At Goliad Technologies, our name carries a deep and deliberate connection to history. It’s more than just a label—it embodies the spirit of our mission and the values that drive our work. But why “Goliad”? The answer lies in a piece of history that has been largely forgotten, much like the online communities and forums we aim to preserve.
Remembering Goliad: A Forgotten Chapter of History
For many people, the phrase “Remember the Alamo” is instantly recognizable. It echoes the heroic struggle of the Texian defenders during the Texas Revolution, a rallying cry that has endured through generations. But fewer people know the full phrase that once inspired those fighting for Texas independence: “Remember the Alamo, remember Goliad.”
The story of the Goliad Massacre is a tragic and often overlooked chapter of the Texas Revolution. In 1836, over 400 Texian prisoners of war, who had surrendered at Presidio La Bahía near the town of Goliad, were executed by Mexican forces under orders from General Santa Anna. The massacre at Goliad was an act that shocked and outraged those fighting for Texas independence. It became a powerful motivator for the Texian Army, much like the fall of the Alamo. Yet, unlike the Alamo, Goliad has largely faded from mainstream memory.
Why do we remember the Alamo but forget Goliad? The answer may be rooted in the human tendency to simplify history, to focus on a single, dramatic event rather than a broader context. The Alamo became a symbol of heroic defiance, but Goliad—a story of surrender, betrayal, and brutal execution—was harder to rally behind, despite its critical role in the fight for independence. And so, over time, the chant of “Remember Goliad” was lost, leaving only “Remember the Alamo” in popular consciousness.
A Parallel to the Mission of the LACR Working Group
This fading of historical memory is a powerful metaphor for what we are striving to address at Goliad Technologies. Our organization began with the LACR Working Group, a project founded in 2012 with the goal of preserving a part of internet history that was quickly being overshadowed and forgotten. In the early 2010s, the internet landscape was changing—platforms like Digg and Reddit were taking over, and traditional forums and bulletin boards, once the cornerstone of online communities, were being abandoned.
These forums held a wealth of cultural, historical, and social information. They were where people shared their thoughts, built friendships, and collaborated on projects. They were the digital town squares of their time. But much like the memory of Goliad, they were at risk of disappearing—forgotten in favor of newer, flashier platforms. Recognizing this risk, the LACR Working Group set out to archive these forums, to “remember Goliad” in a digital sense by preserving the voices and stories that were in danger of being lost.
Choosing the Name: Goliad Technologies
The name “Goliad Technologies” is a tribute to this mission of preservation, remembrance, and commitment to history. Just as the story of the Goliad Massacre deserves to be remembered alongside the Alamo, so too do the early forums and communities of the internet deserve to be preserved and valued. We chose the name “Goliad” as a reminder that history is often complex, and that what is forgotten can sometimes be just as important as what is remembered.
Our work at Goliad Technologies is about ensuring that the digital artifacts of the past—whether they are forums, bulletin boards, or other forms of online communication—are not lost to time. These artifacts are valuable not just for their historical content, but for the insight they provide into how people interacted, how ideas spread, and how communities formed in the early years of the internet.
Preserving What Others Might Forget
The name “Goliad” serves as a powerful symbol for our mission. We are committed to preserving what others might overlook or forget. We believe that just as historians strive to tell the full story of events like the Texas Revolution—including both the Alamo and Goliad—so too should we strive to preserve the full story of the internet, not just the parts that are popular or convenient to remember.
It’s easy to forget that the internet we know today was built on countless smaller communities and individual voices. These voices shaped the internet’s culture, norms, and evolution, and they deserve to be preserved just as much as the high-profile content that now dominates our screens. By archiving these forums and creating tools to analyze them, we aim to keep this history alive for future generations—to help researchers, historians, and anyone interested understand how we got to where we are today.
A Legacy of Memory and Action
The story of Goliad, Texas, may have faded from mainstream knowledge, but it has not lost its importance. The story of the digital forums that LACR set out to preserve may have been eclipsed by the rise of social media, but it is no less significant. At Goliad Technologies, we believe that every story matters, and that it is our responsibility to ensure that these stories are not forgotten.
We hope that by choosing the name “Goliad,” we inspire others to remember—to think about the parts of history that have been overlooked and to recognize the value in preserving the voices of the past. Whether it is through our work archiving internet forums, developing data analysis tools, or supporting non-profits with technology solutions, we are committed to ensuring that what might otherwise be forgotten is remembered and valued.
So, as you explore the work of Goliad Technologies, we invite you to remember Goliad—not just the historical event, but the idea that the stories we preserve today can shape the future. Remembering the past, in all its complexity, is how we honor it and learn from it. And that’s a mission worth chanting about.