Updated: October 3, 2012: Handout materials from the conference are now included in this post.

Updated: September 29, 2012: I'll also be attending (but not exhibiting) at the New England Museum Association (NEMA) annual conference November 7 - 9, 2012 in Burlington, Vermont.

We'll be exhibiting at the annual conference of the American Association for State and Local History in Salt Lake City.  The conference starts Wednesday, October 3 and the exhibit hall is open Thursday (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and Friday (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.).  We'll be in booth #3, near the AASLH booth and Arcadia Publishing.                             

Updated: August 19, 2012: The new section has three case studies, information on grants to support maritime heritage tourism, and details on a free multi-part webinar series on heritage tourism that begins September 20.

A new section, Resources for Organizations, contains the case studies that appeared in previous posts, and it will be the home of all future case studies as well as other resources for history-related organizations of all types and sizes.

The link to the section is in the footer.

Meeting with the members of the Kentucky Historical Society on August 3 introduced The History List to another state historical historical society and another region of the country.  Executive Director Kent Whitworth kindly arranged a meeting with his staff, including Jody Blankenship, Director of Education, and Sally Warfield (left) and Chelsea Compton (right), responsible for online and marketing efforts respectively.

The conversation underscored some of the same points that have come up in discussions with organizations in other regions:

• The difficulty of maintaining ongoing communication with many of the smaller local historical societies as volunteer leaders come and go and membership ebbs and flows.
• The interest in providing a tool to local societies that would enable them to publicize their events to a broader audience with little additional effort and no additional cost.
• The challenge in incorporating a useful events calendar into an institution's site; integrating ticket sales into the calendar; and creating a platform that would publicize the events from the many local organizations without burdening staff with entering all of the events throughout the state.

We will support their new site in any way we can, possibly through our calendar widgets, and look forward to an opportunity to work with local historical societies and other local history organizations in Kentucky interested in adding their organization and events to The History List.  (This is a helpful one-pager that any organization can use to add their organization and events.  An earlier post provided an introduction to our standard embeddable widgets that are built into every listing.  There is no cost to list an organization or event, or to use these widgets.)

The meeting took place in the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, which currently has a large installation entitled, "Civil War: My Brother, My Enemy."  The Center is the headquarters of the Society and is part of the Kentucky Historical Society Campus in downtown Frankfort.  The Old State Capitol (included in the pictures below) and the Kentucky Military History Museum at the State Arsenal are also part of the campus.  The 167,000-square-foot, $29-million Center for Kentucky History opened in April 1999.  The Kentucky Historical Society was founded in 1836.

Updated: August 10, 2012: A shorter version of this appears as a case study in the new Resources for organizations section.

The Vermont History Expo 2012 took place this last weekend in Tunbridge, Vermont, bringing together more than 150 historical societies and related organizations for a two-day event expected to draw 4,000 - 6,000 attendees.

Because of the interest shown in this event by several people in other states, I took pictures of every aspect of the event, including the print materials and signs.  In the 400+ photos below you'll also see pictures of nearly every booth and display.  (Tip: To view a larger image, click on "Link" on the right below each photo.)

The history behind the Vermont History Expo

The Expo, which now takes place every two years, began in the year 2000 and is organized today by staff and a small group of volunteers, with the financial support of several sponsors.  During the two days I learned about the history of the Expo from Addie Minott, a long-time volunteer with her local historical society who, as a board member of the Vermont Historical Society, was one of the driving forces behind the first Expo, and from Tess Taylor, Director of Education and Public Programming at the Vermont Historical Society, and Mark Hudson, Executive Director of the Society.

The idea for the Expo came from an initiative by three counties in 1999 who all agreed to open on the same Saturday.  The next year the Expo was born as a state-wide event with 85 of the state's then 90 historical societies participating.   The Expo continued yearly until 2008, when it switched to every other year.  An annual theme was added in 2005.  These have included "Women in Vermont History," "Travel and Transportation," "Back to the Land," "Industry and Innovation," and this year's theme, "Vermont in the Civil War." 

One of the important results from that first Expo to the present day is that more communities have started or revitalized their local historical societies, such that today there are 197 societies in Vermont.

Connecting with organizations across Vermont

Mark Hudson expressed his interest in letting the state society's member organizations know about The History List as a no cost tool for publicizing their organizations, sites, and events.  (Dennis Fiori, President of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and Carol Knauff, Assistant Director of Development for Communications at the Society, came on board early on and have been very supportive, including participating in the beta and providing helpful feedback.)

Also during the Expo, conversations with . . . 

•  Peter Gilbert, Executive Director of the Vermont Humanities Council, underscored the value of The History List as well as  other outreach efforts designed to connect people to our history.  One recent program from the Vermont Humanities Council is the "Civil War Book of Days: 150 Years Ago—This Week in the Civil War," a weekly e-mail newsletter with content drawn from letters, poetry, speeches, news reports, and more.

