Federation bulletin

              T he Duplin County Historical Society
and the Gates County Historical
Society won the 2009 Newsome Awards,
which are presented each year by the
Federation to recognize noteworthy
accomplishments in the preservation
and promotion of local history. The
Coinjock Ruritan Club won an honorable
mention award as well. The awards
were presented during the joint annual
meeting of the Federation and the N.C.
Literary and Historical Association.
In 2008 and 2009 the Duplin County
Historical Society led a remarkable
effort to honor the nineteen men from
Duplin County, North Carolina, who
died in Southeast Asia and from combat-related
causes during the Vietnam
War. Prior to the society’s efforts,
there was little public awareness of
these men, and the men and their
families had never received official
county recognition of their sacrifices.
Using information and images gathered
through extensive research, the society
published a book detailing the men’s
lives and the stories of their military
service. The historical society also held
a moving public ceremony attended by
hundreds of people to honor the men
and their families, and installed a
granite monument on the courthouse
square. The society now plans to conduct
similar projects to honor Duplin County
residents who died in other wars.
Since late 2007, when the Navy
announced it was considering placing
an Outlying Landing Field in Gates
County, the Gates County Historical
Society has researched historical
places that would be impacted by the
proposed landing field. The society has
documented 27 cemeteries, helped
more than 40 families apply to have
their farms recognized as Century
Farms, and documented historic
structures in the affected area.
In 2009, the society also compiled infor-mation
for an upcoming book; developed
a calendar featuring historic pictures
of Gates County townships; repaired
windows in the 1840s county courthouse;
held several local history programs;
and began offering guided tours of the
courthouse. In addition, the society
continues to raise money to repair the
west wing of the courthouse, raising
$15,000 since 2000 through the weekly
sale of homemade bread.
In 2009 the Currituck County Historical
Society contacted the Coinjock Ruritan
Club to ask for its help celebrating the
150th anniversary of the Albemarle
and Chesapeake Canal. The Ruritan
Club responded by appointing a
committee to plan the celebration;
collecting old pictures of the canal and
printing posters; inviting community
members; and handling the set up,
clean up, and other details of the
event. More than 200 people attended
the celebration.
The Federation congratulates these
three organizations for their significant
work preserving local history.
Duplin County Historical Society and Gates
County Historical Society Win Newsome Awards
The Federation of North
Carolina Historical Societies
is a non-profit organization
whose mission is to promote
the pursuit of local history
in North Carolina through
existing and future local
and regional historical
organizations, societies, and
commissions; to foster
cooperation between such
organizations, societies,
and commissions and the
Office of Archives and
History to the mutual benefit
of all; and to promote and
support history education
through sponsorship of the
National History Day
program and other appro-priate
activities.
The Federation Bulletin is
published quarterly. Submis-sions
for the Bulletin should
be sent to the address at the
bottom of this page and should
be received by February 1,
May 1, August 1, and
November 1.
Federation News 2
Member News 7
Grant Opportunities 10
History Help 12
Calendar of Events 19
Exhibits 27
Workshops and
Conferences
29
New Publications 31
Inside this issue:
Federation Bulletin
Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies
December 2009 Volume 29, no. 4
Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies, 4610 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4610, (919) 807-7280
Web page: www.fnchs.org Editor’s email: Laura.Ketcham@ncdcr.gov
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 2
T he Federation of North Caro-lina
Historical Societies is a
coalition of societies, associations,
and commissions throughout the
state that are dedicated to
preserving and promoting history
in North Carolina. An advisory
board made up of members of
historical organizations oversees
the work of the Federation.
The Federation sponsors work-shops
and meetings; offers loans
to members for the creation of
historical publications, historical/
educational videos or cds, and
special events; offers technical
assistance to members who contact
the Federation with questions;
and more. For more information,
visit the Federation’s Web page at
www.fnchs.org.
