: helping to connect people through thoughtful, accurate storytelling grounded in historical research. The Alliance saw UTA Libraries as a natural partner because of its commitment to public access.
"From our first meeting, it was clear our goals aligned," Garrett said. "The Alliance was looking for a platform that made research available to the public, and that’s at the heart of what we do at UTA Libraries."
The Journal of Texas History features three articles and five book reviews, with topics ranging from sanitation conditions in Texas migrant farmworker camps to cultural diplomacy during the Pan-American movement.
"These stories provide a deeper understanding of the forces that shaped Texas, not just politically, but culturally and socially," said Gary Pinkerton, executive director of the Alliance for Texas History. "Our goal is to go beyond textbooks and talk to the public in ways they can connect with."
To view the Journal of Texas History, follow the link here. Visit the Alliance for Texas History’s website to learn more about the organization or become a member.
- Written by Andrew Branca, UTA Libraries
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.