Goodbye to Kyle McKoy, AHS Museum Director

Enthusiastic, Engaging, Enchanting and (E)Luminating . . . Kyle McKoy has been a breathe of fresh air for AHS Museum at Papago Park. Members of the Historical League hosted a farewell luncheon at Phoenix Country Club to say "Good bye" to a lovely lady. She will be greatly missed.

Interim director is Linda Whitaker, our very capable head of Library and Archives. We will continue to move forward at the museum but miss those wonderful people we have worked with in the past.

Thanks for the great memories, Kyle. Indianapolis Historical Society Museum is lucky to have you.

Staff Appreciation Luncheon

How can you show your appreciation for the wonderful staff at AHS Museum? Once a year we honor them with a luncheon and present the Grants for the next year. It is always exciting to learn the details of the Grants and get to know the staff better over lunch. Each staff member introduced him/herself. Museum Director Kyle McKoy accepted the Grant certificate and told us many new happenings at the Museum.

Grants to Museum

Donating over $1 million to the AHS Museum at Papago Park since 1980 is a point of pride for the Historical League. President Sharron McKinney gave Museum Director Kyle McKoy the Grant money for 2011-2012 totaling over $75,000. We are pleased to see the funds go to great projects at the Museum.

The presentation took place at our Annual Spring Recognition Luncheon at Arizona Country Club on Wed, May 15.

Fandago Celebrates AZ Centennial with Style

The Sold Out party at Phoenix Convention Center enjoyed a wonderful evening. Beautiful backdrops, entertainment, speeches, dignitaries and everyone dressed in Arizona Black Tie (lots of turquoise jewelry, cowboy boots and hats). Each guest received First Day of Issue Arizona Forever Stamp designed by Historymaker Ed Mell, Gold Arizona Coins and a wonderful display of patriotism and pride in our state.

Historymakers Stevie and Karl Eller spent the last two years working on the Centennial which will continue throughout the year. They are greatly appreciated.

The Historical League had 5 tables filled with League members at the event. We were entertained by the Phoenix Symphony, Esteban, Marshall Tremble, Rex Allen Jr., Robin Sewell, Sandra Day O'Connor, Hugh Downs, Luis Gonzales, Dave Pratt, Hopi dancers and so much more. What a wonderful evening to honor Arizona's history while looking forward to the next 100 years.

Raspberry Crumble Bars at Open House

These were mouthwatering. I remember my mother making something similar that we called Raspberry Squares.

New Member Karen Swanson has questions for Debbie Wegener about the Centennial Book, AZ

Recollections and Reflections. She already has a box of ten Tastes & Treasures that she is giving as Christmas gifts this year.

AHS Museum Director Kyle McKoy spoke about the future of the Museum incorporating new and innovative exhibits to reach the youth. She has a great vision for

AHS.

RASPBERRY CRUMBLE BARS

Ingredients:

3 sticks unsalted butter, slightly soft

3 1/3 cups flour

¾ cup sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

1½ cups old fashioned rolled oats

¾ tsp sea salt

1 large egg

1 T whole milk or cream

1½ cups Raspberry Preserves

½ cup fresh raspberries (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer place the flour, sugar, brown sugar, oats and salt. Using the paddle attachment beat on low speed to combine. Turn off the mixer.
3. Cut the butter into little cubes.
4. Combine the egg and milk in a small bowl, whisking with a fork.
5. Add the butter, egg & milk, beating at low speed only until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stop and scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula as necessary.
6. Reserve 3 cups of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
7. Spread the Raspberry Preserves (and fresh raspberries, if using) over the top, leaving a ½-inch border.
8. Crumble the rest of the oat mixture over the preserves.
9. Bake until lightly browned, about 40-50 minutes.
10. Cool completely before cutting into bars. Can be made a day ahead… this is actually better the next day.

National History Day winners

National History Day makes history come alive for America's youth by engaging them in the discovery of the historic, cultural and social experiences of the past. Through hands-on experiences and presentations, today's youth are better able to inform the present and shape the future. NHD inspires children through exciting competitions and transforms teaching through project-based curriculum and instruction.

We are so pleased that AHS Museum Director Kyle McKoy and Education department Megan Gately have brought the National History Day to so many students. When they got involved the program was a very minor effort in AZ. This year 67 students from grades 4-12th went to Washington D.C. to participate. They met Senators Schweikert, McCain and Flake. They toured museums and Congressional halls. It was a life changing event for these students.

