What are the challenges in writing a Texas history book while living in Scotland?
Well actually it had its advantages, first because I had access to family information on Dr. Grant not available in Texas, and secondly because I had access to documents in the India Office, relating to his service with the East India Company, and to the (British) National Archives at Kew, where I was able to work through confidential papers relating to Mexico – and Texas as part of Mexico. The challenges, obviously, were at the Texas end. Thanks to the Portal I was able to access specific documents. How did the materials in the Portal to Texas History help you when doing your research? Ultimately it’s the straightforward matter of being able to access original documents and transcripts rather than relying on re-hashing secondary sources which almost invariably do little more than perpetuate old errors of fact and interpretation. Did you find anything surprising or revelatory in the Portal? There’s probably nothing specific I can point a finger to, other than to stress again what a dif
