Thank you luncheon for Dr Peter Welsh

The director of a museum and it's support organizations work closely together. Fourteen members of the Historical League took Dr Peter Welsh and wife, Liz, to lunch as a thank you for the years of hard work and enjoyment we have had together. The Arizona Biltmore has a glass walled room that was perfect for our large group. It was a delight to work with Dr Welsh and we wish him well in the future. As he said, "I am still a member of the Historical League" so we hope to continue to see him.

Cactus League Baseball Exhibit Opening

What a great way to learn the history of Spring Training in Arizona. Opening night was filled with food, fun, a little rain and an author who told us the story of Henry Aaron. His book was a success that evening as we all wanted a copy. Randy Johnson was the celebrity the next day when he signed autographs and Museum Director Peter Welsh took him on a tour of the new exhibit. Check it out at
http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/pages/video?PID=VnchkkV_cxLiLHtoWJcEIsj2iplEZjN_

New Membership Brochure

Updating a brochure can be tedious but not with Linda Cathey as chair, assisted by Zona Lorig, Pat Faur and myself. Dr Peter Welsh joined us for comments on docent training at the Museum. League members emailed ideas to Linda prior to the meeting. We are looking forward to Arizona colors, photos and a great new look.

AZ Highways Travel Show photos

Vacation in Arizona was the theme at the Travel Show. With so many venues represented it is easy to stay in the state for all your travel needs. We shared a booth with AHS promoting the museum in Papago Park and the cookbook. The granola sampling was very popular. I think everyone came to the event hungry. Kay North and Jackie Berkowitz worked with Dr Peter Welsh. Even some 1880's dressed shoppers visited the booth. Thanks also to Margaret Pogue, Lindy Isacksen, Pat Faur and Tobe Daum who volunteered in the booth.

Photo Fair at AHS Museum

Over 200 historical photographs of Arizona were submitted to the Annual Photo Fair. Historical League member Jeannine Moyle did a fantastic job of organizing and promoting this event. It is wonderful to watch the fair grow from historic photographs to include book signings, science experiments and more. Carolyn Mendoza set up a table with sales of Tastes & Treasures and Historical League aprons. George Hartz autographed his book for the Images of America series. Museum Director Dr. Peter Welsh participated in research being conducted on a weather station.

New Member Orientation/Pumpkin Spice Cake

Very few visitors to the Museum are privileged to enter the Archives and see the variety of artifacts stored there. How about a wire skirt pleater from the early 1900's or props from the Wallace & Ladmo TV set? A behind-the-scenes tour was conducted by Dr Peter Welsh to twenty new Historical League members. They were also introduced to League chairpersons, then savored a "make your own Cobb Salad" with all the fixings, and delicious desserts including a mouth watering Pumpkin Pie Cake.

PUMPKIN PIE CAKE
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 can ( 30 ounces) pumpkin pie filling mix (must use flavored pie filling,
not pure pumpkin)
1 box (about 18 ounces) yellow cake mix
1 cup (2 sticks) melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans
Whipped cream for garnish

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, evaporated milk and pumpkin pie filling mix. Pour into a greased 9 by 13 inch pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over batter. Drizzle melted butter over cake mix. Cover with chopped pecans. Bake 60 to 70 minutes, being careful not to let pecans burn. Can cover with aluminum foil near end if pecans start to get too brown.
Cake may still move slightly in the middle when done (like pumpkin pie). It sets up as it cools. Cool completely. Cake is better if made the day before serving or at least in the morning if you plan to serve in the evening. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.
Makes 8 servings.

Sandra Day O'Connor/ League Open House photos

Smiling faces all around as Sandra Day O'Connor greeted friends and fans at the new Exhibit Opening/Historical League Membership Open House Oct 21. Dr Peter Welsh points out highlights of the exhibit to Justice O'Connor, including a poster from her career.
Barbara Barrett was instrumental in procuring and moving the O'Connor House to the AHS property.


Justice O'Connor visits with Family Circus artist and fellow Historymaker Bil Keane.

Part of the Historymakers Hall exhibit includes photos and artifacts of Justice O'Connors career, even a Barbie doll in judicial robe.
Greg Novak, Justice O'Connor and Bil Keane. Marilyn and Robin Parke with Barbara Barrett.

