Historical
Administration
Program
Association
President
Debbie Grinnell
[email protected]
Vice President
Sarah Hagye
[email protected]
Secretary
Merrilee S. Lee
[email protected]
Treasurer
Rex Nyquist
[email protected]
Member-at-Large,
Symposium/General
Mary Maronde
[email protected]
Member-at-Large,
Membership
Sharie Prout
[email protected]
Member-at-Large,
Endowment
Casey Connell
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Tiffany Taylor Bowles
[email protected]
HAPA Website
www.eiuhapap.org
H A P p en i n g s
Winter 2009
The Ties that Bond:
Museums Making Connections
Mark your calendars for the 32nd annual
HAPA Symposium, March 27-28,
27
2009
By Sarah Hagye, Vice President
This year’s symposium, “The Ties that Bond: Museums Making
Connections,” is a timely topic due to the current state of affairs that
many institutions and individuals are facing. During challenging
times, the best way to find hope and strength is to reach out to those
who inspire you, someone or something that helps you find hope
ho and
newfound confidence. The HAPA program is such a wonderful
resource to make these connections, and that is what this year’s
symposium is all about. I had the chance to talk with our keynote
speaker, Mary Alexander,, and ask her some questions before she
heads west to speak at our symposium. Mary has been a force in the
museum field for quite some time, but has roots in the Midwest. One
of her most well known works is the revision of Edward P. Alexander’s
(her father’s) book, Museums in Motion: an Introduction to the
History and Function of Museums.. Here is a little introduction to our
keynote speaker:
What inspired you to join the museum profession?
ay is that I’m not a collector. What interests
The first thing I should say
me about museums is their role
le as educational institutions. I trained
to be a high school teacher but found myself seeking opportunities to
work as an educator in museums. In many ways, I knew what
teachers were looking for and I wanted to learn and study visitor
experiences in museums.
What is one of your favorite experiences you have had
during your years in museums?
tional Archives during the 1980s
1980 I was
When I was working at the National
given the opportunity to find new ways to make the collections more
accessible and useable for teachers. I had no limitations on how to do
this, so working with a woman by the name of CC Byers, we had the
chance to speak with teachers on an informal level. We met for six
months with various teachers throughout DC and Maryland, and had
a chance to really talk with them and learn what they wanted. To
have an opportunity like that is rare and helped open my eyes to
what teachers really wanted from us.
(Continued on Page 4)
HAPpenings
Page 2
From the President
Dear Members, Colleagues and Friends:
Happy New Year. I hope everyone’s year is off to a good start. Despite the economic
climate, there seems to be a buzz in the air stemming from the recent inauguration of
our 44th president. No matter how we voted as individuals, as a country we elected
President Obama and we will stand behind him as we move forward in the coming
weeks and months.
Several organizations are working at the federal level to advocate for museum
funding, and I encourage you to not only monitor these activities, but to contact your
elected officials and voice your opinions. Your museums and historical agencies are
valuable to your communities in that they promote learning, quality family
experiences, an
and serve as economic engines.
For example, the American Association of Museums (AAM) is communicating its
legislative agenda to the 111th U.S. Congress and includes reaffirming support for
federal funding, IMLS reauthorization, education policy (including a possible
revision to No Child Left Behind), intellectual property, cultural property, travel and
tourism, volunteerism, charitable giving and a range of other issues.
“Museums and
historical agencies
are valuable to your
communities. . . . Use
your voice to alert
people who are
representing you at
the local, state and
national levels.”
Read the memo crafted for President Obama and his transition team addressing
museum needs that was written jointly by the American Association for State and
Local History (AASLH), AAM and several other museum organizations at
http://www.aaslh.org/documents/Oba
www.aaslh.org/documents/Obamatransitionteamletter12.08.pdf
matransitionteamletter12.08.pdf.
I would also encourage you to look at The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s
platform that it forwarded to Pr
President
esident Obama and his advisors. You
Y can find it at
http://www.preservationnation.org/take
http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/advocacy-center/additional
center/additionalresources/nthp_obama_platform.pdf
resources/nthp_obama_platform.pdf.
Whether you agree with these positions 100% or not, they articulate in a numb
number of
ways the relevancy of our chosen professions. Please us
use your voice to alert the
people who are representing you at the local, state and national levels as to what your
concerns are and how they can work to help you and the museum field.
Relating directly to our alumni activities, I want to thank Katie Gillen Grant for her
time and efforts in serving as editor of the HAPA newsletter in 2008. She continued
to improve upon the path Leslie Mio established, and the quality of the newsletter
hass continued to serve us well in maintaining communications with alumni as well as
promoting the program to our friends and colleagues in the field. Thank you, Katie!