Barbara Snowden
Currituck County Historical Society
Leigh Strickland
Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace
Advisory Committee
John Woodard
Historic Murfreesboro
Griselle Woodward
Friends of Haywood Hall
Bob Crowley
North Carolina Railroad Museum
Betsy Foard
Raleigh City Cemetery Preservation
Group
Through 2009
Charles Ingram
Duplin County Historical Society
Jeff Pruett
Gaston County Museum of Art and
History
Through 2010
Jason Harpe
Lincoln County Historical Association
Ernest Dollar
Preservation Society of Chapel Hill
Through 2011
Barbara Rowe
Cape Fear Museum
Julie Thomas
Historic Hope Foundation
Members of the Federation Advisory Board
FEDERATION NEWS
About the Federation
Apply for AASLH Leadership in History Awards
According to the association’s Web site, “Special
consideration is given to new and promising ideas,
approaches, and innovations that will serve as a
model for the field. Awards are primarily conferred on
special accomplishments occurring within the eighteen
months prior to the March 1 deadline. On occasion,
awards may be given to notable programs extending
beyond the immediate period under consideration (for
example, nominees whose overall excellent work has
occurred over many years).”
Please visit www.aaslh.org/aaslh_awards.htm to
learn more about the award guidelines and the docu-mentation
that must accompany the nomination
forms. If you would like to nominate a North Carolina
person or organization, please send that nomination
form and other required information by March 1 to:
Laura Ketcham
NC Department of Cultural Resources
4610 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4610
W ould you like to nominate a person or organiza-tion
for excellence in the collection, preservation,
or interpretation of state and local history? Then
consider completing a nomination for the Leadership
in History Awards, offered each year by the Ameri-can
Association for State and Local History (AASLH).
The association bestows these awards annually to
establish and encourage standards of excellence in
the collection, preservation, and interpretation of
state and local history throughout the United States.
The association offers the Award of Merit to recog-nize
excellence for projects (including special projects,
educational programs, exhibits, publications, restora-tion
projects, etc.), individual achievement, and organ-izational
general excellence. It also offers the Albert
B. Corey Award to recognize primarily volunteer-operated
historical organizations that best display
the qualities of vigor, scholarship, and imagination in
their work.
Nominees do not have to be members of AASLH, and
self-nominations are encouraged.
Recruiting New Volunteers: Highlights from the Federation’s
Spring Workshops
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 3
FEDERATION NEWS
Federation Bulletin
I t’s amazing what you can get done with volunteers,”
said Kay Mitchell-Thomas at the start of the
Federation’s first spring workshop. As an example,
she noted that volunteers had helped set up the room
where the workshop was being held, had made the
refreshments, and were going to share their stories
throughout the day.
During the workshops, Thomas, director of the Mur-freesboro
Historical Association, and John Woodard,
president of the Murfreesboro Historical Association
(MHA), offered suggestions for recruiting and keeping
new volunteers.
Both Thomas and Woodard know from their experience
working with the MHA how crucial volunteers are.
The Murfreesboro Historical Association has just one
paid employee and almost 200 volunteers. With the
help of these volunteers, the association offers festivals,
guided tours, and other programs and also maintains
a museum and more than a dozen historic properties.
Recruiting New Volunteers
Thomas and Woodard offered a variety of suggestions
for recruiting new volunteers.
The Basics: Before you start recruiting volunteers,
Thomas said, you need to know several things: why
you want volunteers; what they will be doing; what
type of people you are looking for; how you will select/
screen potential volunteers; and how you will support
them once they start volunteering for you.
Emphasize the benefits: To attract volunteers, show
people the benefits of volunteering. Communicate
both the importance of volunteers’ contributions to
your organization and the social, educational, and
other benefits that volunteers will enjoy. For instance,
you could emphasize that your volunteers will learn
new skills, make new friends, and have an impact on
the community.
The North Carolina Museum of History does a good
job expressing the benefits that its volunteers will
enjoy. In a press release seeking new volunteers, the
museum says, “Discover the rewards of sharing North
Carolina’s rich history with others. As a volunteer
docent at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh, you
can meet people from around the world, work with
other enthusiastic docents and learn more about our
state. . . . Docents enjoy benefits such as field trips to
historic sites, an annual luncheon and lectures by
guest speakers.”
Be flexible. Because people have many demands on
their time, some people may not able to help you during
the work week. John Woodard suggested thinking of
other ways that potential volunteers can help you.
For instance, some MHA volunteers help at just one
special event a year; others bake food at night for
upcoming special events. Woodard described a local
businessman who donated three lawnmowers to the
association and who pays for the lawnmowers to be
serviced or repaired.
Consider recruiting students. Local schools and colleges
can also be a good source for volunteers. Thomas
noted that the MHA has benefited from the work of
high school seniors who are required to do volunteer
work to graduate.
