About Henry Crawford

Henry B. Crawford is the former Curator of History at the Museum of Texas Tech University. He retired in 2016 after 26 years of service. He has an MA in American History and Museum Studies from the University of Wisconsin, and he later studied Western Frontier and Economic History at the doctoral level at Texas Tech University. He holds certificates from the National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and the Texas Historical Commission Winedale Museum Seminar. 

A museum professional for 45 years, Mr. Crawford has served on boards and committees of the American Alliance of Museums, the Texas Association of Museums, the Mountain-Plains Museums Association, the Texas Living History Association (of which he is a co-founder,) the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums, the Western Writers of America, and other organizations nationwide.  In 2019 he was awarded the prestigious Jack Nokes Outstanding Service Award from the Texas Association of Museums. Mr. Crawford serves on the Board of Trustees of the Silent Wings WWII Museum. Currently, he is the Model Railroad Exhibit Curator at the Science Spectrum Museum. He has been a member of the Lubbock Model Railroad Association for over thirty years and served two terms as it’s president.

Mr. Crawfordhas participated in living history and reenacting activities for 45 years, sharing his expertise through lectures and consulting on living history philosophy, techniques, and research at sites across the U.S.A.  He has coordinated public living history events within and away from Texas.  His living history areas of expertise include the American Colonial Frontier, Western Fur Trade, Texas Revolution, American Civil War (Infantry, Artillery and Mounted Cavalry), The U.S. Frontier Military, 1870s Buffalo Hunting, and the European and Pacific Theaters of World War Two. Through varied programs and numerous appearances, Mr. Crawford has earned the moniker “The Face of Texas Living History.” In 2024 he received the Texas Living History Association Founder’s Award, their highest individual honor.  He is proficient in historic American firearms and horsemanship. 

Henry B. Crawford has consulted for various museums and agencies, appearing in television and video productions for the History Channel, Discovery Channel, PBS, the National Park Service, McGraw Hill, and the Texas Historical Commission. His recent media work includes “Protecting the Plains: The Story of Fort Griffin,” for the Fort Griffin State Historic Site visitor center, and “Packing the West,” documentary series, both created by Boston Productions, Inc. He also appears in the visitor orientation films at Fort Davis and Bent’s Old Fort National Park Service sites. He continues to advance living history education programming and material culture through his own living history and consulting entity, History By Choice.