Tiffany Taylor Bowles from the HA class of 2007-2008 has agreed to serve as editor
beginning
ning with this Winter 2009 issue. Please email updates or articles for future
publication consideration to her at [email protected]..
(Continued on Page 3)
Page 3
HAPpenings
Message from the President (continued from Page 2
2)
Lori Cox-Paul has done a fabulous job in her role as immediate past
past-president and
presenting us with a qualified slate of candidates for this year’s elections. The
positions of president, vice present, member
member-at-large: symposium/general, and
member-at-large: endowment are up
p for election this year. I encourage all paid
members of HAPA to vote so as to meet our by
by-law requirements.
This issue contains details of our upcoming Annual History Symposium to be he
held in
Charleston, IL on March 28th. I thank Sarah Hagye for her tireless efforts to recruit an
outstanding and timely keynote speaker and presenters. Please take advantage of the
opportunities the symposium offers and come back to Eastern Illinois University to
join in the dialogue and reconnect
onnect with your classmates, professors and other friends
of the historical administration program.
Finally, PLEASE renew your membership. Nathan Kemler has graciously donated his
time to set-up
up the convenient option of paying online using PayPal via the HAPA web
site. We need your membership!
It has been a pleasure to serve as the president over the last two years. I have enjoyed
re-connecting
connecting with alumni I hadn’t met or worked with before and I am indebted to
my fellow board members and Dr. Nora Pat S
Small for the efforts they make to
continually promote the HA program, network and maintain communications with
alumni, and raise the needed funds to support current and future program needs.
Thank you to each and every one of you!
Warm regards,
Debbie Grinnell, President
HAPA Symposium
location:
Buzzard Hall,
Eastern Illinois
University
Didn’t receive a
symposium
[email protected]
registration
brochure in the
Symposium Hotel Accommodations: Rooms at these hotels have been held under the name
“History Symposium” and can be reserved for these discounted rates until March 13.
Comfort Suites
1408 Broadway Ave. E., Mattoon, IL
217-235-6745
Single & Double Rooms: $84.95 + tax
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
121 Swords Drive, Mattoon, IL
217-235-2060
Single & Double Rooms: $89.00 + tax
mail? Find it
online at
www.eiuhapa.org.
HAPA board positions open for election at this year’s symposium:
•
•
•
•
ndidate: Sarah Hagye, HA Class of 2003
2003-2004)
President (Candidate:
Vice President (Candidate: Stephanie Gaub, HA Class of 2001)
Member-at-Large:
Large: Symposium/General (Candidate: Leslie Mio, HA Class of 2001)
Member-at-Large:
Large: Endowment (Candidate: Fred Goss, HA Class of 2000)
HAPpenings
Page 4
Mary Alexander Interview (continued from Page 1)
CC and I had a great idea to set up two curriculum units focusing on Native
Americans and immigrants, only to find out from teachers that they already had
useful information on these subjects and would not need the archives as a resource.
Because of this conversation, we ended up developing a unit on WWI, WWII, and the
Progressive Era, which teachers still use.
What is one of the most common questions you get in your job and from
people who have read your book?
Mary Alexander
“I worry that we
are neglecting the
sole reason why
museums exist—
collections and the
authenticity of those
collections.”
The question I get the most is how can I get a job in a museum. People love museums
and want to be a part of what we do, so we must be doing something right! In
regards to Museums in Motion I was, at first, hesitant to do a revision. I thought it
was fine on its own and I had a lot of respect for the work and intellect my father put
into it. However, just by being in the field, I knew people valued the book and some
off the material was out o
of date. What people usually ask is how could you do that to
his book? I tell them, it’s still his book, but now has more current examples. His
theories
es and ideas still work, but now people can use them in a more current context.
What is one of the major challenges that museums face heading into
2009?
I worry that we are heading too much in the entertainment direction and neglecting
the sole reason why museums exist in the first place
place—our
our collections and the
authenticity
enticity of those collections. We are not serving our public well if we get too far
away from our main purpose and authenticity because we are trying to find ways to
be more fun and engaging (and remember I’m not a collector!). It’s way too easy for
families to spend an afternoon at an amusement park
ark or water park these days. We
have to find a balance. If we align ourselves too much with the entertainment side
and forget to tell the stories that make us who we are, then we are losing one of the
biggest strengths that we have to offer the public.
What resources can museums use to help each other out?
I work with several small historic sites
sites—many
many of which are not even formal
organizations. Many of these small sites have come together to create a historic site
consortium. By working together they achieve several things. One, they can apply
for grant money as a group rather than as a small organization that might not have
a good chance at getting any money. They can also organize events together to help
bring in new visitors that may visit one organ
organization
ization but not another one. If
anything, this consortium allows these people to meet and discuss any problems
they are facing and work together to find solutions.
