1. Dr. Amanda B Biles
    Abilene Christian University
    Assistant Professor
    Department of History and Global Studies
    Director, Public History
    Hardin Administration Building (ADM) 324F
    (325) 674-2370
    abt19a@acu.edu

Education

  1. PhD, North Dakota St Univ, 2020.
  2. MA, University of Central Oklahoma, 2011.
    Major: History
  3. BA, Harding University, 2005.
    Major: Political Science
    Supporting Areas of Emphasis: History

Publications

  • Book Chapter

    1. Biles, A. B. (2022). Foreword. In Cold War Texas by Landry Brewer. The History Press.

  • Book Review

    1. Biles, A. B. (accepted). Review of Disturbing Development in the Jim Crow South. Agricultural History. Agricultural History Society.
    2. Biles, A. B. (2023). Review of Cattle Beet Capital. The Journal of South Texas, 37(1), 117–120. South Texas Historical Association - Texas A&M University - Kingsville.
    3. Biles, A. B. (2017). Review of Prelude to the Dust Bowl: Drought in the Nineteenth-Century Southern Plains. Published.
    4. Biles, A. B. (2015). Review of Every Citizen a Soldier: The Campaign for Universal Military Training after World War II, by William A. Taylor. Published.
    5. Biles, A. B. (2012). Review of Daring Young Men: The Heroism and Triumph of The Berlin Airlift-June 1948-May 1949, by Richard Reeves. Published.

  • Magazine/Trade Publication

    1. Biles, A. B. (2018). Looking Back: A History of the Junior League in Shreveport, Louisiana. Published.

  • Other

    1. Biles, A. B. (2023). Museum Exhibition: Abilene in the 1920s. The Grace Museum.

  • Research Report

    1. Biles, A. B., & al., e. (2010). Oklahoma Civic Health Index: Strategies for Strengthening Oklahoma’s Civic Energy.

  • Study Guide

    1. Isern, T. D., & Biles, A. B. (2016). Heritage Themes for the Northern Plains: A Guide for Book Discussions in the Northern Plains National Heritage Area.

Presentations

  1. Biles, A. B., Agricultural History Society Conference, "Cracker Barrels as Crisis Solutions: The US Department of Agriculture’s Schools of Philosophy as a Model for Rural Messaging and Communication," Knoxville, TN. (June 2023).
  2. Biles, A. B., Northern Great Plains History Conference, "Cracker Barrel Democracy: The Cooperative Discussion Model and the US Department of Agriculture’s Schools of Philosophy," Fargo, ND. (September 23, 2022).
  3. Biles, A. B. (Author & Presenter), The Grace Museum Teacher Workshop, "Forts Within Reach: Military Forts of the West Texas Frontier," The Grace Museum, Fort Chadbourne. (June 3, 2022).
  4. Biles, A. B., "Internment, Escape, and Enlistment: Japanese-American Abilenians during World War II," The Grace Museum, Abilene, Texas. (May 19, 2022).
  5. Biles, A. B., Western Social Science Association Conference, "Farming Democracy: American Agricultural Policy from the Great War to the Great Society.." (April 12, 2021).
  6. Biles, A. B., Association for the Study of Literature and Environment Conference, "Expeditionary Learning and Historical Memory: Reframing Narratives by Retracing Footsteps.." (June 26, 2019).
  7. Biles, A. B., Western Social Science Association Conference, "Feeding the Multitudes: Faith, Foodways, and Fundraising on the North American Plains.." (April 13, 2016).
  8. Biles, A. B., Western Social Science Association Conference, "Milk Madness: Dairy Policy and Protests in America and the EU, 1932-2012.." (April 8, 2015).
  9. Biles, A. B., Cotton and Rural History Conference, "Texas Cotton Farmers and the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938." (April 30, 2011).
  10. Biles, A. B., Oklahoma Historical Society Conference, "Oklahoma Cotton Farmers and the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938." (April 29, 2011).
  11. Biles, A. B., University of Central Oklahoma, College of Liberal Arts Symposium, "Holocaust Historiography." (February 23, 2011).
  12. Biles, A. B., Phi Alpha Theta Oklahoma Regional Conference, "The Dachau Liberation Experience." (February 19, 2011).
  13. Biles, A. B., University of Central Oklahoma, American West Seminar, "Extreme Necessity: Texas Cotton Farmers and the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938." (April 25, 2010).
  14. Biles, A. B., Phi Alpha Theta North Texas Regional Conference, "A Study in Song: Luther’s Concept of the Role of Hymns in the Reformation." (April 10, 2010).

