David J. Weber
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David Joseph Weber (December 20, 1940 – August 20, 2010) was an American historian whose research focused on the history of the
Southwestern U.S. The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southwest or simply the Southwest, is a geographic and cultural region of the United States that includes Arizona and New Mexico, along with adjacent portions of California, Colorado, N ...
and its transition from
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...
and
Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
control to becoming part of the United States. For a period of time, this field of study had largely been ignored, as both United States and Latin American historians concentrated on the central stories in their fields. He "was among the first scholars to focus on the importance of the relationship between Mexico and the United States." At
Southern Methodist University Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a Private university, private research university in Dallas, Texas, United States, with a satellite campus in Taos County, New Mexico. SMU was founded on April 17, 1911, by the Methodist Episcopal Church, ...
, Weber established the William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies and later was chair of the history department. His books won history awards, he was among the leaders in scholarship of the borderlands of the Southwest, and he received awards from the governments of both Spain and Mexico for his work.


Early life

David Weber was the oldest child of Theodore Carl Weber and Frances Jean; he had two younger brothers and a sister.de la Teja (2013), p. 262.de la Teja (2013), p. 263. He was born on December 20, 1940, in
Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...
and raised in nearby
Cheektowaga Cheektowaga (; ) is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town has grown to a population of 89,877. The town is in the north-central part of the county, and is an inner ring suburb of Buffalo. The town is t ...
. After several years of Catholic school, Weber finished his education in local public schools. He graduated from Maryvale High School in 1958. During his high school education, Weber lettered in track, basketball, and tennis and was also a member of the school band. Although he was offered a full scholarship for track to
Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...
, Weber chose not to pursue further competition in the sport. He attended the
State University of New York at Fredonia The State University of New York at Fredonia (alternatively SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia State, or Fredonia) is a public university in Fredonia, New York. It is the westernmost member of the State University of New York. Founded in 1826, it is the six ...
, where he initially planned to major in music. A course in the
History of Latin America The term ''Latin America'' originated in the 1830s, primarily through Michel Chevalier, who proposed the region could ally with "Latin Europe" against other European cultures. It primarily refers to the French, Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking cou ...
led him in a different direction, and he graduated in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in social sciences. Shortly after graduation, he married Carol, a woman he had met at a band competition during high school.de la Teja (2013), p. 264. Weber knew he wanted to pursue a master's degree in either history or English. His professor Marvin D. Bernstein suggested that he consider pursuing a master's and doctorate in Latin American history. Bernstein helped Weber choose an appropriate university; both were concerned that the larger universities with specialties in Latin American history (such as the
University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public university, 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 stud ...
or
University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...
) might be too large for someone from such a small town. Weber chose the
University of New Mexico The University of New Mexico (UNM; ) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1889 by the New Mexico Territorial Legislature, it is the state's second oldest university, a flagship university in th ...
. Weber was the first recipient of the
JFK Scholarship John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until Assassination of John F. Kennedy, his assassination in 1963. He was the first Catholic Chur ...
, which he was personally presented by
Edward Kennedy Edward Moore Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009) was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts who served as a member of the United States Senate from 1962 to his death in 2009. A member of the Democratic Party and ...
. Weber also played in a band to earn money while in school. During the first year of his graduate work, his in-laws also sent the couple money. The couple welcomed their first child, Scott, in December 1964. Weber earned a master's degree in 1964 and a doctorate in 1967, with the dissertation ''The Taos Trappers: The Fur Trade in the Far Southwest, 1540-1846''.Grimes, William
"David Weber, Southwest Expert, Dies at 69"
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', August 27, 2010. Accessed September 7, 2010.
The dissertation topic was suggested by his mentor, Donald Cutter, who specialized in history of the Spanish borderlands. By the time he completed his doctorate, Weber had already edited two works for publication and had three articles published in historical journals.de la Teja (2013), p. 265. Shortly after his graduation, the couple's second child, Amy, was born.


