AL HISTORIANS. INC. March-April 1888 Issue Number 113 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE country. SAH director Helen Earley will be meeting with Being president of the Society of Automotive him soon in Dearborn so he can share his experiences and Historians is both a preeminent honor and an enormous provide some pointers. challenge. The nice part regarding the latter is that I have Joining us on the oral history bandwagon is a way to the opportunity to enlist so many helping hands. So, both make an important contribution to automobile history hope~lly without sounding corny, consider yourselves duly and have a very good time doing it . If you'd like to appomted to my "blue ribbon" committee of 500 + to ~orrespond with me on the subject, please do. The address perpetuate the cause of automotive history. IS 215 East 80th Street, New York, NY 10021. At our February board meeting we discussed what the SAH could do in regard to one aspect of that cause-­ SILENT AUCTION oral history. The consesus was: a lot. You'll be reading more about this in subsequent issues of the Journal and our We'll be having one come Hershey--both at our directors will be considering the logistics of a program at Hospitali~y T~nt on t_he field and at our Annual Banquet at upcoming board meetings. But for now I'd just like to tell the Marnott m Harnsburg. What's a silent auction? Well, ~asically , it's one without a gavel or an auctioneer, but with y~u how you can become involved. And the easiest way is Wlth a personal "for instance." A while back, during a JU St as much of a chance to acquire some fascinating things. routine office visit, my eye doctor and I talked about You'll find out more at Hershey. automobile history--a subject which I've found also But for now, we'd like to ask your help. Most of us fascinates my dentist and general practitioner. have substantial automotive libraries and have managed to Subsequently, my husband had an eye examination as well acquire duplicates or pieces of literature we no longer need. and he also talked cars with the doctor. A few days afte; Why not donate them to our auction? Your contribution that, the, doctor called and said, "I'll bet I know somebody will be acknowledged both with the book or piece of you'd like to meet"--another patient of his who worked in literature itself--and in a receipt from our treasurer Bob the industry in D_etro~t ?uring the 1930's (Henry Ford ~ary f~r tax deduction purposes. This fundraising program attended her weddmg, tnCldentally) and who now lives not IS very Important to the SAH--to keep our treasury healthy thirty blocks away from us in New York City. I'll be visiting and to provide money to launch projects to further th e her soon, tape recorder in hand. cause of automotive history. Now to the logistics. You can History does not become history until it is recorded, bring the book(s), piece(s) of literature, or memorabilia needless to say. I've always regarded the reminiscences of with you to Hershey and drop them off at the SAH tent. Or those :-vho were there when it happened (and who helped yo u can send yo ur contribution to Beverl y Rae Kimes, cjo make 1t happen) as equally important to th e data and other SMCW, 107 Avenue L, Matamoras, PA 18336. It is most ~nformation th at made it to the printed page during the era importan t if yo u'll be bringing yo ur contribution to Hershey, mvolved. To me, the saga of the automobil e is part however, that yo u let Bev know what it is beforehand. That's technology, part sociology, part economics, part adventure, bec~u~e ev~ r yo n e in ~h e SAH will have the opportunity to part romance, part comedy, part tragedy-- in sum it touches participate m th e aucti on as well as co ntribute to it--wheth er upon all of life's aspects. Living that history with those who ~ ttendin g ~er s h ey or not. Our Annual Meeting mai ling will have contributed to it provides a counterpoint that no other mclude a hst C?f all of the items being aucti oned, so that source can. members can b1d on them by mail as well . This will be a no­ So what can you do? I could jocularly suggest that yo u reserve auction, by the way, so the possibilities for bargains m~ke a doctor's appointment immediately. But you get the are tantalizing. Check your shelves. Check yo ur fil es. The po~nt. _Merely make people you come in contact with in yo ur cause is worthy. If yo u have any questions, just call Bev daily hfe aware that you are an automobile historian--which Kim es coll ect at 212/ 737-0016. invariably stimulates interesting conversation anyway--and Thanks a lot! I'll bet you'll soon get a "I know somebody you'd like to meet': response--or