Sunday, October 4, 2026

Norma Jean Coulter is moderator at Arizona History Mini Convention

 Always busy with Arizona history, Historical League member Norma Jean Coulter (and Arizona History Convention board member) was a moderator at the Sept 26-27 convention in Tucson. 

Arizona History Convention posts: Many thanks to all 110 attendees of the 2026 Arizona History Mini Convention! 

Be sure to follow our FB page or check our website for information about the 2027 conference in Tempe. Date TBD, but likely late October or early November. 

Call for Papers and more information will be available Spring 2027.




Saturday, October 3, 2026

Annual Postcard Contest promoted on AZ12News with Caribe Devine

 We are delighted to have AZ12News spreading the word about the Arizona Historical Society 5th Annual Postcard Contest for 3rd graders. 




Caribe Devine anchors the 5, 6, 7, and 10 p.m. newscasts on weeknights at 12News alongside co-anchor Mark Curtis. With a warm yet authoritative presence, Caribe delivers the day’s top stories, breaking news, weather updates, and features that celebrate the unique spirit of Arizona. 

Her career in TV news began in an unconventional way, as a receptionist at KFOX-TV in El Paso during college. Witnessing newsroom energy during events like 9/11 and monsoon storms inspired her to move behind the scenes as a weather producer, eventually earning her first on-air weather reporting opportunities. Caribe’s background includes roles as a weather anchor and reporter at KFOX-TV and KTSM in El Paso before joining 12 News in Phoenix, where she served as a meteorologist from 2005 to 2017 before transitioning to news anchor. 

Caribe holds an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Certification in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. Throughout her career, she has earned multiple Emmy Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and an Associated Press “Best Anchor” recognition. Notably, her coverage of the 2018 violent riots at a President Trump rally in downtown Phoenix earned her national acclaim, including an Emmy nomination. 

Deeply connected to Arizona, Caribe embraces the state’s breathtaking desert landscapes, from the red rocks of Sedona to the Ponderosa pines, and the warmth of its community. Born in Texas but a proud Arizonan at heart, she cherishes raising her two daughters here. 

A former band geek, Caribe was drum major in high school and played clarinet in the UTEP marching band. When not anchoring, she enjoys hiking Arizona’s scenic trails, exploring the Valley’s vibrant restaurant scene, reading, working out, and spending quality time with her daughters.

Hispanic Heritage Month is here

 Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!

This photograph captures the Alianza Hispano Americana's Convention in Nogales, Arizona, on January 20, 1934. The Alianza Hispano Americana was a fraternal organization founded in Tucson in 1894 that supported and connected Mexican American communities throughout the Southwest.
More than 90 years later, this photograph offers a glimpse into the people and communities who have shaped Arizona's history and reminds us that Hispanic history is Arizona history.
: 1934; REF #: 69796 Arizona Historical Society


Festival of Science at AHS Pioneer Museum today!


 

Friday, October 2, 2026

National History Day Jim Rex Memorial Award

 Jim Rex Memorial Award is for Youth Division Participants honoring hard work, research, and participating in project-based learning opportunities like National History Day AZ.

Jim Rex taught 7th grade American History for 29 years to Arizona students. His love for engaging students to think, get excited about their past and apply evidence to show what they know was something he shared with over 10,000 students during his career. Wanting to encourage historical thinkers this award is for student projects that show passion, knowledge, and historical argumentation.
Those ranked 1st in their project category received awards of $20 each.
Youth Division winners are 4th and 5th graders. They will gain the opportunity to go to Nationals in the Junior Division as 6-8 graders.
The Historical League congratulates all the 2026 NHD Jim Rex winners. Four winners are pictured here.
Entries were:
Daniel Armijo
Aiden Barnes
Titoluwani Faleye
Youth Group Exhibit - Running Against the World
Ben Bradley
Stephanie Escalante Rodriguez
Jaxon Gonzalez
Alina Gaines
Natalie Russo
Youth Group Website - Banditen! Jewish Partisan Resistance During the Holocaust
Grayden Lily Cohen
Maxwell Martin
Youth Individual Exhibit - Hello Girls
Shreya Khera
Youth Individual Website - March of Bread and Roses: A Child's Tale
Maedini Pandit
Youth Paper - Too Unfit for a Slave?
Carter Cvelbar

Thursday, October 1, 2026

Winnie Ruth Judd story with author Laurie Notaro at AZHC Oct 10

 If you’re fascinated by Arizona history, Phoenix stories and true crime,we have two interesting opportunities coming up to explore the story of Winnie Ruth Judd, one of Arizona’s most infamous historical figures.


📚 FIRST UP: BOOK TALK & FILM — OCTOBER 10

Join us on Saturday, October 10, at the Arizona Heritage Center for a special afternoon exploring the Winnie Ruth Judd story.


New York Times bestselling author Laurie Notaro will discuss her book Murderess: The Hunt for Winnie Ruth Judd and the history behind this infamous Arizona case.


The program will also feature two screenings of filmmaker Scott Coblio’s full-length marionette film, offering a unique artistic interpretation of Winnie’s story.


📽️ Film Screening: 2 PM

📚 Book Talk with Laurie Notaro: 3:45 PM

📽️ Film Screening: 5 PM

📍 Arizona Heritage Center

🎟️ $10


Get tickets for the October 10 event: https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/ticketsearchcriteria.aspx?evtinfo=657003~5ac2ccc1-54af-4b64-ae9b-7b0df253cfe3&


Come hear the story, learn more about the history and see this unusual chapter of Arizona history brought to life through both books and film!



🔎 THEN — WINNIE RUTH JUDD TOUR — OCTOBER 17

Want to take the story beyond the book and film?


On Saturday, October 17, you can join a special Winnie Ruth Judd tour and explore the story in a whole different way.


This is a great opportunity for those who want to learn more about the people, places and events connected to one of Phoenix’s most notorious historical cases.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Ed Beauvais, 2017 Arizona Historymaker

 Today we remember Ed Beauvais, who passed away 5 years ago today. Ed Beauvais spent his career in aviation. He founded America West Airlines (AWA) in 1981 and served as the company’s first CEO. By establishing Phoenix as the corporate home and operational hub for AWA, Beauvais contributed significantly to the rapid growth of Phoenix and Sky Harbor Airport.

Ed was also influential in the support for the construction of the Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park, and he was also honored as a Historymaker by the HistoricalLeague.org in 2017.

You can listen to him tell his story at https://www.historicalleague.org/historymakers/ed-beauvais.

Seen in this photograph is a mixed medium collage of highlights from AWA created in 1990. Beauvais (right) is shown with Michael J. Conway (left), the first President of AWA, celebrating the success and impact of their accomplishments.