The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 84, July 1980 - April, 1981 Page: 84
502 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Churches in Luling, originated the idea of bringing this important
document to Texas. In addition to Luling, the Magna Carta was also
displayed at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library on the University of
Texas campus; at the Institute of Texan Cultures and the Texas Mili-
tary Institute in San Antonio; at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church
in Houston; and at Thanksgiving Square and Belo Mansion in Dallas.
More than 5,000 visitors a day filed past the exhibit while it was at the
Johnson Library. Reverend Greene commented that the visits offered
"a rare educational opportunity for all Texans, really a reaffirmation
of faith in our freedom and liberties."
A pictorial display accompanied the Magna Carta. It included
chronological charts linking the document to the United States, to the
Remiguis Charter sealed by William the Conqueror establishing the
bishopric at Lincoln, and an illustrative history of the nine-hundred-
year-old Lincoln Cathedral.
The Magna Carta has been displayed in the United States on two
other occasions: the New York World's Fair in 1939 and in 1976 in
California. During World War II it was placed in Fort Knox for safe-
keeping.
Kenneth Ragsdale is a man who can spot a winner. A number of
years ago when he used to write the Riding Line (a newsletter that the
Association published for a few years), he was always gathering material
for "profiles" of interesting individuals. Well, the Association ceased
publication of Riding Line before Ken's profile of Ben E. Pingenot was
published, but now we are able to reveal to you what Ken filed away
some years ago.
Ben is, of course, the new president of TSHA, and a more qualified
or more deserving person would be difficult to find. I suppose just
about everyone in Eagle Pass knows Mr. Ben. He is an historian, au-
thor, collector, businessman, teacher, civic leader, and humanitarian.
He took his bachelor's degree at Texas College of Arts and Industries
(now Texas A & I University) three decades ago, and began a teaching
career at the high school in Eagle Pass.
In 1949 Eagle Pass had celebrated its centennial, and the event
sparked a great deal of interest in the community and its environs. Ben
was affected by that event and he began a systematic effort to learn more
about Eagle Pass. He explains:
This soon led to a need to acquire out-of-print books in order to fill his-
torical gaps and chinks that continually appeared. I found book buying84
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 84, July 1980 - April, 1981, periodical, 1980/1981; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101225/m1/104/: accessed May 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.