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Stephen F. Austin State University鈥檚 Center for Regional Heritage Research will host an exhibit on the Women鈥檚 Army Auxiliary Corps at the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot beginning April 26.
 
Sophia Savage, a counseling graduate assistant for the CRHR, and Kierstin Smith, a 91直播 of Nursing student, developed the idea of creating a WAAC exhibit. Savage and Smith wanted to shed light on a piece of Nacogdoches history that is often overlooked.
 
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of history in Nacogdoches and so much of it can easily be missed,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淣acogdoches has a historical past that hasn鈥檛 been fully explored, specifically the Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College WAAC Branch No. 1 Army Administration School.鈥�
 
After learning of the WAAC鈥檚 involvement during World War II, the duo wanted to create a unique exhibit to educate the public as to who the WAAC鈥檚 were.
 
Mark Barringer, chair of 91直播鈥檚 history department and director of the CRHR, believes this exhibit will further establish the WAACs importance to the area. 鈥淎s Dr. Jere Jackson has documented, the WAACs saved this institution,鈥� Barringer said. 鈥淚f we want to honor and remember them, we need to preserve everything we can now. This is just another part of maintaining as complete a record as possible.鈥�
 
Savage and Smith have spent months gathering information and creating the exhibit that will display various memorabilia, including a WAAC uniform. They worked with CRHR operations manager Tiffany Gauntt, public history faculty members and the City of Nacogdoches Historic Sites Department throughout the process.
 
Jessica Sowell, assistant historic sites manager, has partnered with the CRHR on multiple projects during the past two years. She has primarily helped gather artifacts for this exhibit.
 
鈥淎s a facilitator, I just helped handle the museum side of things. Sophia and Kierstin have done great work on their own,鈥� Sowell said.
 
The CRHR got its start in 2006. While the staff members and collaborating faculty members primarily work on local and regional historic sites, they also have external research partners in the U.S., Brazil and Australia.
 
鈥淥ne of the great things about the CRHR is we get students from other disciplines, like Sophia and Kierstin, who get invested in what they鈥檙e researching and receive hands-on experience in new settings,鈥� Barringer said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of these students.鈥�
 
Both students said that they had no prior training on creating an exhibit before the process began. Since they were not history students, either, they had to learn how to conduct the research on their own. Throughout the process, they have developed a deeper appreciation for history.
 
鈥淏efore I started working in the Center for Regional Heritage Research, I wasn鈥檛 very interested in history; but now, I really enjoy it,鈥� Smith said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 so important to know about events and people because they helped make the world what it is today. I really hope this exhibit not only interests people about the WAACs, but also encourages them to dig into other areas of history.鈥�
 
A guest speaker from the WAAC鈥檚 Veteran Association will serve as guest speaker on opening night, April 26. Refreshments and food will be served from 6 to 8 p.m.
 
The depot is located at 101 Old Tyler Road. The depot鈥檚 regular hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and admission is free.

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