March 6 Guest Speaker Leonard Macisz

March 6, 2017 Guest Speaker for the Historical League meeting will be Leonard Macisz.

Leonard Macisz who originally came from the corporate world turned himself into a devoted natural and Historical preservationist.  Not only did he serve as president of the Arizona Historical Society from 2011-2015, but he became chairman of the board of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, and consultant to the City of Scottsdale with regard to the procurement of archaeological services.  He is an expert historian on the McDowell Mountains and frequently writes articles and provides presentations to the public, and students at Arizona State University.

Mr. Marcisz will paint a picture of two very women, Goldie Brown and Annie White, who lived as ranching wives in different eras in Arizona.  Their stories will delight, amuse and amaze those of us who might have that “stereotypical image" of what a western ranch wife was supposed to be.  

Tour of St Mary's Food Bank

Making food for school lunches

We learn so much on Historical League tours. This one was filled with knowledge of all the wonderful things that St. Mary's Food Bank does. The first food bank in the world was started in Phoenix by John van Hangel in 1967 while he volunteered for St Vincent de Paul. I don't think even he realized the impact his work had.

Enormous warehouse

Donor acknowledgement

Kitchen to train chefs

Tour guide Terry Cole

Mr. Garcia

Cookbook brainstorming sessions are FUN

Nothing like a working lunch, especially when Linda Corderman brought a delicious Chicken and Spinach salad and Cathy Shumard made scones using The Spicery recipe! Yummmmm.
We brainstormed about all that has happened with Tastes & Treasures, A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona, Volume II and what the next few months will bring. Looking forward to publishing in fall 2017.

Scones ready for the oven

Scones fresh and warm from the oven

Judging for National History Day AZ

    National History Day Arizona regional competitions begin soon and are in need of more judges. The Tucson, Flagstaff, West Valley Phoenix and State competitions (details below) and could use your help.     Evaluating NHD projects is interesting and rewarding (and FUN) and really helps the students develop their skills and abilities.  To register as a judge please complete the online form at https://azhs.wufoo.com/forms/z1qiniqq1atjdc4/


March 4:
Flagstaff: Northern Arizona University, Liberal Arts Building, Flagstaff AZ
Tucson: University of Arizona, Social Sciences Building, Tucson, AZ

March 11:
West Valley Phoenix: La Joya Community High School, 11650 W. Whyman Ave, Avondale AZ

April 1st:
State Competition,  Memorial Union, Arizona State University

The Historical League presents Arizona Historymakers Gala XII

6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at the Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E Missouri Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85016.

The Historymakers Gala is a unique opportunity to celebrate and preserve for future generations the important and diverse contributions made to Arizona history by our honorees. The theme for the evening is "Turquoise & Tuxedos," and the dress is "Western Black Tie" . . . which translates: to wearing what is celebratory, with perhaps a western or turquoise touch, and comfortable and fun for you.
The selected 2017 honorees will be presented and honored at the Gala dinner. The highlight of the evening is a video program that tells each Historymaker’s unique life story and accomplishments.
Tickets are $350/person. There are also sponsorship opportunities.
The Historical League has been holding the Historymakers event since 1992 with the purpose of: raising funds for education, exhibits, and other programs that assist the AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park; contributing to the museum’s artifact, oral history and photograph collections; increasing public awareness of the 80,000-square-foot history museum; recognizing and honoring outstanding living Arizonans and celebrating Arizona’s statehood day, February 14, 1912.
To learn about the 2017 honorees, or to purchase tickets online,  go to https://www.historicalleague.org/event-inside.aspx?ProductID=74

Coffee and Conversation with Dr Eric Nystrom: National Parks Dilemma

“Preservation vs Enjoyment”: The National Parks Dilemma
Speaker: Dr. Eric Nystrom, Historian at the College of Letters and Sciences at Arizona State University
February 22
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: AZ Heritage Center
1300 N College Ave
Tempe, AZ 85281
**Free Event**


As part of our programming related to the In Celebration of our National Parks exhibit, Dr. Eric Nystrom will explore the history and language of the Organic Act, which calls for preservation for “enjoyment of future generations”. Is it possible to both preserve and allow the public to truly enjoy our national parks? Dr. Nystrom will talk about how that seeming contradiction influenced the history of the parks in different ways at different times in the last century.
Admission to the event is free. Donations welcome. Coffee is provided.

Eric C. Nystrom, Ph.D., is a historian in the College of Letters and Sciences at Arizona State University. Prior to joining ASU, he was an Associate Professor in the History Department at the Rochester Institute of Technology. His research focus is the history of American engineering and technology, especially late 19th and early 20th century mining. His interest also includes public history, legal history, and the use of open-source digital tools for historical analysis.