Monday, April 14, 2025

NHD AZ State Competition at South Mountain College

 You can feel the tension in the air as the winners are announced. Who would make 1st, 2nd, 3rd place? Who would receive Special Awards?

Saturday, April 14 there were 180 students exhibits, performances, websites, projects judged with 40 having the privilege to compete at Nationals in Washington D.C.



Thanks to the Historical League members (14) who volunteered to help. Norma Jean Coulter, Katie Tovar, Sharron McKinney, Cathy Shumard, Diana and David Smith, Josie Pete, Madison Bartley, Sharon Scalise were judges. Pam denDraak, Margaret Baker, Robin Ferguson, Melissa Johnson were there at 7 am for registration. Claire Nullmeyer was photographing the event.

Students going to Nationals must bear expenses and many have fund raising activities. The Historical League offers $300 to each student for travel and $200 shipping props, exhibits.




Sunday, April 13, 2025

Independent Newsmedia covers 2025 Arizona Historymakers

 Thanks to Carolyn Hartman who does fabulous Public Relations for the Historymakers Program. 




All nine 2025 Historymakers have write ups and biographies in Independent Newsmedia along with the comment, "What accomplishments from the entire group!" Their great stories are being told all over Arizona.

Here's the link to Sister Adele O'Sullivan plus links to all the other Historymakers from her page.

 https://www.yourvalley.net/phoenix-independent/stories/arizona-historymakers-selections-include-sister-adele-osullivan,574015

Saturday, April 12, 2025

ASU West Campus gives out Tastes & Treasures II to incoming Freshman

Over 1,000 ASU West freshmen received Tastes & Treasures II book in fall 2024.

Not only is Tastes & Treasures II a wonderful public relations tool, a documentation of historic Arizona, a method of raising funds but it's a chance for students to share personal stories about their family, culture and community through food. Food is such a common thread in our lives.

Thank you to all Historical League members for working on this worthwhile project!

Here's a follow up letter from Carolyn Starr, ASU West Events Team:

We were thrilled to share Tastes & Treasures II: A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona with all of our first-year students as part of our Common Read program last fall. While we, unfortunately, don’t have any photos from the events or class activities to share, the impact of the book was still deeply felt across campus.
Our students were incredibly engaged in their ASU 101 classes. One of the key assignments asked them to select a meaningful recipe from their childhood and write a story about its significance. It was powerful to see them reflect on the role food plays in connecting us to our families, cultures, and communities.
All first-year students received the book during the first week of school in August 2024. Faculty incorporated it in a variety of ways—some invited students to bring in cultural snacks and share their stories, while others led discussions about the loss of family traditions in the digital age and the declining use of handwritten recipes.
Throughout the semester, our Verde Dining Hall featured a recipe from the cookbook each week. Aramark prepared the dish for all students—from freshmen to seniors—and highlighted it with signage above the serving station, including the story excerpt and origin from the book.
The culminating event was a community dinner where five recipes from the cookbook and five student-submitted recipes were selected and served. More than 500 students attended. The student recipes were kept a surprise until the event—it was such a joy to witness their reactions as they saw their family dishes prepared and shared with the campus.
Thanks again for checking in—it was a meaningful experience for our students, and we’re so grateful to have had the chance to highlight Arizona’s rich culinary and storytelling traditions.
Sincerely, Carolyn Starr     Events Team   


New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

Arizona State University

April Historical League Meeting/ Arizona Centennial Quilt on display

The Arizona Centennial Quilt was a perfect backdrop for a fun and well-attended April Historical League meeting.

Design ideas from quilters around the state started in 2010, completing the quilt in 2012 to honor Arizona's 100th Anniversary. It was displayed at the Arizona Capitol, then toured to Congressional offices in Washington D.C.

Thanks to wonderful photos from Josie Pete and Katie Tovar.



Dr. Josephine Pete (Josie), Cathy Shumard
Emily Burns

Co-Chair Diana Smith gives an enthusiastic report on the 2025 AZ Historymakers progress

Mary Perona is currently working on updating our website

Norma Jean Coulter, Historymakers Co-Chair Diane Smith, Zona Lorig

Co-Chair President Pam denDraak


Sandy Loeffler, Pat Christopherson


The Black & White Club: Nancy Evans, Pat Christopherson, Norma Jean Coulter

Adorable table decorations thanks to Sandy Loeffler


Friday, April 11, 2025

78 years of Arizona Baseball thanks to "Father of the Cactus League": 1993 Historymaker Dwight Patterson

Die-hard baseball fans waited before dawn for the 78th year of Cactus League Spring Training baseball season to begin. 

Now that the season is over, we learn how popular it is. The Cactus League attendance rose for the fourth straight season. 

Hear the story from 1993 Arizona Historymaker Dwight Patterson of how baseball came to Arizona. https://www.historicalleague.org/historymakers/dwight-w-pat-patterson















Thursday, April 10, 2025

Arizona 3rd Grade Postcard Contest winner Sky KeVine

 Congratulations to Scottsdale's Yavapai Elementary School winner Skye KeVine. She won the pizza party, swag bag and celebrated with her class, her teacher Alisha Reed, and her family. 

Arizona 3rd Grade Postcard Contest Awards and Pizza Parties have begun thanks to all the work done by Dr. Kristen Rex, Arizona Historical Society Chief Education Officer. The Historical League is happy to provide financial support for this program.

A postcard making contest was created for 3rd graders to help celebrate Arizona’s 113th birthday.  Lessons and activities were developed to support teachers’ needs to meet 3rd grade state standards on Arizona history. Over 2,000 students participated, 700 postcard art pieces were scored for creativity, accuracy in art and social studies, and 14 postcards were selected as winners. Winning students earned their class a pizza party, swag bag, and their teachers a year’s membership to the Arizona Historical Society.  

Watch and listen to Skye describe her drawing.

https://studio.youtube.com/video/K47WBs8iMzE/edit









Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Arizona Postcard Contest Pizza Party winner Dezihray Ciadella

Arizona 3rd Grade Postcard Contest Awards and Pizza Parties have begun thanks to all the work done by Dr. Kristen Rex, Arizona Historical Society Chief Education Officer. 

Congratulations to Buckeye's WestPark Elementary School winner Dezihray Ciadella. She won the pizza party, swag bag and celebrated with her class, her teacher Ms. Fasnacht, and her family. 

To help celebrate Arizona’s 113th birthday a postcard making contest was created for 3rd graders.  Lessons and activities were developed to support teachers’ needs to meet 3rd grade state standards on Arizona history. Over 2,000 students participated, 700 postcard art pieces were scored for creativity, accuracy in art and social studies, and 14 postcards were selected as winners. Winning students earned their class a pizza party, swag bag, and their teachers a year’s membership to the Arizona Historical Society.  The Historical League is happy to provide financial support for this program.

Watch and listen to Dezihray describe her drawing. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iQy2HAJNQ8A