Thanksgiving Table Talk

 Thanksgiving Table Talk — Family Story Prompts. One of the perks of membership in AHS is some great correspondence. Vince Bradley, Deputy Assistant Director at Arizona

Historical Society sent out "10 story prompts to spark memories, laughter, and a little oral history at home." Here are 3.

1. What’s a place in Arizona (or where you grew up) that instantly brings back memories?

2. Who was the best storyteller in your family, and what tale did they tell over and over?

3. Describe a “first” you remember clearly—first home here, first job, first Arizona summer monsoon.

https://arizonahistoricalsociety.org/ahs-membership/

Historymaker Documentary for 2025 Turquoise & Treasures

Creating a documentary: Thanks to the knowledge of high  school junior, Thanvi Voruganti, 1992-2023 Arizona Historymakers have been recorded in a 20-minute documentary. Thanvi was the Curator. 

The documentary committee: Creative Director Ruth McLeod, Editors Cathy Shumard and Zona Lorig, AHS National History Day Coordinator Leonard Moody, AHS V.P. Education Dr. Kristen Rex, and NHD Advisor/Teacher Stacey Trepanier are grateful for her expertise. Ruth commented, “Thanvi was delightful to work with, clear grasp of the goals, creative and prompt in  her response to the project.

The documentary featured all Historymakers from 1992-2023. It was emailed to all 2025 Historymakers, Historymakers who came to the event and all attendees. 

https://www.youtube.com/@arizonahistoricalleague 

Thanvi posed with Eleanor Roosevelt while in Washington D.C. for National History Day competition

Thank you to attendees of Arizona Historymakers Celebration

 Thank you to attendees of Arizona Historymakers Celebration: Turquoise & Treasures Oct 25, 2025. It was a pleasure to honor John R. Graham, Dr. Eric M. Reiman, Sharon Harper, Sister Adele O'Sullivan, Diana 'Dede' Yazzie Devine, F. Ronald 'Ron' Rayner, Bob Boze Bell, Dr. Duane Wooten and Dr. Oliver Harper.

GreenenVelope is a engaging, animated way to send invitations and thank you notes.

Mother of Thanksgiving: Sarah Josepha Hale

 

From Wikipedia -Mother of Thanksgiving: Sarah Josepha Hale may be the individual most responsible for making Thanksgiving a national holiday in the United States; it had previously been celebrated mostly in New England.[31] Each state scheduled its own holiday, some as early as October and others as late as January; it was largely unknown in the American South. Her advocacy for the national holiday began in 1846 and lasted 17 years before it was successful.[32] In support of the proposed national holiday, Hale wrote presidents Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, and Abraham Lincoln. Her initial letters failed to persuade, but the letter she wrote to Lincoln convinced him to support legislation establishing a national holiday of Thanksgiving in 1863.[33] The new national holiday was considered a unifying day after the stress of the Civil War.[34] Before Thanksgiving's addition, the only national holidays celebrated in the United States were Washington's Birthday and Independence Day.[35] Hale's efforts earned her the nickname "Mother of Thanksgiving".[36] Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History curator of food history, Paula J. Johnson, claims that Hale was "key in bringing together and popularizing the Thanksgiving holiday with the menu featuring turkey and stuffing".[37]

In her novel Northwood: Or, a Tale of New England, Hale devotes an entire chapter to describing the many dishes of Thanksgiving—roasted turkey, gravy and savory stuffing, chicken pie, pumpkin pie, pickles, cakes and preserves—and to drink ginger beer, currant wine and cider.[38]

Happy Thanksgiving from The Historical League

 

Litchfield Park/Goodyear Independent: Ron Rayner honored as Arizona Historymaker

Local agricultural leader Ron Rayner was named one of the 2025 Arizona Historymakers at a ceremony in Scottsdale. Rayner was recognized for his lifetime of contributions to Arizona agriculture and his impact on the surrounding community.

The event, hosted by the Historical League, celebrated Rayner alongside nine other individuals whose life stories have shaped Arizona’s history. 

Along with Rayner, the 2025 Arizona Historymakers included notable figures such as Bob Boze Bell, Diana ‘Dede’ Yazzie Devine, and Dr. Oliver Harper, among others. 

According to Arizona Historymakers, Rayner’s agricultural innovations have had a lasting impact on the industry, particularly in the West Valley. As a nationally recognized leader in sustainable farming, he developed arid land double-cropping and no-till farming practices that conserve water, reduce pesticide use, and improve soil health.

Rayner also served in leadership roles across various agricultural and community organizations, including as a former board member of the Central Arizona Project, past chairman of the National Cotton Council, and founding chairman of Electrical District No. 8.  According to Arizona Historymakers, his commitment to supporting fellow farmers and improving agricultural practices has earned him respect across the state.

Rayner’s family farm, A Tumbling T Ranches, has deep roots in the region. The Rayner family moved to the area from northern California in 1914, settling in what is now Goodyear and Litchfield Park. Over the years, the farm expanded from growing potatoes and onions to a diversified agricultural operation. Today, A Tumbling T Ranches produces a variety of crops in Arizona and California, including wheat, alfalfa, and cotton, and continues to be a leader in sustainable farming practices.

Visit historicalleague.org for more information.

Zona Lorig

Research - that’s how Oral History starts and one of the first interactions with Arizona Historymakers. 

"A Historymaker's oral history is a recording, via audio, video or both, of an individual's lifetime of memories including family, education, career, philanthropy, and interests. Prior to the interview, the interviewer researches the Historymaker's background and prepares a series of questions, adding appropriate questions during the interview." Zona Lorig has been a big part of Historymakers and their oral histories for years. "It's fairly intense because you are under a time constraint of two hours and you're searching for this person's most important life experiences. It is very interesting and fascinating to have the honor to take oral histories."

The Historical League is blessed with some incredible members

who learned about each 2025 Arizona Historymaker. We are grateful for the diligent research and interviews from members Norma Jean Coulter, Zona Lorig, Josephine Pete, Diane Smith, and Laurie Sue-Retts.

Listening to them speak is a great way to get to know Arizona Historymakers 1992-2023. The oral histories are available at www.HistoricalLeague.org/historymakers

Diane Smith, Norma Jean Coulter, Josie Pete, Laurie-Sue Retts