How to remember the historic shrine
by Jennifer R. Lloyd (M.B.A. ’16)
Ernesto Rodriguez III (B.A. ’96, M.A. ’04) likes to joke that St. Mary’s University “was so nice, I went there twice.”
Now, as the senior historian at the Alamo, the same could be said of his childhood and adult trips to the sacred shrine at the nexus of Texas legend and fact.
The work of historians in public roles, like Rodriguez’s, can build an awareness of the facets of history previously unknown yet relevant to a deeper understanding of modern times, delicately navigating through political and other interests to educate the community.
Climbing into history
From their home not far from St. Mary’s University, Rodriguez’s mother took him, his siblings and a cousin downtown on the bus for a summertime adventure during his childhood.
During that first visit to the site at age 7, he shared that something about the Alamo did light up his eyes — but it wasn’t the limestone architecture, preserved weaponry or the ability to help shape the narrative Texans tell of themselves.
“We came to the Alamo, and I remember looking at the grounds in the back and thinking to myself, I would love to work there, but it was because of all the trees,” Rodriguez said. “As a kid, you want to climb trees.”
Buying a bullwhip in the Alamo gift shop amid the Indiana Jones film era didn’t hurt his love of the place either.
It wasn’t until years later, wrapping up his Master of Arts in History, that he found his calling to the history of the place through the study of colonial-era documents written in Spanish.
Informing in the public eye
Several public historians, like Rodriguez, have graduated from History programs at St. Mary’s and leaped into high-profile roles. These professionals find joy in interpreting history in real-world settings, sharing it with the community and enlightening others by contextualizing the region and its journey.
Cristal Mendez (M.A. ’21), the historian for the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM), is another San Antonio native who took her Public History degree into work before the public eye.
“Being able to do this work is also like a love letter to my city, because I’m getting to learn all this history, and then I have an opportunity to share it,” Mendez said. “That’s what public history is, being able to share the story.”
Some historians, such as Jesús “Frank” de la Teja, the inaugural Texas State Historian in 2007, who lives in Austin, reflected that the work of a public historian at sites like the Alamo can be fraught with complications created by political controversies or business community influences. Though primarily an academic historian, de la Teja was briefly a public historian as the archivist for the Texas General Land Office.
An example of public scrutiny is taking place during the 2025 Texas Legislative session, which, as of printing, is discussing who should have oversight of the Alamo, which is currently under the direction of the General Land Office.
“Public history has become controversial because, just like so many other aspects of American life, it’s been politicized,” he said. “The space in the middle, where public historians need to try to operate, becomes difficult because you’re caught in the crossfire.”
Mendez is helping SAAACAM preserve and share the story of San Antonio’s African American descendants as the organization prepares its massive new space inside the Kress building on Houston Street near the Alamo.
“It’s such a revolutionary time to be a public historian in San Antonio. I’m so proud of our St. Mary’s folks for being part of that,” Mendez said. “It’s an honor to serve my community because I grew up with stories of the Alamo and also was one of those folks who didn’t know the fuller story. I learn things every day from our community, and it’s so exciting to have a front-row seat.”
Building a foundation
Rodriguez said his family connection to the Spanish missions began with his father’s birth on the grounds of Mission San Francisco de la Espada, in a home that used to sit across from the church. His father shared a love of history and culture during vacations to visit family in Mexico, stopping by museums, churches and other sites along the way.
Though his father had a third-grade education and his mother, who was born in Mexico, attended school until about eighth grade, both prioritized education for their four children, all of whom attended St. Mary’s.
Of his siblings, Rodiguez said his brother Eiginio Rodriguez studied at St. Mary’s but became a firefighter before graduating; his brother Eddie Rodriguez earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1989 before earning a Ph.D. elsewhere; and his sister Angelica Rodriguez earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1999 and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership in 2018.
Gerald Poyo, Ph.D.“To be a historian, you have to do the tedious work of finding the data, collecting the data, sometimes transcribing the data, clipping the data, and then after that, making sense of it. You have to have this temperament to sit there and, of course, this incredible curiosity about what’s coming next. He had all of that.”
When Ernesto Rodriguez enrolled at St. Mary’s, he already had his major selected — History. When he told his parents what he’d be studying, his father urged him onward to do what he loved best, adding, “Don’t go into a career for the money, because if you don’t like what you do, you will never be happy even when you’re making money. Do what you love to do.”
Rodriguez, who followed the advice, said, “Little did I know that I would end up here at the Alamo. I get to do what I love.”
Rodriguez, who was baptized at Holy Rosary Catholic Church neighboring the University, said he was essentially raised in the arms of the Marianist community. When he began working at the Alamo, he learned that the former Franciscan church, though never completed, was supposed to be dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
“So, Mary has been a big part of my whole life,” he said.
Cultivating curiosity
Rodriguez joined the work of the Alamo in 1999 under the auspices of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.
He was sought after to work in their library for his experience working in the University’s Blume Library and his ability to decipher old Spanish texts, a skill he learned through encouragement from Professor Emeritus of History Gerald Poyo, Ph.D., who retired in June after holding the O’Connor Chair for the History of Hispanic Texas and the Southwest for many years.
Poyo encouraged Rodriguez to venture to the Bexar Archives to analyze the microfilm of handwritten colonial documents, such as the Spanish governor’s papers and documents from the incorporation of Texas into the United States.
“To be a historian, you have to do the tedious work of finding the data, collecting the data, sometimes transcribing the data, clipping the data, and then after that, making sense of it,” said Poyo, adding that Rodriguez was very patient with the process. “You have to have this temperament to sit there and, of course, this incredible curiosity about what’s coming next. He had all of that.”
Having taken several Spanish classes at St. Mary’s, Rodriguez looked at the archival documents and learned to translate old lettering and “to love the community of Texas in a different way.”
He continues that work at the Alamo — followed dutifully through his day by Bella, the official Alamo cat. The Alamo, established in 1718 as Mission San Antonio de Valero, “is the first of the Spanish missions in Texas that succeeds,” Rodriguez said.
“This is where the birth of the Texan identity is, right? And so, it’s a spark,” he said. “Then in 1836, it’s a bonfire. Now, we’re just feeding the bonfire, right? You have to know where you come from to know where you’re going.”
Where the Alamo is going is toward becoming a world-class museum. The Alamo already receives more than 1.6 million visitors a year and is the most-visited destination in the state. With an immense museum construction project underway across from the mission to complement the work of historians and archaeologists uncovering the past, Rodriguez has found a new level of excitement.
“Every little piece fills in the puzzle,” he said. “When you think about the Alamo story in general, and all of our stories, we’re all connected. It’s a tapestry of what is San Antonio, and every thread matters. We’re placing each thread back where it belongs.”