Career

Weber joined the faculty of
San Diego State University San Diego State University (SDSU) is a Public university, public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CS ...
in 1967 and taught at the
Universidad de Costa Rica The University of Costa Rica (Spanish: ''Universidad de Costa Rica,'' abbreviated UCR) is a public university in the Republic of Costa Rica, in Central America. Its main campus, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio, is located in San Pedro, Co ...
in 1970, lecturing in Spanish, as part of the
Fulbright Program The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States cultural exchange programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people ...
.David J. Weber
, Clements Center for Southwest Studies at
Southern Methodist University Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a Private university, private research university in Dallas, Texas, United States, with a satellite campus in Taos County, New Mexico. SMU was founded on April 17, 1911, by the Methodist Episcopal Church, ...
. Accessed September 7, 2010.
In 1973, he was promoted to full professor at San Diego State. Unhappy with his teaching load, Weber began looking for other opportunities. In 1976 Weber accepted a position at
Southern Methodist University Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a Private university, private research university in Dallas, Texas, United States, with a satellite campus in Taos County, New Mexico. SMU was founded on April 17, 1911, by the Methodist Episcopal Church, ...
, where he established the William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies. He later became chair of the history department.de la Teja (2013), p. 270. In 1986, Weber relinquished his duties as department chair. For the next year, he served as a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at
Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
. He returned to SMU the next year, as the first Robert H. and Nancy Dedman Chair in History.de la Teja (2013), p. 272. Among the more than 20 books he authored on the subject, his books '' The Mexican Frontier, 1821-1846: The American Southwest Under Mexico'' (1982), Barbáros: Spaniards and their Savages in the Age of Enlightenment (2008), and '' The Spanish Frontier in North America'' (1992), documented and explored elements about the Spanish conquest,
Indios Bárbaros Indios Bárbaros was a term used by Spanish colonists in New Spain during the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries to describe Indigenous peoples who resisted conversion and colonisation on the frontiers of Spanish imperial possessions in the Ameri ...
, and its effects on Native Americans. Weber also explored the growth of the English-speaking population (generally migrants from the United States) in areas that would later become parts of the United States. Historian Jesus de la Teja described Weber's ''The Mexican Frontier'' as "a game changer in the field of the history of the Southwest".de la Teja (2013), p. 267. The book was reprinted in Spanish and published in Mexico and Spain. As of 2013, it was still in print.


Death

Weber continued to teach and advise students while dealing with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, teaching classes through the spring 2010 semester.Simnacher, Joe
"David J. Weber: SMU history professor among first to focus on importance of Mexico to U.S."
''
The Dallas Morning News ''The Dallas Morning News'' is a daily newspaper serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas, with an average print circulation in 2022 of 65,369. It was founded on October 1, 1885, by Alfred Horatio Belo as a satellite publication of the ' ...
'', August 28, 2010. Accessed September 7, 2010.
Weber died due to complications of
multiple myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibody, antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone ...
, aged 69, on August 20, 2010, in
Gallup, New Mexico Gallup is a city in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States, with a population of 21,899 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. A substantial percentage of its population is Native Americans in the United States, Native American, wi ...
. He was survived by his wife, a daughter, a son and three grandchildren.


