Mumentous author returns to Arlington for talk on October 19
Score a BIG WIN this football season by joining the Arlington Historical Society and MUMENTOUS author and photographer Amy J. Schultz for a nostalgic exhibit and talk about homecoming, coming home, and mums!
At 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, the Arlington Historical Society presents All the Bells & Whistles: The upsized history of homecoming mums in Texas, a fun and interactive presentation by Amy Schultz about the history and heritage of the homecoming mum tradition.
The event takes place at the Fielder House in Arlington, TX.
In addition to Amy’s talk, guests are invited to visit the museum’s current exhibit which focuses on the history of Arlington in the 1950s, including the city’s only State Champion Team.
Event Details
All the Bells & Whistles: The upsized history of homecoming mums in Texas
Presented by Amy J. Schultz
Refreshments and a book signing to follow the talk
Sunday, October 19, 2025
2:00 pm
Fielder House, 1616 West Abram Street, Arlington, TX, 76013
The event is free; no RSVPs needed. For more event details, CLICK HERE.
The Evolution of MUMENTOUS
Schultz’s return to Arlington is a special moment in the evolution of MUMENTOUS, which is not only a book by Schultz but a multi-media art collection and a traveling cultural heritage exhibit featuring her photography, writing, and research.
Many of the stories in MUMENTOUS come directly from oral histories the author collected from people who hail from the Arlington area. Several photos in the book were shot by Schultz in Arlington high schools, including Arlington, Martin, Lamar, and the Oakridge School. She conducted some of her research in partnership with the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Special Collections.
Most significantly, Schultz served as the Arlington Museum of Art’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence, which afforded her opportunities to cultivate her multi-media approach to telling the story of homecoming mums in deep and unexpected ways. In Fall 2019, her art collection debuted at the AMA as MUMENTOUS: The Upsizing of a Texas Tradition. The exhibition drew more visitors than any other by a Texas-based artist in the museum’s history. CLICK HERE to learn more.
“From the beginning, I had a sense that there was way more to the story of homecoming mums than anyone was talking about,” Schultz said, “but it can be challenging to find your footing on a long-term project like this. I found incredible support for my big idea from people in Arlington. Instead of hearing ‘Yeah, good luck with that,’ in Arlington I heard, "‘How can I help?’ It was amazing.”
After the conclusion of her Artist-in-Residency, Schultz continued to conduct research, interviews, and shoot game-day photos. Ultimately, her book, MUMENTOUS, was published by Atmosphere Press in hardback, eBook, and audiobook formats. The book is both entertaining and (in spite of the self-deprecating title) accurate, introducing readers to a cast of real-life characters who enlighten the history and heritage of homecoming mums in Texas and the United States.
In partnership with the Texas Lakes Trail, a program of the Texas Historic Commission, Schultz’s research for MUMENTOUS has since been adapted into a traveling heritage exhibit entitled, MUMENTOUS: Football, glue guns, moms, and a super-sized high school tradition born deep in the heart of Texas. The exhibit focuses on the evolution of high school football, homecoming, and mums in Texas. It also offers opportunities for conversations about the unique cultural, social, and economic factors that contribute to the Texas high school traditions.
The Arlington Museum of Art loans Schultz’s original collection to museums and galleries as a traveling exhibition.
Meet the Homecoming Mumologist
Amy J. Schultz is an award-winning photographer and author who explores unique aspects of modern culture that hide in plain sight. Amy and her husband live in Texas with their gigantic golden retriever. When she isn’t talking about mums, Amy is writing, taking photos, working with the Arlington Museum of Art on creative projects, traveling, snort-laughing, or vacuuming up dog fur. While MUMENTOUS is Amy’s first published book, her first “books” were collections of stick figure masterpieces created by three-year-old Amy and stapled together by her mother.