• Kate Bradley, who  recently joined the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation in Plymouth Notch as the Director of Engagement and Special Collections, reminded me about the special events coming up this Fourth of July.  Coolidge was born on the the Fourth in 1872, and Kate is going to be adding those special events and the Foundation's slate of lectures to The History List.

• Brooke Paige, who has for each of the last several years done a deep dive into some aspect of Vermont business and industry and mounted a major exhibit on that topic at the Expo, all at his expense.  This year's subject: The "common cracker" in Vermont.  See the photos above for several of his display this year.

• Phebe Meyers, an intern with Vital Communities, who was in the "Vermont History Detectives" tent.  Pictures of the tent, the materials, and some of the "Vermont History Detectives" signs in booths, are in the pictures above.

Similar events in other states

Several people replied to a post in a LinkedIn group asking if anyone knew of other states or regions with something similar:

• Jessica Rivas of the Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles: "In Los Angeles, we do a much smaller scale event called L.A. Heritage Day for all museums, historical societies, etc. in the greater Los Angeles area. While the event continues to get larger and integrate more things each year we are a long way off from something on the scale of your event. I hope we get there soon this event sounds great!"

• Kay Demlow: "In Oregon we have the Oregon Heritage Commission, supported by our SHPO, which is part of Parks and Recreation. They provide a regular list serve, which announces events, job openings, achievements and other news from any of the heritage constituents. These include city, county and other historical societies, local landmarks boards and commissions, preservationists, planners, and many more. Once a year they host the Oregon Heritage Conference, which brings us all together for three days of workshops, tours and speakers. It's in a different town every year, so we get to see success stories and hear about issues from other regions around the state. It's a great service to all of us!"

• Brenda Baratto: "We have the annual Landmark Conference in South Carolina. It's put on by the Confederation of South Carolina Local Historical Societies. Just had this year's in April in North Augusta. What a wonderful way to learn about the local communities, their history and their historical projects and to network and meet colleagues."

• John Robinson: "In Pennsylvania we have the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations, which holds regular conferences. "Pennsylvania’s cultural community is rich and diverse. Museums, galleries, zoos, science centers, visitor centers, historic sites, monuments, parks, libraries, archives, and educational institutions contribute to a new economy of ideas in the Commonwealth. We invite you to join together with us to share best practices in advocacy, economic and community development, education, and cultural tourism."
  
  "In addition, under the Federation's umbrella is another group. "APACHS, the Alliance for Pennsylvania County Historical Societies, is a network of the Commonwealth’s sixty-seven official county historical societies. Despite a broad range of size and scope of services, county historical societies share common goals and face similar challenges. APACHS creates opportunities to learn from one another, build rapport among colleagues, and provide mutual support. Meetings are held at various locations throughout the year as well as at the statewide museum conference."

Added June 23:

• Martha B. Katz-Hyman: "New Jersey has the New Jersey State History Fair each year in May at Washington Crossing State Park. I've been, and it's a great gathering of local and state historical societies, living history presentations, and demonstrations of all kinds."

• Vince Murray: "The Arizona History Convention has been active for over fifty years."

If your are connected to any of these as an organizer, volunteer, or participant, or if you know of another similiar event, please add it to The History List and add a comment below so that others learn about it.

Updated: July 20, 2013: The 2013 list of winners, with links to organizations and projects.

Updated: September 25, 2012: Links to resources added.  If you have changes or suggestions for other links, add a comment below.

Also, add your history-related organization or site or event or exhibit to The History List.  (This one page guide gives you a quick snapshot of The History List.)

Congratulations to this year's award recipients, who will be recognized at the AASLH Leadership in History Awards Banquet on October 5 during the 2012 AASLH Annual Conference in Salt Lake City.

Award of Distinction

Dr. Robert Archibald (video of 2010 address)

The Albert B. Corey Award

Babcock-Smith House Museum, Westerly, RI

Alabama


Historic Chattahoochee Commission, Troup County Historical Society, and Anthony Gene Carey 
for the publication Sold Down the River: Slavery in the Lower Chattahoochee River Valley of Alabama and Georgia

Arizona


Arizona State Museum 
for the exhibit Many Mexicos: Vistas de la Frontera (video news program on exhibit)

California


Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park
 for the Antelope Valley Indian Museum Structural and Environmental Controls Project

Rancho Los Alamitos Foundation and Heyday Books 
for the publication Rancho Los Alamitos-Ever Changing, Always the Same

Connecticut


Gunn Memorial Museum
 for the project Letters from the Battlefield: Stories of Washington’s Civil War Soldiers

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center 
for the program Harriet Beecher Stowe: Inspiring Action for 200 Years

The Litchfield Historical Society for the online database The Ledger

Washington, D.C. 


