Friday, October 11, 2024

Todd Bailey Special Projects Co-ordinator at AZHC

 So grateful to have Todd Bailey at AZHC. He is indeed a treasure! Check out this excerpt from AZ Republic 9/27/2024.

From the glamour of Monte Carlo to the deserts of Arizona, dance has taken Todd Bailey across the world. The professional dancer and educator has now returned to Arizona and works at the AZ Historical Society as a special projects coordinator, but his journey has taken twists and turns like a winding canyon road in his home state.
Bailey was born in Mesa in 1967 and raised in the Valley.
“I’m a Gen X kid from the ’70s, running around these desert streets trying not to burn my feet and all that,” Bailey said. His grandparents moved from Mississippi in the 1940s and raised his mom and her three sisters in the Washington- Escobedo neighborhood.
Bailey attended school in south Mesa, where he was homecoming king in 1985. Although he grew up in a segregated area of the Valley, he looks back at his childhood fondly.
“Education was really, really, really a big deal in the family and also the arts. My mother is a gospel singer, they call her ‘Joyce the Voice’ Bailey,” he said.
This exposure and love for the arts from a young age set him on the path he is still on today. For Bailey, it’s the reason why he became involved in dancing at all.
“Her musical and arts interests kind of filtered to me and I became a professional dancer, I grew up dancing at Tempe Dance Academy,” Bailey said.
After beginning his career in the Valley, he started his journey across the world; first to San Francisco, then New York City and Atlantic City. He worked in Monte Carlo as well.
After 25 years of dancing and being on the road, Bailey retired from professional dancing and came back to the Valley.
He has worked for the Arizona Historical Society for about 6 years, where he is the special projects coordinator.
In this role, he has organized many events and worn many hats. One such program is the society’s annual Juneteenth Celebration.
The event is hosted at the Arizona Historical Society and is organized in conjunction with the Black Family Genealogy and History Society, and the Arizona State University Library.
Jessica Salow, assistant archivist of Black Collections at ASU has known Bailey for the last five years and has worked side by side with him on the Juneteenth Celebration for the last three.
For her, Bailey has been a source of inspiration and a connection to the community around her.
“Working with Todd is an absolute delight, it’s a pleasure. Every time I am in conversation with him, every time I collaborate with him on a project I learn so much from him and I am very inspired and in awe of who he is,” she said.




Monday, September 23, 2024

Diana Gregory Foundation Honorees

 Each year the Diana Gregory Foundation honors two senior citizens who have made great contributions in their community. Historical League member Dr. Josephine Pete was honored this year.

Pictures from Norma Jean Coulter.

Attending the event are Historical League members Norma Jean Coulter with Dr. Josephine Pete, and Cathy and Tom Shumard


Dr. Josephine Pete, one of today’s honorees.


Guest speaker Andrew Young, 92 yr old former Atlanta mayor, U.S. representative, ambassador, guest speaker

Mrs. Elizabeth White, 102 yr old former honoree and 2023 Arizona Historymaker. Lady in red with Mrs. White is 104 yr old WW II army nurse who is also honorary mascot for Tuskegee airmen Arizona Chapter.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

September 2024: First meeting of the year

 What new adventures will we have this year with the Historical League? Our September meeting was filled with plans as well as renewing friendships after the summer.

Katie Tovar, Cathy Shumard


Dr. Kristen Rex, Jolynn Clarke

Cathy Shumard, Leonard Moody, Norma Jean Coulter, Dr. Kristen Rex

The successes of AZ students at National History Day were celebrated as Dr. Kristen Rex was enthusiastic about the event held in June in Maryland. At the Sept. 6 Historical League meeting, we listened to her and NHDAZ co-ordinator Leonard Moody's experiences.



Leonard Moody
Jolynn Clarke introduces Leonard Moody

Plans for the 2025 Arizona Historymakers Honorees are happening now! Co-chair Diana Smith filled us in on nominations at the September 6 Historical League meeting. Lots of excitement and work ahead. Seated Jolynn Clarke and Historymakers co-chair Diane Smith.

Monday, September 9, 2024

Dr. Josie Pete attends NHD in Wash. D.C.

On the morning of June 12, I arrived at the National Museum of the African American History, where I was greeted by Dave and Diana Smith! What a wonderful surprise! 

We agreed the excitement and enthusiasm of the hundreds of students in attendance was contagious. It was rewarding to witness the skills and talent demonstrated by the students. The relevance of the research and maturity level of the topics was a testament to the time and effort dedicated to the production of these projects.

I later found Nathan Davies-Venn and his family. His documentary was shown in the theater in the morning. I was proud to meet this talented young man, who did an admirable job of representing Arizona. Nathan’s documentary was on the life of Henrietta Lacks. This experience was sobering in clarifying our role to ensure history is documented and understood by our students. 


The Historical League provides a beacon of hope ensuring that these young people continue to be encouraged and are supported in their educational pursuits.

 

A special thank you to Cathy Shumard, who kept me updated on the National History Day events.


From June 2024 Historical League Old Ned Newsletter

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Diana and David Smith attend NHD National Competition

 Attending the National History Day awards ceremony at the University of Maryland was truly an exhilarating five-hour experience for my husband, David, and me. More than 2,000 students recognized some of the most noteworthy turning point history in the world and celebrated its important impact on our lives. We credit the teachers and students' families, the national and state organizers and especially the hours of work everyone dedicated to making June 2024's event inspiring.

Who/what did we see? More than 2,000 students receiving and being recognized for outstanding work on the 2024 theme—Turning Points in History. We witnessed their enthusiasm to share with everyone why they chose their topic.


Our impression of NHD? A well coordinated effort to recognize students --Junior High Division and High School Division competitions—for their work creating their projects. The team efforts and support of friends cheering their classmates and others from their state was so personally heartwarming. Dave and I believe the students enjoyed NHD. We met many of the students

during a day at Smithsonian's Museum of American History, where selected exhibits were on display. The students hosted visitors and explained their exhibit to all. We saw a wide range of topics (turning points in history) and were able to hear from the students how and why they selected that theme.


Students were advocates for their project—very willing to explain, defend and interact with all visitors. Many of the exhibit projects were done by two or three students working together, and they said they became better friends because of the project.


We met students at the African American Museum where the documentary projects were showcased. Their enthusiasm and focus on their projects and pride of featuring their theme were infectious.


We would definitely go again!

From Old Ned Newsletter June 2024


Monday, September 2, 2024

ASU West selects Tastes & Treasures II for their Valley Common Read Initiative

The League is honored that ASU West has selected our cookbook for their Valley Common Read Initiative with incoming freshmen this fall. The school is purchasing 1,150 books. Along with donating books to AHS Certified Historical Institutions CHIs, it means that we are nearing a complete sell-out of Tastes & Treasures II.

ASU website describes Common Read:

The Common Read is a book selected by committee that the entire first year students at ASU West Valley campus read. The intent is to engage and stir the minds of our students. With all the students reading the same book it fosters student growth. The books may require students to question their belief system, relate to others and build community.