What are you looking forward to most about coming to the Midwest?
I’ve always thought of myself as a Midwesterner, even though I grew up on
Southern Virginia. I was born in Madison, Wisconsin and my parents grew up in
Iowa. To me, the Midwest is what makes America, America. It is the heart and soul
of our country.
(Symposium
Symposium Information Continued on Page 5)
Page 5
HAPpenings
2009 Symposium Information (continued from Page 4
4)
Along with Ms. Alexander, the symposium line
line-up for this year offers a wide range of
very interesting speakers and topics. We will be joined by Joseph Kapler and John
Lemke who will tell us about some exciting exhibition overhauls they have done at the
Wisconsin Historical Society. Also, with it being the year of Lincoln’s Bicentennial,
Illinois state historian, Tom Schwartz will speak to us about the ccurrent state of the
Lincoln Library and Museum. Dr. Frank Nickell is coming to us from Southeast
Missouri State University and will tell us about an exciting public history program he
has been working on with the local NPR station. We will conclude the day with a talk
by Jim Willaert, who will give a report on a recent study done by Conner Prairie, Old
Sturbridge Village, AASLH and the Institute for Learning Innovation. As always, it
will be great to see everyone at EIU on March 28!
Remembering an HA Alum
Sadly, a graduate of the HA program recently passed away. Elizabeth Ann
(Johnson) Coffey,, more commonly known as “Libby,” died on Sunday, January 11,
2009, at the Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois. She was born in
Charleston, Illinois, on October 18, 1953 to Russel Dale and Florence D. (Samson)
Johnson. Libby was a Charleston High School graduate and continued her education
at Eastern Illinois University where she earned a Masters Degree in Historical
Administration and a Masters Degree in Business. She was a thirty
thirty-year employee of
Eastern Illinois University and was a supervisor in the Information Technology
Department. Libby's keen interest in history led her to become an active member of
the Regiment of St. Anne's Reenactors. She also loved to quilt and knit, collect antique
china and spend time tending to her flowers. She was aalso a lover of animals and
enjoyed sharing her home with her two dogs and two cats. Libby loved being with
people. She enjoyed life and experiencing good times with her family and many
friends.
“Libby was a warm
and generous friend
to many of us. She
is now a part of the
history she loved so
much, and we will
miss her greatly.”
-Steve and Judy
Anderson (Fults, IL)
-From
From the Mattoon Journal Gazette and Charleston Times
Times-Courier, 1-14-2009
HAPA Scholarship Endowment
By Casey Connell, Member-at-Large,
Large, Endowment
The HAPA Scholarship endowment fund continues to grow and serve the program in
providing
roviding the annual award to one HA class member. The recipient for the 08/09
year was Ms. Jennifer Fair.
2008-2009 HAPA
scholarship
recipient: Jennifer
Jennifer is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, studying her undergraduate degree in
Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University and Easter
Eastern Mennonite
University. During her undergraduate years, Jennifer completed various internships
at the Valentine Richmond History Center, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and the 1708 Gallery in Richmond, Virginia.
Fair
Upon completing her degree in 2006, she spent two years in New York City working
as an exhibits intern at the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Ellis Island
Immigration Museum.
(See more scholarship information on Page 7)
HAPpenings
Page 6
A Note from the Coordinator
By Dr. Nora Pat Small
This semester began with the news of the passing of HA alumna, Libbey Coffey.
Libbey was a member of the class of 1996, and will be missed by all who knew her.
Join us for
internship reports at
3:00 p.m. in 1166
Coleman Hall on
March 27, 2009
The current class me
members
mbers are pursuing internships. As of this writing, we know
that Anthony Bowman will be interning at the McLean County Historical Society.
The students are hard at work on this year’s exhibit on weaving and textiles in mid
midnineteenth-century
century central Illino
Illinois,
is, which will be installed the first week of April in
the visitors’ center at Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, in spite of the site’s
official closing. Look for exhibit updates on the history department website at
http://www.eiu.edu/~history and click on Historical Administration!
We are very much looking forward to Symposium weekend, and hope that people
will join us for the internship reports currently scheduled to begin at 3:00 in the HA
Lab, 1166 Coleman Hall. Members of the class of 2007-2008
2008 interned at Wagner
Farm in Glenview, IL, The Henry Ford, the Newseum, the Early American Museum
in Mahomet, IL, the Michigan Historical Museum, Olana, and the Chicago History
Museum. Catherine Carman’s internship le
led
d to a job as the Curator of Education for
K-12
12 Programs at the Henry Ford. Laurie Stein has been hired as the curator at the
Lake Forest-Lake
Lake Bluff (IL) Historical Society. I anxiously await news of the gainful
employment of the rest of the class.