Woodrow Wilson House
 for the exhibit Woodrow Wilson, President Electric: Harnessing the Power of Innovation in the Progressive Era

Georgia


Atlanta History Center 
for the school program The Price of Freedom: Causes and Consequences of the Civil War

John C. Inscoe 
for the publication The Civil War in Georgia: a New Georgia Encyclopedia Companion

Georgia Southern University, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
for the Camp Lawton Archaeological Project

Idaho


Lila Hill
 for her tireless dedication to documenting and preserving the history of Meridian, ID

Mary E. Reed 
for thirty years of preserving and interpreting Idaho history

Iowa


Salisbury House and Gardens
 for the Salisbury House Interior Restoration Project

Indiana


Conner Prairie Interactive History Park 
for the exhibit 1863 Civil War Journey: Raid on Indiana

Maine


Abbe Museum 
for the exhibit Indians and Rusticators: Wabanakis and Summer Visitors on Mount Desert Island 1840s-1920s

Bangor Museum and History Center and Bangor High School for Exploring Historic Landscapes Using GIS: The Great Bangor Fire of 1911  Also the recipient of a History in Progress Award.

Massachusetts


Boston Public Library 
for the project 150th Anniversary of the Civil War: A City-Wide Commemoration of History

Historic New England 
for the preservation of the Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House ("Nooks and Crannies" event takes place here.)

Jean Foley Doyle
 for a lifetime of preserving and promoting the history of 20th-century Newburyport

Preservation Worcester for the project By the Canal

The Trustees of Reservations 
for the project Elizabeth Freeman: A Story of Courage

Michigan


Detroit Historical Society for the website Building Detroit

Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society
 for the publication The Village Table: A Delicious History of Food in the Saugatuck- Douglas Area

Minnesota


Anton Treuer 
for the publication The Assassination of Hole in the Day (book review)

Minnesota Landmarks, Inc. and Minnesota Historical Society for the Uncle Sam’s New Deal Traveling Exhibit

Missouri


Lindenwood University and Jeffrey Smith for the publication The Confluence

Missouri History Museum 
for the publication Captain Joseph Boyce and the 1st Missouri Infantry, C.S.A.

Missouri History Museum
 for the multimedia exhibition Kirkwood Roots

U.S. District Court, District of Kansas, Jean Svadlenak, and Svadlenak Museum Consulting
 for exhibit Americans by Choice: The Story of Immigration and Citizenship in Kansas with The American Dream: In Their Own Words

Barbara Decker, The Campbell House Museum, The Griot Museum of Black History, The Eugene Field House, and the education group: Jeff Kopolow, Carlene Fullerton, Jean Turney, and Sue Hegarty
 for the Urban Museum Collaborative

Montana


Montana Historical Society and Montana Office of Public Instruction Indian Education for All 
for Best Practices in Museum Education: Museums and Schools as Co-Educators (blog post)

New Hampshire


Canterbury Historical Society
 for the Canterbury One-Room Schoolhouse program

New York

Brooklyn Navy Yard Center at BLDG92
 for the development of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Center at BLDG92

New-York Historical Society Museum and Library 
for excellence in telling the story of the history of New York City

The Olana Partnership 
for the Olana Viewshed Symposium

North Carolina


North Carolina Museum of History for the exhibit The Story of North Carolina

Betty Jamerson Reed
 for the publication School Segregation in Western North Carolina, 1860s-1970s

Nebraska


The Durham Museum
 for their Distance Learning Initiative

Ohio


Massillon Museum
 for the project Faces of Rural America

Ohio Historical Society 
for the exhibit Controversy: Pieces You Don’t Normally See

Ohio Historical Society
 for the Ohio as America Online 4th Grade Textbook

Ohio Historical Society and Partners 
for the Ohio History Service Corps-AmeriCorps Program

Oregon


Cultural Resources Department, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill
 for the exhibit Grand Ronde’s Canoe Journey

South Dakota


Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center
 for the development of the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center

Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society for the exhibit Our South Dakota: Big Land/Big Ideas/Big Heart

The World War II Pheasant Canteen Team 
for The World War II Pheasant Canteen Team (video). Also the recipient of a History in Progress Award.

Tennessee


Buck Kahler and Chris Albrecht
 for the documentary The Mysterious Lost State of Franklin

Texas

Ruthe Winegarten Memorial Foundation for Texas Women’s History for Texas Women’s History Moments: a One-Month Radio Series

Utah


Donald L. Enders 
for fifty years of researching and restoring historic sites for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Utah

Humanities Council and Utah Museums Association for the Museum Interpretation Initiative: Telling Our Stories

Vermont


Vermont Historical Society
 for the project Vermont History Explorer

Vermont Historical Society and Donald H. Wickman 
for the publication A Very Fine Appearance: The Vermont Civil War Photographs of George Houghton

Washington


Bainbridge Island Historical Museum 
for excellence in preserving and sharing the history of Bainbridge Island

Dr. Lorraine McConaghy 
for the publication New Land, North of the Columbia

Washington State Department of Transportation 
for the exhibit Milepost 31
.  Also the recipient of a History in Progress Award.

Wisconsin


Wisconsin Historical Society Press 
for the publication People of the Big Voice: Photographs of Ho-Chunk Families by Charles Van Schaick, 1879-1942