Sandra Day O'Connor Exhibit Opening at AHS Museum

Sandra Day O'Connor has always been a role model for me and to learn about the exhibit honoring her was wonderful. Dr Peter Welsh presented the plans for the Exhibit, open to the public Oct 24, 2009, to the League Executive Board. The themes are
1. Early Life (her early papers, artifacts and photos of life on the Lazy B Ranch)
2. Preparation for Public Life (with her schooling and education at Stanford University)
3. Supreme Court years
4. Her House today on the AHS Museum property.
Curator Aaron Monson has been gathering artifacts (ex. her Supreme Court robe) and photos and will travel to Wash D.C. to visit the Library of Congress for more information. The interactive audio kiosk will have films, oral histories and interviews.
For those who want more details, there will be a Virtual Exhibit on the internet with documentation of many aspects of her life.
The exhibit will be in the Changing Gallery at the Museum at Papago Park and is sponsored by the Historical League and the Friends of Sandra Day O'Connor.
It is inspirational to see what she has done and accomplished from her humble beginnings.

Grants Awarded to Museum

The Museum is very grateful for their grant money from the Historical League. The funds go to such projects as MYCE (Museum Youth Curators Experience), National History Day, and wonderful interns from ASU. The new Sandra Day O'Connor exhibit is sponsored by the Historical League and should have a grand opening in the fall. We also help provide digital and video cameras, computers for video conferencing and membership in Papago Salado Project. A new project is St Mary's Food Bank Collection. This is the first food bank in the world and we are processing this collection now. Many other items are included for a total of $69,525 in grants.

Seth Willey, Administration and Facilities, Ashley Smith, Library and Archives, Megan Gately, Education, and Dr Peter Welsh, Director, with Jeannine Moyle, accept grant gifts.

Dr Peter Welsh writes for Front Doors Magazine

Wonderful historic photo and article by Dr Welsh in the latest frontdoors.biz page 17. Party at the Tafel House is from Christmas 1906 in Phoenix. Check it out.

Tea at Phoenix Museum of History

The Phoenix Museum of History held a tea as a fund raiser and several members of the Historical League were there to help support it. Looks like this event was lots of fun. I was out of town but just got these photos. The hats were a lovely Victorian touch and the men serving in tuxedos was an added bonus. Sorry I missed it but we can share the fun with these photos. Mary Parker and Jeannine Moyle pose for the camera. AHS Museum Director Dr Peter Walsh is surrounded by (L to R) Nancy Evans, Jeannine Moyle (wearing hat), Dee Steen and Ruth Ann Hogan (also wearing hat). Ruth Ann and John Jacquemart admire the second prize winning decorated table. The fourth photo shows Jeannine Moyle, Frank Barrios (very elegant in tux), Phoenix Museum of History Director Vicki Berger, Vicki's husband, Roger, and Wesley Mittelsleadt.

Presidents Advisory Board Brainstorms

What could be better than getting all the Past Presidents, Historymaker Gala Chairs, Executive Board and Museum Board Members together to learn about the latest Museum happenings and discuss it's future? Thanks to our current President, Jeannine Moyle, we met at Desert Ridge Marriott at 9 am, March 9. It was more like a reunion and so good to see familiar faces. Life changes and many League members are not as active as they once were but they are still very interested and have great ideas about the Museum and the League. Highlighted topics were Historymakers Gala, Children's Holiday Party, Membership, Finances, Centennial Celebrations, Cookbook and Old Ned Newsletter.

Pam Stevenson opened with a video she had produced promoting a century of Arizona. Wonderful photos and narrative. Dr Peter Welsh spoke about Museum happenings and the possibilities of a merger with Phoenix Museum of History. Great things could happen as a result of that.

We talked for hours, broke into smaller groups, paused for lunch and still kept discussing the future. There was a lot of energy in that room. I am looking forward to hearing about all the things that could be....even with the budget crunch, life with the Historical League looks good.

Stand Up Banner

Several people have asked, "Who did the stand up banner?" Groups at FRP Cookbook University in Nashville convention actually took photos. They loved it. Dr. Peter Welsh at the AHS Museum asked me yesterday, "Who produced it"? It is such a professional looking promotional tool. I carried it on the plane to Nashville and fellow flyers thought I was carrying pool cues or asked if I was a professional fisherman??? It's not that heavy and fits in the overhead compartment on the plane. The carry on case is very helpful with handles and shoulder strap. And so easy to set up.