Dr. Josephine Pete, Historical League member extraordinaire and newest recipient of the A. Wade Smith Memorial Lecture on Race Relations.

 Dr. Josephine Pete, Historical League member extraordinaire and newest recipient of the A. Wade Smith Memorial Lecture on Race Relations. It was created in 1995 to perpetuate Smith’s tireless efforts to improve race relations across ASU campuses and within the greater community.

When Moore died in 2022, the lecture was renamed the A. Wade Smith and Elsie Moore Memorial Lecture on Race Relations for her devotion to ASU as a beloved faculty member and advocate for students of color.

FYI - 2013 past recipient was J. Eugene Grigsby, Jr. who was honored as Arizona Historymaker in 1992.

Renowned Michele Norris, winner of Emmy Award and Peabody Award and Dr. Lisa M. Anderson, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Engagement in the Graduate College of the School of Social Transformation.

Dr. Josephine Pete and Dr. Kenja Hassan, Associate Vice President, Social Embeddedness and Civic Engagement at Arizona State University.

1992 Historymakers Gala Evening Production

Hidden for 30 years in the archives, it is fascinating to watch the dignitaries attending the 1992 Arizona Historymakers Gala. Held at the brand new AHS museum in Papago Park, the crowd was dressed in their finest. Kent Dana was MC for the evening.

Enjoy a walk down memory lane with the very first Gala honoring Philip Curtis, Barry Goldwater, Robert Goldwater Sr., J. Eugene Grigsby Jr, Bil Keane, Sandra Day O’Connor, Frank Snell, The Wallace & Ladmo Team: Vladimir Kwiatkowski, Pat McMahon, Bill Thompson. YouTube.com/@arizonahistoricalleague

1992 AZ Historymaker J. Eugene Grigsby Jr. remembered with ASU library event

Monday, Feb. 21, 2022; 5:30–7 p.m. Arizona/MST

Join the ASU Library for a lively conversation about celebrated Black artist and scholar Jefferson Eugene Grigsby, Jr., with the people who knew him the best. https://mailchi.mp/747c47ce81ff/a-celebration-of-jefferson-eugene-grigsby-jr?e=[UNIQID]

Grigsby was honored as an Arizona Historymaker in 1992. His biography and oral history are detailed at www.HistoricalLeague.org/historymakers

Dr. J. Eugene Grigsby Jr. (1918-2013) Is Remembered

Formal Historymakers Portrait 1992

Sargent Grigsby

Historymaker Dr. J. Eugene Grigsby Jr. (1918 - 2013) passed away on Sunday, June 9th, leaving his two sons and their families as well as thousands of former students, friends and facility. His extraordinary career has encompassed teaching, consulting and lecturing. He was especially recognized for his many efforts to increase national awareness of ethnic art while some of his greatest satisfaction came from working with various inner-city youth programs.

He received many awards including Historical League’s Historymaker 1992 and NAEA’s Art Educator in 1988.

Recently, Dr. Grigsby generously contributed funds for the "Program to Donate Arizona Recollections and Reflections, An Arizona Centennial Historymakers Commemoration to Libraries across Arizona". This Legacy Project book is based on oral history interviews with 58 Historymakers, influential Arizonans whose personal recollections tell the story of Arizona and helped to create it’s cultural fabric. Arizona history is reflected through the lens of their lives and achievements. Dr. Grigsby is featured on pages 148-151 with his biography, formal portrait and family photos. www.HistoricalLeague.org

J. Eugene Grigsby Jr. with Lady Bird Johnson