Some historic sites also create volunteer internships
to attract undergraduate and graduate students. The
N.C. Museum of History, for instance, offers several
unpaid internships a year. These internships have
specific job descriptions, job titles, and work require-ments,
and students are required to work 100 hours in
a semester. The museum is willing to talk with students’
professors to see if course credit can be assigned for
the internship. More information about the museum’s
internship program can be found at http://
ncmuseumofhistory.org/vol/index.html. In addition,
Museum Ed’s web site, www.museum-ed.org, offers
“To attract new volunteers, show
people the benefits of volunteering.
Communicate both the importance of
volunteers’ contributions to your organi-zation
and the social, educational, and
other benefits that volunteers will
enjoy.”
Recruiting New Volunteers (continued)
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 4
FEDERATION NEWS
Federation Bulletin
information from other museums about their intern-ship
programs.
Be willing to take a risk. Thomas noted that one obstacle
to recruiting new volunteers is a fear of approaching
new people, the risk of being told no. As a result,
many organizations tend to rely on the same people
over and over, which leads to burn out—and to difficul-ties
when those volunteers eventually leave. Organiza-tions
must constantly recruit new volunteers and
must be willing to reach out to unfamiliar groups.
Consider some non-traditional volunteers. Woodard
noted that MHA benefits from the work of people
required by the courts to do community service.
Woodard said that the community service workers are
non-violent first offenders and do not have contact with
the public. These “involuntary volunteers” are super-vised
by an association volunteer on weekends as they
mow and maintain the lawns of the association’s
historic properties. Anyone interested in having
community service workers do similar work at their
sites can contact their local court system to learn more.
Workshop participants offered more suggestions for
non-traditional volunteers, such as approaching garden
clubs to help maintain plantings and historic vegetable
gardens and working with Scout groups or an Eagle
Scout to complete a project.
Consider looking into low-cost options, such as hiring
students through federal work-study programs. Contact
your local college or university to see if they have a
work-study program that is open to local non-profits.
Duke University, for instance, allows local non-profits
to participate in its federal work study program.
Through this program, the Duke Homestead Education
and History Corporation (a support group for a state
historic site) is able to hire Duke students to work
part-time at the site. The corporation pays the students
each month and is reimbursed 75% of the cost each
month.
Spreading the Word
Thomas noted that there are many ways to spread
the word about your volunteer opportunities.
Print advertising Sending out a press release; posting
an announcement on your Web site; posting a flyer at
local libraries, schools, and community centers;
displaying a flyer at your site; and including an article
in your newsletter are common ways to seek out new
volunteers.
Sponsoring a history class or speaking at meetings
Some organizations also co-sponsor a history course
or workshop at their site; these groups make a point
of mentioning their volunteer opportunities during
their classes. Other organizations contact local
groups such as Rotary Clubs and Lions Clubs to offer
to speak at an upcoming meeting; this gives history
organizations a chance to tell their story and to seek
new volunteers.
Taking part in community events. You may also want
to consider taking part in a community festival or
event. Historic Salisbury, for instance, takes part in
several “Friday Night Out” events each year. These
events are sponsored by the town of Salisbury and
feature live music, shopping, children’s activities, and
more. Historic Salisbury maintains a booth at some of
these events and runs a slide show with pictures of
historic buildings they have saved. The organization
also offers a raffle to attract people to their table.
When people stop to learn more, staff members talk
to them about the society and about volunteer oppor-tunities.
Word of mouth Old-fashioned word of mouth is also
crucial to recruiting volunteers. Thomas encourages
historic organizations to ask their own volunteers to
help recruit new volunteers. Your volunteers could
The Murfreesboro
Historical Association
recruits a variety of
volunteers, including
students from local
high schools and
colleges. Kay Mitchell-
Thomas noted one of
the benefits of recruiting
young volunteers: by
capturing these volun-teers’
interest when
young, you may gain a
life-long volunteer.
Recruiting New Volunteers (continued)
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 5
FEDERATION NEWS
Federation Bulletin
talk to their friends themselves or could recommend
someone who might be interested.
The internet. It may be especially important to use
the internet to attract younger volunteers. You may
want to consider posting your volunteer opportunities
on free sites such as www.volunteermatch.org, network
forgood.org, and http://volunteer.united-e-way.org.
Keys to Keeping Volunteers
Thomas offered a variety of important tips for keeping
volunteers: make a volunteer feel welcome, appreciated,
and useful, and make sure that volunteers have fun.
