Greenville, Texas, October 19, 2025
News Summary
The 29th Annual Cotton & Rural History Conference is set to take place at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville, Texas. Attendees will enjoy a keynote address by a prominent historian and panel discussions featuring experts in the field. The conference aims to foster dialogue about the historical significance of rural and agricultural communities. Registration is required and includes lunch, with a deadline for reservations approaching soon.
Greenville, Texas
29th Annual Cotton & Rural History Conference set for October 25, 2025
The 29th Annual Cotton & Rural History Conference will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The event will be held at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville, Texas. Conference hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. The keynote speaker is Dr. James Bissett. Dr. Bissett will present on his book titled Agrarian Socialism in America: Marx, Jefferson and Jesus in the Oklahoma Countryside, 1904 – 1920.
Key logistical details
The program includes lunch for attendees. The registration fee is $20 per person. The deadline for reservations is October 21, 2025. For additional information or to register, individuals can call the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum at (903) 450-4502.
Speakers and panels
The conference will include a panel led by Jason Morgan, Board President of the Plano African American Museum. There will also be a public history panel featuring graduate students from East Texas A&M University’s history department.
Sponsorship and organizer information
The conference is sponsored by East Texas A&M University and the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum. The museum will host the event on its campus in Greenville and manage on-site registration beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Supporting details
Dr. James Bissett brings a long teaching career to the event program. Dr. Bissett retired as a Professor of History at Elon College in North Carolina in 2020. He began his teaching career at Elon in 1990 and served there for 30 years. His keynote focuses on agrarian politics and social movements in the early 20th century, with a particular emphasis on rural communities and the intersection of political theories and religious thought in Oklahoma between 1904 and 1920.
Panels at the conference are designed to offer a mix of scholarly and public history perspectives. Jason Morgan will lead a panel reflecting on African American rural history and museum work, while the public history panel made up of graduate students from East Texas A&M University’s history department will discuss methods and projects that engage local communities and archives.
Registration and attendance
Attendees should register in advance to secure a spot and a lunch. The registration process is managed through the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum; the deadline for reservations is noted above. On-site registration will open at 9:30 a.m. the day of the conference, with the program running from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Why this conference matters
The Cotton & Rural History Conference is a yearly gathering that brings together historians, museum professionals, students, and members of the public to discuss rural life, agricultural history, and the cultural forces that shaped cotton-producing regions. The program format—keynote followed by panel discussions—aims to provide historical context and practical approaches for public history work.
Background
The Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum hosts regional history events and partners with academic institutions to present public-facing programs. East Texas A&M University’s involvement as a sponsor underscores ties between regional museums and higher education, particularly in encouraging graduate student participation and public engagement in historical research.
FAQ
When will the conference take place?
The 29th Annual Cotton & Rural History Conference will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
Where will the event be held?
The event will be held at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville, Texas.
What are the conference hours and registration time?
Conference hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Who is the keynote speaker?
The keynote speaker is Dr. James Bissett.
What will the keynote cover?
Dr. Bissett will present on his book titled Agrarian Socialism in America: Marx, Jefferson and Jesus in the Oklahoma Countryside, 1904 – 1920.
What is Dr. Bissett’s professional background?
Dr. Bissett retired as a Professor of History at Elon College in North Carolina in 2020.
How long did Dr. Bissett teach at Elon?
He began his teaching career at Elon in 1990 and served there for 30 years.
Who will lead one of the panels?
The conference will include a panel led by Jason Morgan, Board President of the Plano African American Museum.
Will students participate?
There will also be a public history panel featuring graduate students from East Texas A&M University’s history department.
Is lunch provided?
The program includes lunch for attendees.
How much does registration cost?
The registration fee is $20 per person.
What is the reservation deadline?
The deadline for reservations is October 21, 2025.
How can people get more information or register?
For additional information or to register, individuals can call the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum at (903) 450-4502.
Who sponsors the conference?
The conference is sponsored by East Texas A&M University and the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 25, 2025 |
| Location | Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville, Texas |
| Time | 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (registration 9:30 a.m.) |
| Keynote | Dr. James Bissett — Agrarian Socialism in America: Marx, Jefferson and Jesus in the Oklahoma Countryside, 1904 – 1920 |
| Panels | Panel led by Jason Morgan; public history panel featuring graduate students from East Texas A&M University’s history department |
| Cost | $20 per person |
| Reservation deadline | October 21, 2025 |
| Contact | Call the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum at (903) 450-4502 |
| Sponsors | East Texas A&M University and the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum |
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Additional Resources
- NTXE News
- Wikipedia: Cotton
- Cotton Grower
- Google Search: Agrarian Socialism
- Herald Banner
- Google Scholar: history of cotton industry
- Trojans Wire
- Encyclopedia Britannica: American History
- Greenville Online Obituaries
- Google News: research on agricultural history
