Academy Business
Highlights from the OAH Annual Meeting
Stuart Hobbs Accepts New Archivist Position
Mid-Summer Update from the Secretary-Treasurer, Thomas
T. Taylor, Ph.D.
Highlights from the
OAH Annual Meeting
Cincinnati Museum
Center
Member Meeting and Luncheon, Saturday, April 20, 2002
The 2002 Publication Award went to Constance Brittain Bouchard, University of Akron, for her study, Those of My Blood: Constructing Noble Families in Medieval France.
The 2002 Public History Award went to The Clark County Historical Society, Clark County Commissioners, and Clark County Park District for the Heritage Center for Clark County and the Davidson Interpretive Center. (This award is presented annually for the outstanding public history project in the preceding year.)
The 2002 Dissertation Award went to Sanjam Ahluwalia, University of Cincinnati, for her study “Controlling Births, Policing Sexualities: A History of Birth Control in Colonial India, 1877—1946.”
The 2002 Distinguished Service Award went to David M. Fahey, Miami University, “in recognition of outstanding and lifelong service to the field of history.”
The Officers, Executive Council, and membership of the Ohio Academy of History presented a plaque in honor of the dedicated service of Professor Elizabeth MacLean as President, with our deep appreciation, profound thanks, and best wishes.
The 2002 Outstanding Teaching Award went to Professor John K. Alexander of the University of Cincinnati. (This award is presented annually to a member of the Academy for outstanding teaching.)
The Academy’s new president, Professor William D. Jenkins of Youngstown State University, gave the presidential address, “Ohio, the Birthplace of Public Housng.”
Executive Council Meeting, Friday, April 19, 2002
President MacLean and the Council complimented John Douglas on local arrangements for the April meeting at the Cincinnati Museum Center.
Stuart Hobbs of the Ohio Historical Society was appointed the Archivist of the Academy.
Patty Walsh of the Ohio Historical Society and Ohio History was appointed as Production Editor of the Newsletter. The OHS will become the production agent for the Newsletter.
Martin Wainwright will assume the position of Webmaster for the Academy.
Stuart Hobbs Accepts OAH Archivist Position
At the Spring meeting of the Ohio Academy of History, the Executive Council created the new position of Archivist. The President appointed Stuart D. Hobbs, a historian with the Ohio Historical Society, to the post. The primary duties of the archivist will be to preserve and, as needed, update important documents. He will also serrve as a liason with the Ohio Historical Society.
The historic paper records of the Academy are preserved in the library of the Ohio Historical Society, so Hobbs is well positioned to serve the record needs of Academy committee chairs and officers. He will collect annual committee reports, minutes, copies of the Newsletter and Proceedings, and other documents and make sure that they go into the Academy collection. He will also revise and update the Academy Roster every three years. These documents will then be available for all Executive Officers and Committee Chairs, who can be notified each year through the listserv about what documents are available. The Archivist will provide the Webmaster with necessary information.
The rationale for the position is to provide an institutional memory for the Academy. Because every year a majority of officers and committee members are participating for the first time or taking on a new role, the Archivist will be able to provide access to the documents, policies, and procedures of various committees. New chairs will not have to re-invent calls for awards, address lists, rules, and other documents. The Archivist will especially focus on collecting electronic records, so that new committee chairs will not have to re-type documents to make even a small change.
In the past, the Secretary-Treasurer has fulfilled some of this role. The position of the Archivist is another step toward lessening the burden of the Secretary-Treasurer role.
Hobbs received his Ph.D. in American history from Ohio State University. He has worked for the Ohio Historical Society since 1994. His primary duties involve research and writing for exhibits and other interpretive programs. He has published in the field of museum history. Hobbs has been active in the Academy for several years, having presented papers, served as a chair and commentator, been a member of the Program Committee, and chaired for several years the Public History Award Committee.
Mid-Summer Update
from the Secretary-Treasurer
Thomas T. Taylor, Wittenberg University
Current Membership (individual members): 380
Checking Account Balance: $16,673
Endowment Balance: $10,846
The Academy would like to extend its thanks to Martha Pallante, who retired this spring as Newsletter Editor. We appreciate the time and energy she has contributed over the past three years.