How Can We Get Better?

We need your thoughts.

Supporters and members of the Central Arizona Chapter of the Arizona Historical Society are invited to a special meeting to voice their ideas on how the Society can do a better job. We are interested in hearing about:

• the programs we have or should be having;
• services you appreciate or ones you’d like to see;
• exhibits you’ve particularly enjoyed or would like to see;
• what we do well; and
• what we don’t do well.

The meeting will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 2:00 at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park (1300 South College Avenue in Tempe). It will last approximately one hour although we’ll be willing to stay afterwards to continue the discussion.

Right now, we have no idea how many people will show up for the meeting. [You and I may be the only ones in the room.] But any group that wants to succeed needs to know the hopes and expectations of its customers. This is a start.

We look forward to seeing you.

The Border: Circa 1900

The above photo is from the Pimeria Alta Historical Society in Nogales, Arizona. It is a street scene in Nogales, circa 1900. Note the marker for the border.

Books of the Southwest in Electronic Text

Here's a great resource for Arizona history buffs!

You can read several notable Arizona history books on-line at the University of Arizona Library’s Books of the Southwest electronic text project. Click here.

The Blue Tattoo

Margot Mifflin will make a presentation and will be signing copies of her new book, The Blue Tattoo: The Life of Olive Oatman, at 7:00 p.m. on January 14, 2010 at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park, 1300 N. College Ave., Tempe, Arizona.

The event is free to the public. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

Mifflin's book is the first modern biography of Olive Oatman, a Mormon pioneer who was captured, tattooed, and raised by Mohave Indians in the 1850s.

Novelist Elmore Leonard notes, “Margot Mifflin has written a winner… The Blue Tattoo offers quite intense drama along with thorough scholarship.”

UPDATE: Here's a related article in True West magazine.

Luminarias

How does the Desert Botanical Garden light and then snuff out all of those luminarias?

A short video on the secret.

[HT: Arizona Tourism]

Ghost Towns

There is a web site for everything. Click here for one on Arizona ghost towns.

December 24, 1915

"Phoenix Business Association opens campaign to sell Congress on the idea of buying land from Mexico on the Gulf of California so that Arizona may build a seaport."

- From An Arizona Chronology, 1913 - 1936, by Douglas D. Martin

Tovrea Castle

The City of Phoenix has a rather nice web site for Tovrea Castle.

The Castle will be open for tours in the fall of 2010.

[Update: I've learned that opening date has been kicked back. Additional work is needed before the Castle and its grounds are open to the general public.]

Book Fair in Tucson

The Arizona Historical Society will be holding its annual Book Fair at the AHS Museum in Tucson on December 4 and 5.


Here is a list of the authors and info on the event.

Support Arizona History!

If you are not already a member but are interested in preserving and learning about Arizona history, you should join the Arizona Historical Society and become part of a group that has been around since 1864. Now more than ever, we need your support and involvement. You can find membership categories and benefits here.

And remember, this is a great time to give memberships in the Society to friends and associates who value Arizona's story.

If you wish to make a donation to support the Society's preservation, exhibit, and education programs, Deborah Ortiz of the Society's staff will be glad to help. Information on our donation program is here. To make a donation, please contact Deborah at (520) 617-1169 or at dortiz@azhs.gov .

Glendale's Memory Project

Here's an interesting video on the Glendale Historical Society's admirable efforts to preserve photos and memories.

And here is a gallery of some photos of old downtown Glendale.

Amerind Museum Tour

Affinity Group Tours is offering a special tour program to members of the Arizona Historical Society.

Its latest tour offering is a trip to the Amerind Museum in Dragoon on Friday, January 23, 2010. The Amerind Museum is noted for its collection of Native American art and artifacts. The tour will depart the AHS Museum at Papago Park at 7:30 a.m. and return at 5:30 p.m. Sun City and Tucson pick-ups are vailable upon request.

There is a special price for AHS members (with membership card) of $86. [Nonmembers pay $95.] The tour cost includes lunch.

Information on registration is at www.AffinityGroupTours.com or via phone at 480-544-0144.

Looking Back at The Orpheum

The Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix was built for $750,000 in 1929. That was a sizable amount of money in those days and, when you consider the year, what is known in business as very bad timing.


Here is a fact sheet on the theatre and a slide show of its architectural features. Information on the upcoming events as well as tours can be found at the Friends of the Orpheum Theatre site.

Many Thanks

Many thanks are due to Joan Robinson-Blumit, the Historical League member who, with humor, grace, and skill, designed this blog.

Without her assistance, we'd still be in the rocks and sticks stage.

Thanks, Joan!

Frank Luke: Rogue Ace

Be sure to read CAC Board member James McBride's review of "Terror of the Autumn Skies: The True Story of Frank Luke, America's Rogue Ace of World War I" by Blaine Pardoe in the Autumn 2009 issue of The Journal of Arizona History. An excerpt:

. . . Perdoe provides an excellent account of individual aerial combat ("dogfights"). Here again the emphasis is on the brash, independent, undisciplined, character of Frank Luke. Frank never adjusted to, nor accepted, military discipline. This was especially alarming in a type of warfare that required cooperation and discipline. Much of the book focuses on Frank's rejection by most members of his squadron.

November Board Meeting

This month's Central Arizona Chapter Board of Directors meeting will be on Thursday, November 19, at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park in Tempe at 3:30 p.m.

The Thinking Behind the CAC Blog

What is the method in this blogging madness?

It's simple. Many organizations have hard copy newsletters. Those require a lot of time and money and nowadays both are in tight supply. As a result, we are thinking high-tech and are going to launch an electronic newsletter to notify chapter members and others of events and programs.

We'll use the blog to post detailed descriptions and articles that can then receive a link in the electronic newsletter. This keeps the size of the electronic newsletter to a minimum while letting the reader decide which subjects deserve a closer look.

This is a cost-effective way of telling people about our programs and the benefits of membership in the Arizona Historical Society. We'll also strive to make it fun to read.

We hope you'll like it.

Arizona Historical Photographs Fair

Saturday - March 20, 2010

FREE ADMISSION

11:00 - 3:00

Arizona Historical  Photographs Fair

Arizona Historical Society Museum

At Papago Park,1300 N. College Avenue, Tempe, AZ

Pictures you can tell a story about in one of these categories:

People
Commercial
Life Styles
Arizona Cities/Town
Events

Numerous Award Categories

Winning photographs will remain on display at museum

Additional information on how to enter photographs and other Fair details will soon be posted on this site.