To help new volunteers feel welcome, be sure to introduce
them to others. Thomas often asks a new volunteer to
handle registration at a volunteer event—this ensures
that the new volunteer meets everyone. Thomas also
suggested using icebreaker activities at meetings to
help people get to know each other better as well as
having social activities before or after a meeting.
To help volunteers feel appreciated, be sure to thank
them often and sincerely for their help. Thomas and
workshop participants offered a variety of ways to
thank volunteers, such as sending a written thank-you
note; writing about them in newsletters; recogniz-ing
them during meetings; thanking them in person;
having an appreciation luncheon; sending a press
release to local media highlighting volunteers’ work;
giving them a Presidential Award (available from the
Points of Light Foundation); giving them discounts to
site merchandise; and giving gifts and certificates.
Thomas noted that even small gifts can be meaning-ful
and can be as easy as pairing an inexpensive item
with a card of thanks. More ideas for recognizing
volunteers can be found through a search on the
Internet. Energizeinc.com and positivepromotions.com
are just two sites with interesting ideas.
To help volunteers feel useful, it is crucial to make
sure volunteers know how important they are. For
instance, Thomas said that after a fundraiser, she’ll
call volunteers to tell them how much money the
association made. She wants to be sure volunteers see
the big picture and understand how important they
are to keeping the organization going.
Thomas also described a basic but important point.
Don’t ask a volunteer to help unless you have some-thing
specific for that person to do; otherwise, that
volunteer will feel like you are wasting his or her time.
To help volunteers have fun, be sure to match volunteers’
interests and skills with the tasks you ask them to
do. Thomas also suggested planning social events for
volunteers. As Thomas noted, “Endless work will
drive people away.”
For instance, one year Thomas and a group of volun-teers
needed to make 12,000 hand-made crafts to give
away at MHA’s annual Christmas tour. Thomas and
the volunteers met once a week for a year to make the
crafts, and after each meeting they went out to lunch
together. “We became good friends,” Thomas said.
What could have been a daunting challenge became a
fun activity that everyone looked forward to.
For more information
There are a number of books and web sites available
on recruiting and managing volunteers. Some of the
publications include Transforming Museum Volun-teering:
A Practical Guide for Engaging 21st Century
Volunteers (available from www.authorhouse.com)
and Establishing a Volunteer Program: A Case Study,
a technical leaflet from the American Association for
State and Local History (www.aaslh.org/leaflets.htm).
In addition to the web sites mentioned previously,
some useful web sites include Alliance for Nonprofit
Management (www.allianceonline.org), The Resource
Center (www.nationalserviceresources.org), and Man-agement
Library, www.managementhelp.org. More
resources can be found on the Federation’s web page
at www.fnchs.org/fund/news.htm.
In addition, Kay Mitchell-Thomas is happy to talk
with anyone to provide more information or to answer
questions. You can call her at (252) 398-7702 or email
her at heritage@murfreesboronc.org.
“Thomas offered a variety of important
tips for keeping volunteers: make a
volunteer feel welcome, appreciated,
and useful, and make sure that
volunteers have fun.”
Request for Assistance Preserving Military Archives
• Increased credibility with
funders, your community, and
stakeholders
• Meaningful progress–the ability
to identify, articulate, and measure
accomplishments
• A valuable opportunity to
make the case for improvement to
stakeholders for staffing, training,
materials, and equipment
• Easier and more meaningful
long-range and budget planning
• Preparation for participation
in other programs including
AAM’s Museum Assessment and
Accreditation programs.
Standards Areas
Organizations can choose to work
on the six standards sessions in
any order. These sessions include
mission, vision, and governance;
audience; interpretation; steward-ship
of collections; stewardship of
historic structures and landscapes;
and management.
In each workbook section, lists of
sample projects, unacceptable
practices, and helpful print and
electronic resources follow the
standards. The StEPs website
offers a list of additional resources,
sample forms and policies, and
other materials.
How to enroll
To sign up for the StEPs program,
visit www.aaslh.org or call (615)
320-3203. Enrollment costs $150
for AASLH institutional members
and $250 for non-members (a price
that includes a one-year institu-tional
membership.) The enroll-ment
fee is a one-time payment,
even if it takes an organization
several years to complete the six
program sections. Organizations
that enroll receive the StEPs
workbook; access to the password-protected
StEPs website for news,
additional resources, and discus-sion
forums; discounts on AASLH
workshops and technical leaflets;
certificates for each of the six self-study
sections that are success-fully
passed; and national recog-nition
on AASLH’s website for
standards sections successfully
passed.
