Aaslh

Preserve America is a national initiative and grant program that supports community efforts to preserve and share America’s story, and Save America’s Treasures is the largest grant program for bricks-and-mortar preservation in the country. Learn how these programs complement each other to support local heritage stewardship and encourage public appreciation for history, historic preservation, heritage tourism, and education. Hear from project representative on the contributions and benefits of these two national programs. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/preserve-america-and-save-americas-treasures/

Technology and social networking offer tools with tremendous promise, but how are historic sites making use of those tools? Hear how three sites have developed strategies to engage new audience sand expand their interpretation. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/technology-web-2-0-and-historic-sites/

Biography is the obvious story at a historic site preserved to commemorate its most famous owner. Learn how four Presidential sites are attracting diverse audiences by telling their whole story, not just focusing on political history and biography. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/more-than-a-life-story-expanding-interpretation-to-attract-new-audiences/

Excerpts from historian James H. Madison’s address at the Leadership in History Awards banquet at the 2009 AASLH Annual Meeting. Madison laments the state of interest in history in his home state of Illinois. He equates this lack of pride in the past to an American populace that is more interested in the practical and the immediate. He selects six short topics that speak to the hope for entrepreneurial creativity that was prevalent in historic times. These case studies include: Howard Peckham, Eli Lilly, Federal Writers Project, Scholarship, Professionalism, Technology, and Education. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/james-h-madison-awards-banquet-speaker-2009-aaslh-annual-meeting/

Harold Holzer’s 2009 AASLH Annual Meeting keynote address in which he discusses at length the unlikely journey of Abraham Lincoln from boyhood to presidency. He then parallels Lincoln’s and Obama’s journey to the White House. He says that both presidents have provided a light of hope to a divided country and an assurance for a different future. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/harold-holzer-keynote-speaker-2009-aaslh-annual-meeting/

Mike Wallace’s Plenary Address at the 2009 Annual AASLH Meeting wherein he discusses how the history of today would be interpreted in the future and making history a vital piece of current education. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/mike-wallace-plenary-speaker-2009-aaslh-annual-meeting/

This session looks at recent and upcoming state and national commemorations, including Lewis and Clark’s voyage, statehood anniversaries, and the Civil War, and how we can successfully present and interpret the transformative history of major events in a relevant way to the public we serve. Chair: Ann Toplovich, Executive Director, Tennessee Historical Society, Presenters: Bob Blackburn, Executive Director, Oklahoma Historical Society Chris Goodlett, Community Services Coordinator, Kentucky Historical Society Rodger Stroup, Director, South Carolina Department of History and Archives. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/anniversaries-are-about-today-commemorating-transformative-events/

The future of historic houses is a central question to the field today. This session examines the Kykuit Forum’s findings on alternative uses for historic properties by presenting viable options to the house museum. Participants will learn the process that three organizations followed to preserve their properties and serve the needs of their community. Chair: Kenneth C. Turino, Exhibition Manager, Historic New England Presenters: Valerie Cunningham, Director, Portsmouth Black History Trail Lynne Spencer, President, Menders, Torrey, and Spencer, Inc. Architecture and Preservation. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/choosing-a-new-path-alternative-uses-for-historic-site/

Discover how the field approaches the Civil War Sesquicentennial. In what ways will the 150th anniversary differ from the centennial? This panel, a follow-up to a presentation in 2007 and highlighted in History News, and discuss the need for finding common ground on this potentially divisive issues. Chair: Rick Beard, Executive Director, Lincoln Presidential Library Presenters: James O. Horton, Benjamin Banneker Professor of American Studies and History, George Washington University. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/civil-conversations-seeking-common-ground-on-americas-civil-war/

Utilizing presidential libraries and museums as the nation’s “crossroads” institutions where current scholarship meets public history and visitor expectations, this session examines various presidents who faced difficult race-related issues. Discussions compare pre-Civil Rights era decision-making to presidents serving in the throes of the Civil Rights Movement. Chair: Frank Milligan, Director, President Lincoln’s Cottage Presenters: Thomas Culbertson, Executive Director, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Betty Sue Flowers, Director, Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum Bob Wolz, Executive Director, Harry S. Truman Little White House State Historic Site. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/difficult-issues-presidents-and-race/

Reprising 2007’s popular point/counterpoint session on conservation issues, this year’s session goes one step further by including an exhibitor’s voice into the mix. Three seasoned professionals, each with their own areas of expertise and unique perspective, will debate key issues regarding curation, conservation, and display of artifacts. Chair: Scott Carrlee, Curator of Museum Services, Alaska State Museums Presenters: Brian Nagel, Director of Interpretation, Genesee Country Village and Museum Patricia Tice, Curator, Genessee Country Village and Museum. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/mutual-goals-between-curators-conservators-and-exhibitors/

In light of a major leadership shift in the next 5 to 15 years as current museum leaders retire from the field, what are institutions doing, if anything, to address the pending leadership transition? This session will review the significance of succession planning as it relates to strengthening healthy institutions and it will highlight the benefits of succession planning with specific examples of how it can be implemented in museum environments. Chair: Anne Ackerson, Director, Museum Association of New York Presenters: Joan H. Baldwin, Succession Planning Project Coordinator, Museum Association of New York Barry Dressel, Director, Indiana State Museum. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/whos-next-succession-planning-and-institutional-health/

In a country experiencing dramatic demographic shifts, how do museums change to meet the needs of new types of consumers? This session will provide an overview of the changing American demographic landscape in the new 21st century and offer examples of what or how museums are embracing the challenge of challenging audiences. Chair: Gretchen Sorin, Distinguished Professor and Director, Cooperstown Graduate Program Presenters: Anne Ackerson, Director, Museum Association of New York Kyle McKoy, Education Director, Arizona Historical Society Liza Reich Rawson, Senior Exhibition Developer/Project Manager. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/the-times-they-are-changing-new-demographic-realities-and-what-they-mean-for-museums/

Lynn Sherr’s 2008 Annual Meeting Plenary Address. She speaks on the topic of the importance of preserving history and the value it has for future generations. A journalist and author of a biography on Susan B. Anthony, Sherr uses her discoveries and fascination with Anthony as an example of the significance of obtaining and keeping pieces of history for the impacts they will have on others in the future. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/lynn-sherr-plenary-speaker-2008-aaslh-annual-meeting/

2008 Meeting of the Membership report at the Annual Meeting in Rochester.

In her keynote address at the 2007 AASLH Annual Meeting, Cokie Roberts delivers remarks about history through the use of personal relationships, both benevolent and conflicting. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/cokie-roberts-keynote-address-2007-aaslh-annual-meeting/

David Blight’s Plenary Address at the 2007 AASLH Annual Meeting in Atlanta discussing the important of historic sites for locating and memorializing history. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/david-blight-plenary-address-2007-aaslh-annual-meeting/