Vol. 14, No. 4 Summer 1994
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NC PH PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS Volume 14, Number 4 Summer 1994 Annual Report 1993-1994 NCPH has had a very good year; while about 320 registrants; the meeting in Sacra During 1994, NCPH completed nego there is always room for improvement, we mento also set a record for income. After tiations with the UC Press to continue made much progress in becoming the orga costs, the organization cleared over $11,000. publishing TPH. Signing this contract nization that provides a professional home Among the highlights was a very nice ban followed a careful investigation of the for a broad spectrum of individuals (and quet in memory of Robert Kelley. al ternatives, conducted by an ad hoc organizations) who practice and teach pub Much of the credit for the successful committee headed by Wendy Wolff. lic history. Much of our success can be at meeting in Sacramento belongs to the pro Thanks are due to Otis Graham and Alan tributed to countless hours donated by the gram committee: Alan Newell (chair), Jim Newell for assisting with the negotiations members, the board of directors, and the Williams (local arrangements), Craig in Berkeley last summer. The new contract officers of the organization. Throughout CoHen, Rebecca Conard, Rose Diaz is much simpler than the older version; in this year, I was constantly amazed and (SOHA), Michael Gom, and Noel Stowe the long-run, it also holds out the potential pleased to see how much time and effort (SOHA), as well as numerous individuals for a higher return to the organization. people are willing to donate to NCPH. and institutions in the Sacramento area. I would like to thank the committee NCPH's next meeting will be in Membership chairs and the members of all of our com Washington, D.C., with the Organization of Our membership has continued its mittees, along with the officers and the American Historians, March 30-April2, steady growth during the past year, board of directors. It has been a pleasure to 1995. In Sacramento, the board accepted reaching an all-time high of about 1360. work with all of you this year. I would also Seattle, Washington, as the site for the meet NCPH has seen its greatest gains among like to thank Elizabeth Monroe, Executive ing in 1996 and Albany, New York, as the individuals, while our institutional mem Director; her graduate assistant, Bradford location for the conference in 1997. berships have held steady. In days of Sample; and her secretary and editorial rising costs and lowered budgets, even assistant, Joyce Haibe; all of whom ren The Public Historian and the holding institutional memberships steady dered much service to the organization and is quite an achievement. The membership have represented NCPH extremely well. Contract with the UC Press Under the leadership of Otis Graham committee, chaired by Patricia Mooney Melvin, put together a mailing in con Annual Meetings and Lindsey Reed, TPH continued its reign as the flagship journal of the public junction with our meeting in Sacramento In 1994, NCPH had one of its most history movement. - See Annual Report page 18 successful meetings ever, organized around the theme, "Public History and the Environment." NCPH met jointly Presidents of NCPH at Sacramento. Left to right back row: Philip V. Scarpino. Brit Allan Storey. Barbara with the Southwest Oral History Associa J. Howe, Martin V. Melosi; front row: Patricia Mooney-Melvin, Noel Stowe. Theodore 1. Karamanski. tion (SOHA) and the Northwest Oral Jeffrey P. Brown, G. Wesley Johnson History Association (NOH A) in Sacra mento, California. So far as I can tell, this conference set a record for attendance (ex cept for joint meetings with OAH), with Volume 14, Number 4 Summer 1994 A Quarterly Publication of the National Council on Public History in cooperation with the Department of History, Indiana University at Indianapolis. Patricia Mooney-Melvin, President Jeffrey P. Brown, Vice-preSident Philip V. Scarpino, Past-president Rachel P. Maines, Secretary-treasurer Elizabeth B. Monroe, Executive Director The Bicentennial of the u.s. Capitol by William C. Allen colors flying, and spectators rejoicing" to By dark the festivities had ended. the site of the Capitol, about a mile and a This propitious beginning was fol lowed by a remarkable series of blunders The Architect of the Capitol is the half away. Washington stood to the east of a "huge stone" while others formed a accidents, and missteps. Those whom th: agency responsible for the care and main circle west of it. An engraved silver plate president had entrusted to oversee con tenance of the Capitol, the congressional struction of the Capitol were not well office buildings, the Library of Congress, was delivered, its inscription was read, and it was then handed to the president, suited to the task, competent workmen and the Supreme Court. Over 12 million who stepped down into a foundation were hard to find and harder to keep, and square feet of enclosed space and 221 architects argued fiercely about the acres of landscaping are under the trench, laid the plate on the