For more information, please
contact Cherie Cook, AASLH
Senior Program Manager, at (573)
893.5164 or at cook@aaslh.org.
T he American Association for
State and Local History has
introduced StEPs, a voluntary
assessment program for small-and
mid-sized history organizations
to encourage awareness and
achievement of national standards.
StEPs, which stands for Standards
and Excellence Program for History
Organizations, is a self-paced,
self-study program organizations
can use to rate their performance
in six standards sections.
Using assessment questions and
performance indicators (Basic, Good,
Better) to rate their performance,
participating organizations can
identify their strengths and areas
needing improvement, and begin
taking steps for positive change.
Benefits
According to AASLH, participating
organizations can expect a number
of benefits:
• Improved policies and practices
based on national standards
• Education and awareness of
standards for staff, volunteers,
and board members
• Clear direction for future
improvement
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 6
FEDERATION NEWS
Federation Bulletin
T he Federation recently received a request for
assistance from an army public affairs office. The
text of the request appears below:
“The 319th Army Reserve Public Affairs Detachment
was located in Garner/Raleigh, NC a long time ago.
We are now located at Fort Jackson, SC.
“We have three binders that are approximately 18" x
24" with numerous news clippings and black and
white pictures dated from the 50s to 60s. The articles
are about citizen soldiers from all over N.C. from
various news sources. . . . We are looking for someone
who has a passion for historical preservation and
would be generous enough to digitally archive and
preserve the originals.”
If you would like to help with this project, please
contact Sergeant W. Watson Martin by email at
william.watson.martin@usar.army.mil or by phone at
(803) 751-7875.
AASLH Offers New Assessment Program to Help History
Organizations Improve
By June Dunleavy, Programs Chair, New Bern Historical Society
Focus on a Federation Member: New Bern Historical Society
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 7
MEMBER NEWS
Federation Bulletin
I n 1923, nineteen people met at the home of Mrs.
Richard N. Duffy in New Bern to form a historical
society. The vision of these New Bernians continues
today in the New Bern Historical Society, which has
grown to include more than 700 members. The historical
society lives up to its motto, “We bring history to life,”
by offering an active calendar of educational events,
programs, and social gatherings.
Educational Events
Ghost Walk is our largest annual fundraising event of
the year, and next year will mark its 20th year. During
this three-day event, your ticket takes you back in
time to a different era. Visiting various homes and
sites, you meet the ‘ghosts’—based on actual New
Bernians—who have returned to tell us true stories of
that period.
The program’s featured time period changes each
year. This past October, participants met the spirits
of the Roaring Twenties—including flappers, bootleggers,
and suffragettes—and heard stories about the Great
Fire of 1922, which devastated much of our downtown.
Another popular program is the Spring Historic
Homes and Gardens Tour, which is produced in collabo-ration
with the New Bern Preservation Foundation.
During this two-day event, a dozen or more homes
and their gardens are opened in New Bern’s Historic
District for patrons to visit.
A few years ago, a creative group of society members
developed a new program to increase attendance at
the 18th century Attmore-Oliver House, which the
society owns. Capitalizing on the paranormal investi-gation
of the house performed by the Ghosthunters of
North Carolina, they developed “Haunted Evening,” a
fascinating one-hour program to entertain visitors to
the old home.
Patrons arrive at an 1867 wake that depicts the customs
of the times, complete with the intrusion of a Yankee
officer. Once upstairs, visitors encounter the lively
spirit of Miss Mary Oliver, who lived in the house until
1951 and who had the reputation of being an amusing
local character. A 10-minute video of the investigation
results concludes the evening. “Haunted Evening” is
a very popular program, and our thespian historians
have written other equally creative dramas based on
events of the times and families that lived there.
Other programs that bring history to life are our
adult education programs including “Lunch & Learn,”
which is held in a local restaurant five or six times a
year and which features informative and entertaining
speakers. Two or three evenings a year, we also have
free library programs, which are well attended. In
September we host The Richard K. Lore Lecture Series,
and in January 2010, for the 4th year in a row, America’s
premier Civil War historian, Ed Bearss, will return to
provide another fascinating lecture.
