Characterizing San Antonio’s five Spanish colonial–era missions as “sites of memory,” author and historian Joel Daniel Kitchens (San Antonio and Its Missions: Three Centuries of History, Memory, and Heritage) explores how and why Spain built the missions, what happened to them after the Spanish colonizers left, and how and why they came to weigh so heavily on American imagination and identity, even into the 21st century. A must-attend session for history lovers!
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Author
Joel Daniel Kitchens retired in 2021 as an associate professor and humanities reference librarian at Texas A&M University and is the author of Librarians, Historians, and New Opportunities for Discourse: A Guide for Clio’s Helpers. He lives in College Station, Texas.
His new book is San Antonio and Its Missions: Three Centuries of History, Memory, and Heritage.
Chantelle Ruidant-Hansen serves as the Bilingual Visual Information Specialist at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, where she brings the stories of the Spanish colonial missions and their surrounding landscapes to life. Since joining the park in 2017 as a Latino Heritage Intern, Chantelle has been dedicated to connecting people to both cultural and natural heritage through interpretation and outreach. In 2025, she temporarily stepped into a leadership role as Acting Chief of Interpretation, Education, Outreach, and Volunteers, further deepening her impact on the park’s mission. Her passion for inclusive storytelling and community engagement continues to enrich the visitor experience and foster a deeper appreciation for our shared history.
