Bill Ponder retires after 25 year career with AHS

President Claire Nullmeyer comments on a recent event at the Arizona History Museum in Tucson honoring Bill Ponder's 25 year career. "Zona Lorig and I attended Bill's retirement event. He was very happy with the gathering and gentle “roasting and toasting”. Linda Whitaker, AHS Board President hosted the group of 20 invited guests.

Dr. David Breeckner and Tawn Downs presented Bill with a “Basket of Retirement Travel” gifts and a map of Arizona Museum locations signed by staff members from around the state."

Dr. Breckner writes, "Bill has been a quiet but powerful force at AHS, overseeing the institution's growth and transformation across the last quarter-century. We have been fortunate to count him as a leader and staff, and are sorry to see him go. He will be missed. It's with Bill in mind -- his vision, energy, and professionalism -- that we look ahead. I'm certain he'll remain in touch, and I am eager to work with you and all of the Historical League as we continue to grow his legacy across all of Arizona."

September Historical League meeting

After no meetings all summer, it's always so wonderful to gather with friends and discuss history at the Arizona Heritage Center each September. Nothing like hellos and hugs! Guest speaker and AHS President Linda Whitaker was informative and educational. A good friend and supporter of the Historical League, we have worked with her for years in her many positions. President Claire Nullmeyer begins her year as our leader and guide. Looking forward to many more events, meetings, celebrations helping to preserve and promote Arizona history.

40th Anniversary Fundraiser updates at April meeting

Very exciting news as President-Elect Claire Nullmeyer reports at the April meeting that $74,645 has been raised for "The Future of History Fund". It was established in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the Historical League and will underwrite key projects that fulfill the League’s mission. Members and friends of the Historical League are contributing, starting at the $250 level, to reach a goal of $100,000. The first year’s projects include: 1. An update of the Historymakers Hall exhibit 2. Support for Arizona teachers and students to develop National History Day projects 3. Outreach dollars for the Arizona Heritage Center to reach new audiences “History gives us hope for the future.” ---Linda Whitaker, Honorary Lifetime Member of the Historical League and President of the Board, Arizona Historical Society

Historical League Archives at AZ Heritage Center

Records are important to keep. Since its beginning in 1979, the Historical League has done important things, raised funds for the Arizona Historical Society museum at Papago Park [now the Arizona Heritage Center], sponsored events, started programs, told the story of Historymakers, and so much more. Archivist Linda Whitaker emphasized the importance of having Historical League history archived at the museum to tell our story too.  We found out that "what should be saved are ordinary committee annual reports, invitations, photos, etc., that represent the life of the organization - how we lived it - the flesh and blood."
Thanks to Zona Lorig, Linda Whitaker, Margaret Baker and Mary Parker for gathering all this information from League members, sorting through it and saving important relevant material. It may take some time to go through all these files, paper and digital,  but the end result is worth it.

Historymakers meeting with Linda Whitaker

Always knowledgeable about storing information for AHS library, Archivist Linda Whitaker met with Historymakers Legacy Project members to discuss the amazing materials the Historical League has collected since the Historymakers program started in 1992. Storing these valuable documents and photographs and making them accessible to the public is an ongoing project.

Archivist Linda Whitaker, Margaret Baker, Nina Filippi and Zona Lorig and Ruth McLeod (not pictured) meet
in the AHS Library, AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park

Cookbook storage at Museum

New cookbook storage at the museum is perfect although somewhat chilly if the freezer door is open nearby.
Interesting that the walk-in freezer stores old film that needs to be kept cold. Archivist Linda Whitaker explained why this freezer is so important using words like storage of "explosive vulnerable film" and "vintage movie film negatives" and "nitrate negatives." After Linda's explanation and looking up nitrate negatives on Wikipedia, the freezer makes a lot of sense!
Thanks to Linda for creating this space for Tastes & Treasures, A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona.

Ruth McLeod felt the chilling effects of the walk-in freezer.

History of AZ Heritage Center Musuem

Linda Whitaker shows us some of the hundreds of
boxes of records she went through this summer.

The first meeting of the year with President Anne Lupica included a wonderful talk by museum archivist Linda Whitaker. Linda values the League and all it does, impressing on us the need for keeping accurate records as well as taking oral histories of our members to provide the emotional side of the story.

President Anne Lupica and Linda Whitaker hand out some printed history of the museum.

Susie Brinegar (L) and Renee Donnelly (R) greet Linda after her talk.

Original AHS Museum was the Ellis Shakelford house on Central Ave.

Historical League September Meeting

General Membership Meeting  Date: 9/12/2016

Our Fall season starts with Linda Whitaker, Archivist, speaking on the history of the museum building and funding of the AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park which is the Arizona Historical Society's Museum in Tempe.
Meeting 10:00 - 11:15 am. 
Lunch 11:30 am - 12:15 pm ($15 suggested donation) 
Guest Speaker 12:15 - 1:00 pm. 

Historical AZ tapes for AHS tours

 

Finding old VHS  tapes with valuable information about Arizona and it's history in the archives, Dawn Nave converted them to 20 DVDs. They are perfect for school tours and will be used in the recently renovated Brown Gallery. The material is age appropriate and in compliance with AZ education standards. The VHS tapes were from various sources including KAET Channel 8 and private collections. Interim Director Linda Whitaker thanked the Historical League for funding for this project.

Historymaker Marshall Trimble entertains at the Recognition Luncheon

Renee Donnelly, Margaret Baker and
Betsy Davis

Always entertaining, Marshall Trimble sang ballads and told stories of early Arizona. Starting with an explanation about Arizona's four seasons, "Almost Summer, Summer, Still summer and Christmas," he shared his passion for this wonderful state. Growing up in Ashfork, he has a lot of memories of Arizona. The Historical League is pleased to present a donation to Marshall Trimble's Scholarship Program at Scottsdale Community College. https://maricopa.academicworks.com/opportunities/8899

Mary Garbaciak, Claire Nullmeyer, Cindy Tidwell-
Shelton, Aaron and Jackie Berkowitz

Zona and Tom Lorig
with Bill Parker

The Recognition Luncheon, held at Grayhawk golf club on Thursday, May 7, was filled with Historical League members and guests.

Norma Hinton, Cathy and Thomas Shumard

Nancy Evans, Museum Director Linda Whitaker
and Zona Lorig

Pat Christopherson and Patti Goss

Larry Baker and Ben Davis

New ASU Intern at AHS Museum

Zona Lorig, Stephen Peterson, Linda Cathey and Linda Whitaker

Getting a donation of the entire personal collection of Sam Applewhite Sr. and Jr. is a nice addition for the AHS Museum. Getting it organized with front matter and finding aides is a big job.

We are grateful for the skills of new intern, ASU graduate student Stephen Petersen, who is very busy setting up this project with its high research value.

Sales of the Historical League Tastes & Treasures cookbooks help fund this intern program. Historical League members chat with Stephen and Interim Museum Director Linda Whitaker in the photo.

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.

Historical Book from Carolyn Hartman

Cleaning up can often lead to fabulous discoveries. New League member Carolyn Hartman found this book with her father's memorabilia. Stanford Hartman M.D. was well-respected and loved Arizona history.

Originally published in 1884, this book was reprinted in limited edition in 1967. Recently Carolyn donated book copy #81 of 300 to the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park.

Accepting the book is Linda Whitaker with collections at the museum.