The historical society has also developed two children’s
programs. The first is a three-hour program about the
local American Indians who lived in this area prior to
European settlement. The children learn of the culture
of the Tuscarora tribe; make a necklace; play games;
make and eat nut butter; play instruments; learn two
songs; hear a fascinating legend; handle authentic
artifacts; and receive an eight-page game and infor-mation
booklet to take home.
Our second program was developed for New Bern’s
upcoming Tricentennial Celebration. The program is
set in April 1711, when the colonists had been in New
Bern for about a year and hopes were high. Each child
attending takes on the character of a New Bernian from
that period, wears an authentic costume, and shares
their stories with the group.
The children portray Palatine and Swiss immigrants,
English farmers, enslaved people, and Native Ameri-cans,
each with a story to tell. The children make dye
from onionskins, dye an item, learn the minuet, make
and eat Johnny Cake, write a letter home in character
with a real quill pen, and play period games. An
information and game booklet is provided to take home
for this program also.
“The historical society lives up to its
motto, ‘We bring history to life,’ by
offering an active calendar of educa-tional
events, programs, and social
gatherings.”
Focus on a Federation Member: New Bern Historical Society (cont’d)
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 8
MEMBER NEWS
Federation Bulletin
All these programs are made possible by the work of
the historical society’s wonderful group of volunteers.
The Civil War Battlefield Park
A very important part of our historical society is the
site of the 1862 Battle of New Bern, the Civil War
Battlefield Park, which is located 5 miles east of the
city. The society received the core 24.65 acres of the
battlefield from the Civil War Preservation Trust.
With the help of a grant, this site was awarded recog-nition
by the National Register of Historic Places.
On January 11th, 2009, the battlefield visitor center
was dedicated by renowned Civil War historian Ed
Bearss. This Battlefield Park will serve an important
role in preserving New Bern’s rich heritage and
completes the North Carolina Civil War Trail system
from Bentonville through Goldsboro and Kinston
ending in Fort Macon and Fort Fisher.
We invite you to discover New Bern’s fascinating
history while enjoying the historical society’s programs.
To learn more about the society, please visit our Web
site at www.newbernhistorical.org or call (252) 638-
8558.
T he Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
was one of the 25 most visited field trip destina-tions
in North Carolina last school year, according to
Carolina Field Trips Magazine.
The Museum ranked 24th on the list after delivering
programs to 14,464 visitors during the 2008-09 school
year. Cape Fear Museum social studies and science
school programs include on-site field trips, off-site
outreaches, educational special event days, and class-room
kits.
“The word is out. Teachers know firsthand, or they
hear from fellow teachers, how wonderful Cape Fear
Museum programs are,” museum director Ruth Haas
said. “We have a great team of educators and volun-teers
that presents quality programs throughout the
year.”
For more information about museum school program
offerings, visit the museum Web site at www.capefear
museum.com, or call the museum reservationist at
(910) 798-4362.
Cape Fear Museum Named as One of Top Field Trip Destinations
T he N.C. Museum of History has released “Friends
in Liberty: North Carolina in the American Revo-lution,”
a 50-minute educational film produced by the
museum and funded by the State Officers Club, N.C.
Society Daughters of the American Revolution. A
DVD of the film about the American Revolution in
North Carolina will be distributed to all middle- and
high-school public schools in North Carolina. The film
and supplemental teaching materials are available on
the museum’s Web site at ncmuseumofhistory.org.
“Friends in Liberty” follows the experiences of 14-
year-old Hugh McDonald and his friend, Anne Taylor.
The film is based on the original journal of McDonald,
the son of Scottish Loyalists, who joined the Sixth
N.C. Regiment of the Continental Army in 1776. The
fictitious character Anne Taylor gives us a girl’s view
of life during the Revolutionary War as she struggles
with increasing responsibilities at home after her
brother Samuel joins the militia. For more informa-tion
about “Friends in Liberty,” contact Sally Bloom
at sally.bloom@ncdcr.gov or (919) 807-7987.
N.C. Museum of History Produces Film About North Carolina
and the American Revolution
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 9
MEMBER NEWS
The CASHIERS HISTORICAL SOCI-ETY
announced the opening of the
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust
Nature Trail, a ¼ mile walk that
begins near the historical society’s
Zachary-Tolbert House Museum.
The trail includes picnic tables
and features stops at natural and
historic spots.