As hass been the case for many years, Pat Miller organized an amazing grant
grant-writing
exercise for students in her Administration of Historical Organizations class. So far,
three grants have been successful
successful—Anthony
Anthony Bowman’s application to the Charleston
Area Charitable
table Trust resulted in a $5422.76 award to the Lincoln
Lincoln-Sargent Farm
Foundation to support the HA exhibit at Lincoln Log Cabin this spring; Chris Davis
and Lauren Wojnarowski both applied successfully to the Illinois Association of
Museums for grants for tthe
he Catlin Historical Society and the Christian County
Historical Society.
I know that this economic constriction will hit some of you and your institutions very
hard. I would like to say thank you for all you do, often in the face of great
challenges, for the museum world and for the H.A. program. The H.A. alumni
network and the HAPA are vital to sustaining the success and the reputation of the
program. We are all in your debt.
Mark your calendars for the Midwest Open Air Museums Coordinating Council
Spring Conference: “Perspectives on the Rural Community and Preserving our
Agricultural Heritage,” to be held March 19
19-21, 2009, at the Greenmead Historical
Park in Livonia, Michigan.. The early bird registration deadline is March 1. This
conference will offer opportunities to discuss the role of community in rural and
farm life and the strategies museums can adopt to preserve these stories. For more
information please visit http://www.momcc.org
http://www.momcc.org.
Page 7
HAPpenings
HAPA Endowment Status
According to the EIU Office of Philanthropy, the balance of the HAPA Scholarship is
listed at fair market value (FMV) and is recalculated on a quarterly basis.
The balance of the scholarship as of 6/30/2008
Balance of Scholarship as of 9/30/2008
Balance of Scholarship as of 12/31/2008
Amount available for spending 7/1/08 to 6/30/09
Amount awarded to the FY 08 recipient
$48,168.37 (FMV)
$42,335.87 (FMV)
Available March 2009
$1,788.92
$1,652.92
Since the value of the scholarship is based upon the ups and downs of the economy,
the HAPA can expect the scholarship value to decrease in this rough economy.
From the Membership Chair
Happy New Year, my fellow alums!
It’s time to renew
It’s that time of the year to start thinking about renewing your HAPA memberships.
Dues are set up to follow the calendar year, which means that last year’s
memberships are expired and we are now accepting renewals for the 2009 year.
Please remember to renew so that you can continue to receive this newsletter and get
the all-important
important discount on your Symposium registration!
your HAPA
membership!
Renewals can now be done either through the mail or online. If you’d prefer to pay by
check, just fill out the membership form included in this news
newsletter, and mail your
$20 in along with it. Or, if you’d rather pay by credit card, you can use our brand new
PayPal system. To pay online, visit the HAPA website at http://eiuhapa.org. Click on
“Membership” under the Main Menu on the left side of the page, and you’ll be guided
through the steps. It’s that easy!
Last year we had 42 paid HAPA members, out of the 262 people that we have listed
in our database. Please encourage your fellow classmates to join or rejoin, so that we
can maintain a strong alumni association and continue to help support the Historical
Administration program. The more people we have involved, the better we can
thrive!
Speaking of members, we have lost touch with a few people. If anyone has contact
information
nformation for the following HA’s, I would be grateful if you’d pass it along to me at
[email protected]:
Alissa Connelly, ’93
Maureen Ransom, ’99
Ann (Brookens) Raymond, ’86
Jeff Shrader, ’94
Elizabeth Sommer, ’88
Christine Ulrich, ’98
Cheryl Munyer Branyan, ’95
Peter Bahra, ’87
Cobie Maas Ball, ’88
Thanks, everyone!
Jaime Hoeland Bartels, ’02
Kristen Brown, ’00
Susan Carlson, ’97
David Chittenden, ’01
Stafford Crossland, ’83
Karen Franklin, ’98
Elisa Brandt Howie, ’86
Melinda Trainor Hutchinson, ’94
Christine Dumoulin Johnson, ’92
Laura Willis, ’94
Stephen Young, ’83
Brenda Kropen, ’06
Michelle Manfredi, ’03
Jenny Marvel, ’01
Paulina Moore, ’88
Julie Morgan, ’92
Charles Pautler, ’91
Kevin Prince, ’93
Claudia Finley Pyle, ’86
Marie Reiber, ’90
Brent Talbott, ’94
Stephen Thompson, ’89
Sharie Mooney Prout, Member-at-Large for Membership
Valerie Shock
Saunders, ’90
Barbara Biehl
Schafer, ’91
Mark Schmeltzer, ’94
Sarah Sessions, ’92
Kathy Roach Snow, ’93
Heather Stecklein, ’01
Lisa Studts, ’99
Andy Stupperich, ’00
James Sturgill, ’03