Artistic and Professional Performances and Exhibits

  1. Biles, A. B., "Fort Chadbourne on the Butterfield," The Grace Museum, Abilene, Texas. (December 2022 - July 2023).
  2. Biles, A. B., "Heritage Month Exhibition Series. At The Grace Museum." (May 2022 - December 2022).
  3. Biles, A. B., "1910 Abilene Christmas," The Grace Museum, Abilene, Texas. (December 8, 2022).
  4. Biles, A. B., Rodriguez, E., Clyne, C., Russell, L., Wright, P., Hall, T., Martinez-Pentaleon, L., Blair, Z., "Snapshots of Student Life: ACC in the 1940s and ‘50s. At Abilene Christian University Special Collections.." (April 29, 2021 - January 2022).
  5. Biles, A. B., Bell, M., Campbell, K., Jacobs, K., "Downtown Abilene: At the Crossroads of Rugged and Refined. At The Grace Museum.." (May 4, 2021 - November 2021).
  6. Biles, A. B., Tomlinson, J., Reed, P., Longley, E., Campbell, K., "The Work of the WASP: Flying on Until the Mission is Done. At The National WASP World War II Museum.." (March 20, 2021 - October 2021).
  7. Floray, L., Biles, A. B., "Wedding Gowns of the Northern Plains. At Bonanzaville: Cass County Historical Society Museum.." (June 2015 - September 2016).
  8. Biles, A. B., Floray, L., "Agricultural Implements of the Northern Plains. At Bonanzaville: Cass County Historical Society Museum.." (October 2015 - December 2015).

Service

  • Department

    1. Program Director, Director of Public History. (January 2022 - Present).
    2. Session Chair, NDSU Graduate Student Colloquium. (December 2020).
    3. Session Chair, ACU Phi Alpha Theta Conference for Undergraduate Research. (2019).
    4. Conference-Related, Department of History, North Dakota State University. (2018).
    5. Session Chair, Minot State University Great Plains Symposium. (2017).
    6. Student Org Advisor (Professional Org), Minot State University League of Social Sciences. (2013).
    7. Faculty Judge, National History Day Contest at Minot State University. (2013).

  • University

    1. University Senate Service, Faculty Senate. (August 2023 - Present).
    2. Committee Member, Undergraduate Research Council. (August 2022 - Present).
    3. Program Coordinator, Center for Heritage Renewal, North Dakota State University. (2015 - 2016).

Professional

  1. Committee Chair, Texas Association of Museums. (June 2023 - Present).
  2. Committee Chair, The Grace Museum History Committee, Abilene, Texas. (January 2022 - Present).
  3. Committee Member, The Grace Museum History Committee, Abilene, Texas. (January 2020 - Present).
  4. Editorial Review Board Member, Tenor of Our Times Undergraduate Research Journal, Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas. (2017 - 2022).
  5. Editorial Team Member, Land of Sunlit Ice, North Dakota State University Press, Fargo, North Dakota. (2016).
  6. Preservation Technician, Hutmacher Farm (National Register of Historic Places), Manning, North Dakota. (2014).

Public

  1. Board Member, The Grace Museum, Abilene, Texas. (August 2023 - Present).
  2. Officer, Vice President, Abilene Philharmonic Guild, Abilene, Texas. (2021 - 2022).
  3. Member, Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra Legacy Society and Mozart Society, Abilene, Texas. (2019 - 2022).
  4. Board Member, Junior League of Abilene, Inc., Abilene. (2019 - 2022).

Teaching

  • Spring 2025

    1. HIST 222 - American History II
    2. HIST 310 - Topics in Public History

  • Fall 2024

    1. HIST 483 - American West
    2. HON 412 - HCOL: American Girl Dolls
    3. HIST 201 - Introduction to Public History

  • Summer 2024

    1. HIST 222 - American History II

  • Spring 2024

    1. HIST 222 - American History 2
    2. HIST 201 - Intro to Public History
    3. HIST 301 - Public History Internship
    4. GEOG 235 - World Geography

  • Fall 2023

    1. HIST 222 - American HIstory II
    2. HON 415 - HCOL: Framing Narratives
    3. HIST 353 - Historical Methods
    4. HIST 301 - Public History Internship
    5. HIST 340 - ST: New Deal in the United St

  • Summer 2023

    1. HIST 222 - American History II

  • Spring 2023

    1. HIST 201 - Intro to US Public History
    2. HIST 301 - Public History Internship
    3. HIST 310 - Topics in Public History
    4. GEOG 235 - World Geography

  • Fall 2022

    1. HIST 222 - American History II
    2. HIST 117 - Civilization I
    3. HIST 483 - Legacy of Conquest: Amer. West
    4. HIST 301 - Public History Internship

  • Summer 2022

    1. HIST 301 - Public History Internship

  • Spring 2022

    1. HIST 221 - American History I
    2. GEOG 354 - Cultural Geography
    3. HIST 201 - Intro to US Public History
    4. GEOG 235 - World Geography

  • Fall 2021

    1. GEOG 354 - Cultural Geography
    2. HIST 340 - ST: New Deal

  • Spring 2021

    1. HIST 222 - American History II
    2. HIST 240 - ST: Intro to Public History

  • Fall 2020

    1. HIST 222 - American History II
    2. HIST 222 - American History II

  • Spring 2020

    1. HIST 222 - American History II
    2. HIST 222 - American History II

  • Fall 2019

    1. HIST 222 - American History II
    2. HIST 222 - American History II