DUKE HOMESTEAD STATE
HISTORIC SITE partnered with
the N.C. Arts Council and added a
focus on the arts to its annual
tobacco festival. Renamed the
Tobacco Harvest and Hornworm
Arts Festival, the event featured a
mock tobacco auction, a tobacco
looping contest, a hornworm race,
and other tobacco-themed activities
as well as musical performances,
artist demonstrations, and art
displays. The event attracted
nearly 1,000 visitors to the site.
The FRIENDS OF THE PAGE-WALKER
HOTEL announced that
one of its volunteers, Brent Miller,
received the Town of Cary’s History
and Heritage Award.
The City of High Point and the
High Point Historical Society
announced that Edith Brady has
been named Museum Director at
the HIGH POINT MUSEUM. Brady
has served as Curator of Education
at the Museum since 2000.
The HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
FOR HILLSBOROUGH AND ORANGE
COUNTY has received the 2009
Spring Strowd Roses Inc. grant.
The funds from this grant will be
used for the Orange County
Historical Museum’s Heritage
Education programs. These
programs introduce elementary
and middle school students to
Orange County History and provide
a gateway to the past. Through
the generosity of Strowd Roses
Inc., the programs are offered free
of charge, and the museum’s staff
will be able to go to the schools or
groups themselves.
The 1815 HISTORIC ROSEDALE
PLANTATION has completed a
major restoration of its gardens,
thanks to a gift from a board
member. Volunteers and staff
hope the gardens will become a
destination in themselves, attract-ing
visitors seeking quiet amid
the busyness of Charlotte as well
as groups seeking to reserve the
gardens for special events.
As the sesquicentennial of the
American Civil War approaches
(2011-2015), the LINCOLN
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
has put into a spreadsheet the
roster of Confederate soldiers
from Lincoln County that Alfred
Nixon compiled and published
during the first decade of the
twentieth century.
The NEW BERN HISTORICAL
SOCIETY has won a $50,000 grant
from the Golden LEAF Foundation
to enhance the New Bern Civil
War Battlefield. The historical
society will use the money to
develop two walking bridges for
visitors and to create walkways
and split rail fences near the
visitor center.
The OCRACOKE PRESERVATION
SOCIETY announced that it has
received a generous bequest from
the estate of Geraldine Beveridge,
a resident of Beaufort, NC, and a
long-time visitor to Ocracoke. The
OPS will use the fund to help it
identify endangered historically
significant properties and to
procure, preserve, and re-sell
these structures with protective
covenants.
The SOUTHPORT HISTORICAL
SOCIETY announced that it has
completed its three-year project to
preserve the Old Smithville Burying
Grounds. Society members raked
leaves, pulled up vines, cut back
shrubs and trees, cleaned tomb-stones,
reset markers, uncovered
buried stones, cleaned and
painted rusty fences, and more.
Member News Briefs
E arlier this year the American Assocation of State
and Local History gave an Award of Merit to the
Gaston County Museum of Art and History and its
partners for their work on Standing on a Box: Lewis
Hine in Gaston County, 1908. Standing on a Box was
created for local residents to explore the county’s textile
history and culture as reflected in Lewis Hine’s 1908
Gaston County photographs, and to stimulate consid-eration
and discussion of that history’s impact on the
region’s present and future. The project included an
exhibit, community-wide reading program, lectures, and
a concert with dramatic readings.
Congratulations to the museum and its partners for
winning this national award!
Gaston County Museum of Art and History Wins AASLH Award
Federation Bulletin
COSTUME SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Small Museums Collections
Care Grants
Deadline: February 1, 2010
The Costume Society of America
(CSA) annually awards up to two
$1,500 grants to support costume
in small museums. Eligible organi-zations
include non-profit historical
societies, historic houses or sites,
and other similar institutions
with very limited budget and staff
to support their costume collection.
These institutions must also be
regularly open to the public for a
minimum of forty days per year
and must have a collection of
tangible costume objects. Funding
may be used for appropriate supplies
or display items, the services of a
consultant or specialist, or other
projects which relate directly to
the institution’s costume collection
and foster the care or use of the
collection at a level appropriate to
the particular collection’s most
pressing needs. For more informa-tion,
visit www.costumesociety
america.com/GrantsAwards/
smallmuseum.html or call (800)
CSA-9447.
