ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

The William P. Clements ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ for Southwest Studies owes its existence to the vision and generosity of two men: David J. Weber (1940-2010), former Robert and Nancy Dedman Chair of History at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, and former Texas Governor William P. Clements, Jr. (1917-2011).

Weber taught at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ from 1976-2010, and was the leading scholar on the history of the Spanish presence in North America, with particular attention to the region that became the American Southwest.  He was the author or editor of more than seventy articles as well as twenty-seven books, including  (Yale, 1992), and  (Yale, 2006).  In recognition of his contributions to the study of their nations, the governments of Spain and Mexico conferred upon him the highest honors they grant to foreigners.

Weber found common cause with Bill Clements, a native Texan long fascinated by the history and culture of the Lone Star State and the greater Southwest, who had assembled an extensive personal library as well as a renowned collection of Texana.  After conversations with Weber, the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ history department, and university administrators, Clements made a substantial gift to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ that established the research center that bears his name as well as an innovative Ph.D. program initially focused exclusively on the Southwest.  The William P. Clements ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ for Southwest Studies opened its doors in 1996, and the first doctoral students enrolled in 1998.

Governor Clements was the founder of SEDCO, one of the world’s largest drilling contractors.  He was U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense (1973-1976), and served twice as governor of Texas (1979-1983 and 1987-1991), the first Republican chief executive since Reconstruction.  His ties to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ extended over many years, and included the acquisition of the university’s , which hosts students in the summer and winter for academic work across a range of disciplines, from history to the life sciences and much in between.

Ariel Ron joined the Clements ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ as director in 2024 as its third director.  Ariel is the Glenn M. Linden Associate Professor of the U.S. Civil War in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s Department of History. 

Retired Faculty/Staff of the Clements ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½:

Andrew R. Graybill arrived at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ in 2011 to succeed David J. Weber as Director of the Clements ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½. In 2024, Andy stepped down from his position to return full time to the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ department of history and to devote more attention to new projects, like his book-in-progress on the Texas longhorn. Of his accomplishments at the Clements ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, he is proudest of the establishment of a senior fellowship, fundraising and grant writing that yielded more than $1 million, and the establishment of the David J. Weber Series in New Borderlands History at the University of North Carolina Press which he edits with Benjamin Johnson. Andy writes frequently for Texas Monthly and the Wall Street Journal, among other venues.

joined ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ in 1999 and soon after became the Clements ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s associate director.  Sherry over saw the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s symposia series and she co-edited two  symposia volumes,  (SAR, 2010) and (Oklahoma, 2003). From 2008 to 2009, she was president of the Western History Association. Sherry retired  from ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ in 2017 as professor emeriti.

Ruth Ann Elmore came to the Clements ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ in 2002 until her retirement in 2025.  While running the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ she also pursued her masters degree in Art History while at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ researching the "Power Series" by Charles Sheeler.  Ruth Ann found the friendships made with the over 120 fellows she mentored, along with all the pals made at workshops, conferences, and symposia, to be the most rewarding of her time with the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½.. 

Image: David J. Weber (left) and Governor William P. Clements (right).