ground, building's design and details. Little Architect's superintendence. Among and lowered the cornerstone onto it. these facilities is perhaps the most With the president were three "wor money trickled into the city's coffers-the prominent building in the country: the shipful masters" bearing the corn, wine, only significant infusion of cash was bor United States Capitol. Last year the and oil used to consecrate the stone. rowed from the State of Maryland. Yet Capitol celebrated the two-hundredth Chanting and a volley from the artillery despite the city's troubles and the diffi anniversary of the laying of its first accompanied Washington's ascent from culty encountered in constructing the first cornerstone. Taking a leading role in the the trench. A speech was then given by few federal buildings, the government celebration, the Architect of the Capitol Joseph Clark, the Grand Master. Fol moved from its temporary home in Phila sponsored numerous activities and par lowing the formal exercises, a 500- delphia to its permanent seat on the ticipated in various events that marked pound ox was barbecued and those in Potomac in 1800. Congress first met in the this important occasion. attendance" generally partook, with Capitol, not yet one-third finished, on Although the history of the Capitol every abundance of other recreation." - See Bicentennial page 4 may be traced back farther, its corner stone marked the beginning of construc tion of this great building. On September 18,1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone in the first public ceremony staged in the Federal City. In the company of a volunteer artillery, the president crossed the Potomac River at 10:00 a.m. and was joined by Masonic lodges from Maryland and Virginia. They proceeded to the President's Square, where they were met by a third lodge. The procession then marched two abreast "with music playing, drums beating, The National Council -II• on Public History promotes the application of historical scholarship outside the university in government, business, historical societies, preserva tion organizations, archives, libraries, professional associations, and public interest groups. For details contact NCPH President Patricia Mooney-Melvin, Department of History, Loyola UniverSity-Chicago, 820 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611; Vice-president Jeffrey Brown, Arts and Sciences, Dean's Office, New Mexico State University, Box 30001, Dept. 3335, Las Cruces, NM 88003; or David G. Vanderstel, 327 Cavanaugh Hall-IUPUI, 425 Univer sity Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202-5140; (317) 274-2716. Forchangeofaddress, write UC Press, 2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720. Submissions to Public History News should be sent to David G. Vanderstel, Editor, at the address above. 2 iCAREERS IN PUBLIC HISTORY: The View from the Corporate Boardroom by Marianne Babal, Curator, Wells Fargo Bank An overflow audience of students and My own employer, Wells Fargo competitive advantage, financial incen teachers of public history attended the Bank, has long appreciated and man tive, or legal necessity in investing in Careers in Public History symposium at aged its history as a unique and valu history. Few archives rest comfortably on the 1994 NCPH annual conference in able corporate asset. Like Wells Fargo, tradition or emotional appeal. Sacramento. This unique session pro other companies with history programs My colleagues and I who practice vided a forum for presentations about and archives share a famous name and history in the corporate world advised career paths in public history from his long history, such as Levi Strauss & Co., our audience to gain as much experience torians working in government, con American Express, Coca Cola, and as possible in archival principles and sulting, and business. Disney. High technology and manufac techniques. Archival experience, coupled The value of history and historians turing firms, including Hewlett Packard with a solid foundation of training in is being recognized by an increasing and Texas Instruments also recognize historical method and research skills, number of American businesses. The the value of retaining records of their provides a strong generalist background symposium's first panel: Karen Lewis, operations and products. Business ar for the practice of history in the corporate archivist for Hewlett Packard; Chuck chives containing more recent history world. In addition, I advise students to Wilson, principal, CW A Consultants; include those of Charles Schwab & Co. familiarize themselves with basic business and myself, curator for Wells Fargo and MCI, among many others. management principles as well as the Bank; related our experiences as public A corporate history program or business of your potential employer. Fi historians in the corporate world. archive requires a substantial financial nally, do not overlook short-term contract Businesses establish history pro investment and commitment for staff work or internships as an avenue to a grams and archives for a variety of rea ing, housing, and maintaining the col career position.