Reception and awards

''The Mexican Frontier'' won the
Ray Allen Billington Prize The Ray Allen Billington Prize is given biennially by the Organization of American Historians (OAH) for the best book about American frontier history. The "American frontier" includes all of North and South America, all post-1492 pioneer experiences ...
from the
Organization of American Historians The Organization of American Historians (OAH), formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. OAH's members in the U.S. and abroad incl ...
in 1983, the Westerners International Co-Founders Book Award for best nonfiction of 1982, and the 1982 history Award from the Border Regional Library Association. It also won the Presidio La Bahia Award from the Sons of the Texas Republic. ''Spanish Frontier'' won the Carr P. Collins Award from the Texas Institute of Letters for best nonfiction book of 1992. The book also received the ''Premio Espana y America'' award from the Spanish Ministry of Culture.de la Teja (2013), p. 273. His final book, ''Barbaros'' won the John E. Fagg Prize in 2006 from the
American Historical Association The American Historical Association (AHA) is the oldest professional association of historians in the United States and the largest such organization in the world, claiming over 10,000 members. Founded in 1884, AHA works to protect academic free ...
.de la Teja (2013), p. 280. William J. Cronon of the
University of Wisconsin, Madison A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Univ ...
called him "probably the single most important scholar of Spanish borderland history in North America in the second half of the 20th century", saying that "There is no one to compare with him in terms of original scholarship or sweeping synthesis." Benjamin Johnson of SMU said that "he was at least a generation ahead of his time in recognizing how entwined Mexico and the United States were and are". De la Teja held ''The Mexican Frontier'' as "the seminal study that confirmed Weber's status as the leading representative of a new kind of borderlands history." Weber was recognized by the Spanish government with the
Order of Isabella the Catholic The Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (; Abbreviation, Abbr.: OYC) is a knighthood and one of the three preeminent Order of merit, orders of merit bestowed by the Kingdom of Spain, alongside the Order of Charles III (established in 1771) and ...
in 2002, and by the Mexican government with the
Order of the Aztec Eagle The Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle () forms part of the Mexican Honors System and is the highest Mexican order awarded to foreigners. History It was created by decree on December 29, 1933, by President Abelardo L. Rodríguez as a reward to ...
in 2005, the highest honor that each nation awards to foreigners. He was inducted as a fellow of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (The Academy) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and other ...
in 2007. Weber was one of few non-Mexicans to be inducted into the
Academia Mexicana de la Historia The Academia Mexicana de la Historia (''Mexican Academy of History'', also known by the acronym AMH), is a national academy in Mexico, which promotes history in Mexico. History While Antonio López de Santa Anna issued mandates to establish a Me ...
. He became a lifetime fellow of the
Texas State Historical Association The Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) is an American nonprofit educational and research organization dedicated to documenting the history of Texas. It was founded in Austin, Texas, United States, on March 2, 1897. In November 2008, the ...
in 1985, and became a member of the
Texas Institute of Letters The Texas Institute of Letters is a non-profit Honor Society founded by William Harvey Vann in 1936 to celebrate Texas literature and to recognize distinctive literary achievement. The TIL’s elected membership consists of the state’s most resp ...
in 1984. In 1990 and 1991, he served as president of the
Western History Association The Western History Association (WHA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1961 at Santa Fe, New Mexico by Ray Allen Billington, et al. Included in the field of study are the American West and western Canada. The Western History ...
.


Analysis

Although Weber was raised Catholic, his studies of the Catholic Church in Latin America disillusioned him. In ''The Mexican Frontier'', he was critical of Catholic efforts to settle the New World. By ''The Spanish Frontier'', he presented the church and religion in anthropological terms, an effort noted as "balanced" by a reviewer in the ''Catholic Southwest''. Weber was one of the first historians to incorporate the ''
Tejano Tejanos ( , ) are descendants of Texas Creoles and Mestizos who settled in Texas before its admission as an American state. The term is also sometimes applied to Texans of Mexican descent. Etymology The word ''Tejano'', with a ''J'' instead ...
'' perspective into an analysis of the
Texas Revolution The Texas Revolution (October 2, 1835 – April 21, 1836) was a rebellion of colonists from the United States and Tejanos (Hispanic Texans) against the Centralist Republic of Mexico, centralist government of Mexico in the Mexican state of ...
. Previous works had focused exclusively on the European-American settlers from the US in Texas and had failed to note that they were supported by many Mexican-born citizens. His work also, for the first time, linked the revolution with the settlers' dissatisfaction with the extremely unstable state of Mexican politics during that era.de la Teja (2013), p. 271.


References


Sources

*


Further reading

*Bakewell, Peter. "David J. Weber (1940-2010)". ''
Hispanic American Historical Review The ''Hispanic American Historical Review'' is a quarterly, peer-reviewed, scholarly journal of Latin American history, the official publication of the Conference on Latin American History, the professional organization of Latin American historia ...
'' vol. 92:3 (August 2011), pp. 531–533. * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Weber, David J. 1940 births 2010 deaths 20th-century American historians American male non-fiction writers 21st-century American historians 21st-century American male writers Deaths from cancer in New Mexico Deaths from multiple myeloma in the United States Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Writers from Buffalo, New York Recipients of the Order of Isabella the Catholic San Diego State University faculty Southern Methodist University faculty State University of New York at Fredonia alumni University of New Mexico alumni Historians of the American West People from Cheektowaga, New York Historians of the Texas Revolution Historians of Mexico Historians from New York (state) 20th-century American male writers