Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in 1930's

 Phoenix’s “Farm” Airport: Before Sky Harbor Took Off.

Today, Phoenix Sky Harbor is one of the busiest airports in the country. But back in the 1930s, it was surrounded by open land and looked nothing like the massive transportation hub we know today.

In 1935, the City of Phoenix purchased the airport’s 285 acres for $100,000. Because it sat in such an isolated, rural location, Sky Harbor earned the nickname “The Farm.” Imagine arriving there when the surrounding landscape was still largely undeveloped!

As Phoenix grew, so did the airport. New terminals, longer runways, and expanding passenger services reflected the city’s transformation from a smaller agricultural center into a major metropolitan area. What once felt far outside town eventually became part of the heart of the city’s transportation network.

Photo credit: Arizona Historical Society.

Dr. Kristen Rex with Library and Archives

 Dr. Kristen Rex writes, "Love learning about library and archives in my new position.

Librarians are essential guides, knowledge keepers, and community champions who do far more than manage books.

I get to serve on the hiring committee to bring two new librarians and archivists to the Arizona Historical Society!"

We can see Barry Goldwater behind you. He was honored by the Historical League in 1992 as an Arizona Historymaker.

National History Day Youth Exhibit by Indra Moni

Indra Moni took 2nd place in Youth Individual Exhibit with National History Day. With great pride, she is showing her fellow 4th and 5th graders her display, explaining her research and all she has learned. Great JOB Indra!!

Palante! (Onward) The Revolution for Patients.

Historical League is proud to support the NHD program.

"From Pain to Peace" Aarna Venkatachalam individual NHD exhibit

Congrats to Aarna Venkatachalam for her Individual Exhibit "From Pain to Peace: How Anesthesia Revolutionized the Practice of Medicine.”

Her category is Youth Individual Exhibit.

Youth/elementary students do not advance to Nationals but we recognize their important work.

The Historical League is glad to support National History Day Arizona. 

Radium Girls group performance by NHD students

 Can you imagine the research and creativity that went into their performance? These young girls learned about the devasting effects of radium. This is not play acting for them . . . they will forever remember. Congratulations to National History Day students Emmalyn Keene, Ruby Ortega, Natalia Talino-smith, and Arayeh Feruglio.

Youth Group Performance "The Radium Girls: The Tragic Tale of the Dial Painters Who Changed Our Lives"

The Historical League is a supporter of this program.

Raven Burrell National History Day project "Out of the Darkness"

 Nice job Raven Burrell. She was awarded first place in state National History Day competition for her individual exhibit "OUT OF THE DARKNESS The Mary Ellen Case of 1874: A Revolution in the Legal Protection for Children."

National History Day Arizona brings history to life through project-based learning, research, presentations, workshops, and competitions that encourage students to explore historical topics of their choice. Through participation, students develop critical thinking, research, writing, communication, and problem-solving skills while learning to evaluate sources and construct evidence-based arguments.

The Historical League supports this program with volunteers, grants, scholarships, underwriting.

Year Zero: The Khmer Royge Genocide by Isaiah Chau and Stefan Nickerson NHD

Year Zero: The Khmer Rouge Genocide. Quite a topic for Isaiah Chau and Stefen Nickerson for their Group Documentary, National History Day AZ. They took 2nd place in state and advanced to National competition in College Park, MD.
Arizona Historical Society NHDAZ Co-ordinator Leonard Moody comments, "Making the NHD journey all the way up to the National level is an incredible accomplishment.

Committing to finishing a year-long project that requires in-depth research like NHD is an accomplishment in itself, let alone having a project that stands out in the state well enough to make it to the National Competition." 

The Historical League is proud to support this program.