Congratulations to
3rd place in Performance: Elaissia Sears, Angelique Guerrero, Matthew Fichtemaier
Mesa, AZ, Red Mountain High School
Teacher(s): Julienne Collums
Entry - Integration Altercation

Sharron McKinney takes reins as new League President

June is the meeting where the new board takes over for the upcoming year. Sharron McKinney (center) did a great job as new president at the June meeting and we thank past president Pat Faur (right) for a splendid job. We were pleased to have AHS Museum director, Kyle McKoy (left) join us at the meeting also. (Pictured at the Executive Board meeting prior to the regular meeting).

We are looking forward to a successful 2011-2012 season with our Tastes & Treasures cookbook and Arizona Recollections and Reflections to help celebrate Arizona Centennial.

Staff Appreciation Luncheon

The Historical League really values the talents and hard work of the staff at AHS Museum, Papago Park. Each June we host a luncheon to show our appreciation and to hand out grant money for the coming year. This year we were able to donate $65,000 to the AHS Museum and look forward to seeing the wonderful things they will do. New director, Kyle McKoy talks about events at the Museum during the meeting.

Donna Esposito dishes up a delicious lasagna for everyone.
Jeff Hotchkiss is ready to enjoy a Centennial chocolate bar from the Historymakers Gala while Megan Gately and Dawn discuss ideas with League members.

AHS website new and improved

Thanks to Kyle McKoy and the education staff at the Arizona Historical Society Museum, www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org has a new and improved look. Especially inviting is the Kids Only Section with activities, puzzles, history and recipes to follow. The Easy Sticky Buns may not be the traditional, historical recipe from El Chorro (found in Tastes & Treasures page 78) but it is a fun one for children.

www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org/education/kids_only

The Arizona Story - a 4th grade textbook

Are you smarter than a 4th grader ? Kyle McKoy told us her joys and frustrations as she embarked on the journey of writing a 4th grade History book at a Historical League meeting. The Arizona Historical Society staff, under the direction of Kyle, completed " The Arizona Story " in 2009. The textbook has received the 2009 Award of Merit for Educational Programming Excellence from The American Association for State and Local History. It has also received extraordinary acceptance from school districts across Arizona. Award winning author Jana Bommersbach wrote a Centennial article for the AZ Republic and applauded this textbook. We are very proud of Kyle and her staff.

"The Arizona Story"

Monday’s League meeting featured speaker Kyle McKoy, who with AHS staff, wrote the state’s new 4th grade Arizona history textbook, “The Arizona Story.” She was required to follow the state’s new social studies technical standard as well create a text that would appeal to children.

Kyle succeeded. The textbook received the 2009 Award of Merit for Educational Programming Excellence from The American Association for State and Local History. School districts across Arizona have enthusiastically adopted the text.

Kyle’s inspiration were the stories she collected, and her goal was to collect as many stories from as many points of view as possible. She determined to go to the source for stories and didn’t want a Euro-centered view. One of her favorites? “Edith, My Baby Doll.” During World War II, rubber was in great demand for the war effort and citizens were asked to turn in rubber in their possession. The author’s beloved doll was made of rubber. To comply, her mother took off the doll’s legs and arms to turn in, then sewed socks on the doll to replace them.

“The Arizona Story” isn’t just for 4th graders. It’s filled with real stories and anecdotes and has an eye-catching design. The book can be purchased in the museum’s gift shop. For museum information: Arizona Historical Society

AHS 4th grade Arizona History Book Wins Award

Congratulations to the Arizona Historical Society for winning a 2009 Award of Merit for Educational Programming Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History for the Arizona Story.

The Arizona Story represents the new generation of educational programming. Written by our own Kyle McKoy of the Arizona Historical Society, the 4th grade textbook combines vivid graphics, museum collections, state and national history, and supports multiple intelligence learning strategies for the classroom. The text is aligned with the 4th grade Social Studies Standard and places a special emphasis on analyzing and assessing primary resources. The Arizona Story accurately covers Arizona history from prehistory to the present, spotlights significant history from various regions around the state, and excites young students to explore their state history and take pride in their community.

In less than 20 years, today’s fourth-graders will make political decisions and policies that will affect the preservation of our state’s history. An appreciation for Arizona’s past will ensure their decisions are wise and well-informed.

Kyle is going to Indianapolis in August to receive this award. Congratulations on a well written book.

MYCE opening day Saturday, May 9

Lots of talking, laughing, speeches, children, parents, dignitaries (including Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman) and excitement...that was the opening of the Museum Youth Curators Experience at the Museum. Honor students from the 8th grade at Greenway Middle School worked since September to research and create exhibits with the theme "From the 60's and 70's". Kudos to Megan Gately, Heidi Cocco and Kyle McKoy for all their hard work and inspiration to so many students. Everyone enjoyed themselves, tasted sweet treats and followed the students through the exhibits. They will remain open for several months. My daughter, Candice, and I learned more about the program from Megan. It is rewarding to see that funds raised from the Historical League go to such great community outreach educational programs.