In memory of a dear friend of Shumla

MARCH 2020

A Note from the Director

I'd like take a moment to share Shumla’s response to the recent pandemic.

Our number one priority is the safety and health of our staff and communities. Our Dallas team members are working from home, as advised by city leadership, and social distancing from others. The Comstock team members are currently still working in the field and lab, but social distancing as well. We are watching the situation closely and may need to move to work-from-home even in remote Comstock in the coming days and weeks. Fortunately, we have lots of Alexandria Project data processing and reports we can work on.

We are also preparing for the effect the pandemic and the resulting volatile markets will have on our ability to raise funds. As we practice social distancing and order more online, one easy way to help us is to make Shumla your AmazonSmile beneficiary. And as always, the best way to support us is to participate in our 2020 Match Challenge . Your gift of any amount will be doubled by the Summerlee Foundation.

We will continue posting our updates, Motif Monday’s and other news to Facebook and Instagram . Let us capture your imagination by sharing the art of people who also experienced times of fear and uncertainty, and like us, survived and thrived through creativity and community.

Stay safe and well!

Jessica Lee Hamlin

Executive Director

REMEMBERING A DEAR FRIEND

On Thursday, February 20, 2020, Shumla lost a dear friend and dedicated steward, Jack Harrington.

Shumla and Jack Harrington go way back. Over twenty years ago when Carolyn Boyd came to Comstock with an idea for rock art education and research, Jack and Missy Harrington accepted her with open arms. They believed in the vision of Shumla. They gave of themselves, their talents, and their resources to make her dream a reality. Shumla would have never been able to get off the ground if it weren't for Jack and Missy's support.

You may remember the Harrington name, because it hangs above our fireplace at Shumla's Harrington Campus. Jack and Missy generously donated a portion of their private ranch to Shumla in 2001 so we could build our field education and programming facility. It is in this space that we host our annual Rancher Steward BBQ and welcome visiting scholars and students to experience and learn in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands.

Jack helped Shumla in so many ways. He oversaw the building of the field campus, and thereafter helped maintain all of our building facilities. He always maintained the gravel road out to campus and did just about anything that needed to be done (cutting grass, plumbing, painting, you name it!). Whether it was helping record a rock art site, taking photographs during events, or helping with kids programs – Jack was there. The kids always remembered Jack’s smile and his direction on how to hold an atlatl….between your thumb and your nose-picking finger! And, every visitor to Shumla was always welcome for dinner and dominoes over at Jack and Missy’s house.

We will miss our friend Jack dearly, but we know he will watch over us with his signature smile on his face. And we will remember and honor him in our hard work and passion for the research and education that he loved.

(Missy and Jack's family have requested that in lieu of gifts and flowers, a donation be made to Shumla in Jack's memory.)

Official Obituary: Jack L. Harrington, Jr.

On Thursday, February 20, 2020, Jack L. Harrington, Jr. of Comstock, Texas passed away at age 76. Jack was born on May 19, 1943 in Del Rio, TX to Jack and Mary Harrington. He graduated from Del Rio High School in 1961. On June 2, 1967, he married Missy King.

Jack’s first job was as a paper boy for the DRNH at age 12. He went on to become the Circulation Manager of Del Rio News Herald as a junior in high school. He served 6 years in the Texas National Guard and worked for CPL in DR. He became a Del Rio firefighter and later served as chief for the Comstock VFD after he and Missy moved to Comstock to take over the family ranch. Jack also served as water superintendent for VVWCID in Comstock. He was on the CISD school board for 25 yrs.

Jack was preceded in death by his father, Jack, his mother, Mary, and two sisters, Mary Louise Grantham and Sue Edgehouse. He is survived by his wife Missy of Comstock, his two children, Danny Harrington (Gwen) of San Marcos, TX and Sylvia Schmucker (Brian) of Jacksonville, FL, his brother Joe Harrington (Marta) and sister Jane Steffey of Del Rio, six grandchildren, Troy Harrington of Del Rio, Megan Martin (Kyle) of Ft. Riley, KS, Travis Christley (Emily) of Comstock, Hannah Hatcher (Joel) of San Antonio, Kyle Schmucker of Jacksonville, FL and Erika Schmucker of Jacksonville, FL, three great grandchildren, Falcon Hatcher of San Antonio, Leland and Weston Martin of Ft. Riley, KS.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at Sacred Heart Church in Del Rio at 11 o’clock a.m.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family has designated Shumla Archaeological Research & Education Center for memorial contributions. Make a gift to an organization that Jack loved dearly by visiting www.shumla.org/donate or mailing it to Shumla, PO Box 627, Comstock, TX 78837.

SOCIETY FOR AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY MEETING CANCELLED

Though we hate to miss the opportunity to share our research and collaborate with our colleagues in the archaeological community, we completely understand and appreciate the decision the leadership of the Society of American Archaeology made to cancel the annual meeting this year. We will double down on the work to complete our Alexandria Project and have all the more to share next year!

Some of our past presentations are available to view on our website. Click the button and toggle through the videos by using the white arrows on either side of the viewer and selection slider. Happy learning!

PRESENTATIONS

GIVE TODAY AND HELP US MEET THE MATCH!

Your gift to Shumla will be matched by the

Summerlee Foundation's $100,000 match challenge

and will have double the impact in our final year

of the Alexandria Project!

DONATE NOW!

Keep up with our progress toward the match.

Watch our $100,000 match grow with each gift we receive!

https://shumla.org/meetthematch2020/

SNEAK PEEK

Dr. Karen Steelman, Intern Rudy Banny and the Shumla Scholars have been hard at work building the new 10-Chamber Plasma Oxidation Instrument. Here's a sneak peek of their progress. More on this soon!