possibly the very person yo u're speaking MINUTES OF FEBRUARY to mtght have automotive history memories for sharing. BOARD MEETING SAH_ director Kit Foster, for example, recently learned that The February 12, 1988, meeting of the SAH Board of a netghbor of his in Connecticut is the grandson of John Directors was held in the Board Room of the Smithkline North Willys! Beckman Corporation, in th e complex housing the hotel ~embers :vho've already launched their own personal wh ere the AACA convention was being held. President oral htstory proJects are aware of how much fun it is--and it Beverly Rae Kimes call ed the meeting to ord er at 10:30 a.m. really is fun--and are hereby encouraged to let us know who Present were Vice President Henry Austin Clark, Jr.; you are. Among other things, we'd like your input. In the Secretary and Membership Chairman Shelby C. Apptegate; mea~time , David Crippen of the Henry Ford Museum has Treasurer Robert J. Gary; Directors Christopher G. Foster, graciOusly consented to help us in any way he can. Over the Helen J. Earley, Z. Taylor Vinson Strother McMinn and course of the past few years, he has interviewed about one William T. Cameron. Keith Marvin 'and Matt Joseph a;rived hundred automobile designers and engineers all across the Co ntinued on next page '\rl- ! ..• .. SAH Journal No 113 March April 1988 PUBLICATIONS: Bob H all will replace Beverly Kim es as Publicati on Chai rman. Beverly and Shelby Applegate will proceed with preparation of a new membership directory. PUBLIC RELATIONS: Kit Foster, Public R elations The SAH Jou rn al is published six times a yea r by the Chairman, reported sending out many press releases Society of Automotive His torians, Inc. Copyright 1988. including the hometown papers of award winners and the RlCHAR.D B. BRlGHAM, EDITOR foreign press, which has generated much positive publicity 1616 Park Lane, .E., Marietta, Georgia 30066 for the Society. ROBERT M. HALL IJI Chairman of Publications ELECTIONS: Charles Betts announced that the EDITORIAL BOARD membership of the Nominations/Elections Committee wi ll Beverl y Rae Kimes Robert J. Gary include Taylor Vinson and Jack Martin. CHAPTER LIAISON; The President announced tha George B. P. Ward, Jr. Ch ristopher G. f-os ter she had appointed Austin Clark as li aison with the chapters OFFlCERS FOR 1988 of the Society. H e gave an extensive report on all of his PRESIDENT............................... .. .. .. .. ........ ............. Beverly Rae Kimes contacts with the chapters including their interesting VICE PRESIDENT .......................... .. .. .. ........... Henry Austin Clark, Jr. programs. The board is anxious to encourage all the SECRETARY .... .. ........ .. .... ........... ........................... Shelby C. Applegate chapters to be active and to keep in touch with the general TREASURER ..... .. ......................................................... Robert J. Gary membership through the Joumal. BOARD OF DIRECfORS OTHER SUBJECTS DISCUSSED; Plans for the annual meeting were discussed. Taylor Vinson has agreed Through 1988 Through 1989 Through 1990 to chair a committee to rewrite our by-laws which in many .... Christopher G. Foster Ma tt L. Joseph William T. Came ron cases are out of date: Beverly Kimes expressed a desire to Thomas E. Bonsa ll Z. Taylor Vinson Keith Marvin launch an SAH oral history project. The board was Helen J. Earky Jack L. Martin Strother McMinn enthusiastic about pursuing this.The president's message in L-------------------------------------------- this issue of the Joumal announces thts program, and Cont in ued fro m page 1 subsequent issues will detail aspects of the program. before the meeting to inform the board that Keith was not The meeting adjourned promptly at 12:30. feeling well and that Matt would drive him home. Also Respectfully submitted, attending was Charles L. Betts, Jr., Chairman, Shelby C. Applegate Nominations/Elections. The president gave a welcoming Secretary statel'l\ent. SECRETARY / MEMBE RSHIP: The secretary reported on progress in computeri zing th e membershi p records. !!-etters will be sent acknowledging receipt of dues NEWS ITEMS and informing members that new membership cards will not be sent for 1988 because of switching systems in mi d-year. "CARS & PARTS" DO ATION RECEIVED Each member should, for the time being, simply change the expiration date on his/her membership card to read 19 8 Editor's Note: 17z e continuing support of our Society by Cars instead of 1987. & Parts is very much appreciated - both th eir generosity, and The secretary is seeking to locate the di e for th eir understanding and championing of our efforts and goals.