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE
HUMANITIES
America’s Historical and
Cultural Organizations Grants:
Planning Grants and Imple-mentation
Grants
Deadline: January 13, 2010 (for
projects beginning Sept. 2010) and
Aug. 18, 2010 (for projects begin-ning
April 2011)
As stated by the NEH, “America’s
Historical and Cultural Organiza-tions
grants support projects in
the humanities that explore stories,
ideas, and beliefs that deepen our
understanding of our lives and
our world. . . .Grants for America’s
Historical and Cultural Organiza-
Grants from Public or Museum-Related Organizations
tions should encourage dialogue,
discussion, and civic engagement,
and they should foster learning
among people of all ages. To that
end, the Division of Public Programs
urges applicants to consider more
than one format for presenting
humanities ideas to the public.”
The grants support projects such
as traveling exhibitions that are
presented at multiple venues;
long-term exhibitions at one insti-tution;
interpretive Web sites or
other digital formats; interpretation
of historic places or areas; reading
and discussion programs; panel
exhibitions that travel widely,
reach a broad audience, and take
advantage of complementary
programming formats (e.g., reading
and discussion series, radio, or
other media) to enhance the visitor
experience; or other project formats
that creatively engage audiences
in humanities ideas. The NEH
offers planning grants and imple-mentation
grants. For more infor-mation,
visit www.neh.gov/grants/
grants.html.
Interpreting America’s Historic
Places: Planning Grants and
Implementation Grants
Deadline: January 13, 2010 (for
projects beginning Sept. 2010) and
Aug. 18, 2010 (for projects beginning
April 2011)
As stated by the NEH web site,
“Interpreting America’s Historic
Places grants support public
humanities projects that exploit
the evocative power of historic
places to explore stories, ideas,
and beliefs that deepen our under-standing
of our lives and our
world. . . . Interpreting America’s
Historic Places projects may inter-pret
a single historic site or house,
a series of sites, an entire neighbor-hood,
a town or community, or a
larger geographical region.” Projects
should interpret a place that
played a significant role in American
history. Sample projects include
“visitor orientation exhibits, inter-pretive
displays and labeling,
revised scripts and education
training materials for docents,
publications such as brochures or
guidebooks, interpretive driving
or walking trails or tours, annotated
itineraries, trail signage, video or
audio displays, on-site interactive
media, and digital products.”
NEH offers two categories of
grants for Interpreting America’s
Historic Places: Planning and
Implementation Grants. For more
information, visit www.neh.gov/
grants/grants.html.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
American Battlefield Protection
Program
Deadline: Jan. 2, 2010
The American Battlefield Protection
Program (ABPP) promotes the
preservation of significant historic
battlefields associated with wars
on American soil. The goals of the
program are 1) to protect battle-fields
and sites associated with
armed conflicts that influenced
the course of our history, 2) to
encourage and assist all Americans
in planning for the preservation,
management, and interpretation
of these sites, and 3) to raise
awareness of the importance of
preserving battlefields and related
sites for future generations. The
ABPP focuses primarily on land
use, cultural resource and site
management planning, and public
education. Individual project
funding has ranged from $5,000 to
more than $80,000, with most
grants averaging about $30,000.
The program encourages, but does
not require, matching funds or
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 10
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Federation Bulletin
Grants from Private Organizations
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF
GREATER GREENSBORO
Community Grants Program
As stated by the foundation, “The
Board of Directors of the Commu-nity
Foundation allocates support
for a wide range of community
issues through the Community
Grants Program. Grants are
awarded to meet community
needs and opportunities in the
arts and humanities, education,
housing, building capacity of non-profits,
and building social capital
(projects that help build and sustain
connections among people and
groups); local nonprofit organiza-tions
may also apply for grants to
help strengthen their organiza-tional
capacity in various aspects
of nonprofit management. Grants
will vary in size, duration, and
frequency, and are determined
based on the merit of the program
and its potential impact. Grants
usually range in size from a few
hundred dollars up to $10,000;
larger grants may be considered
in rare occasions. Most grants are
for single-year programs.” For
more information, visit www.cfgg.
org/receive/grant_community_
grants.
US AIRWAYS COMMUNITY FOUN-DATION
AND CORPORATE GIVING
US Airways offers several grant
programs that may be of interest
to cultural organizations in Char-lotte;
these programs include the
Community Foundation and the
Corporate Giving Program. As
stated by US Airways, “The US
Airways Community Foundation
supports multi-year capital and
building campaigns (bricks and
mortar building projects only) for
501 (C) (3) nonprofit organizations
located in and providing services
in the major metropolitan areas of
Charlotte, Phoenix and Philadel-phia.
The deadline for application
submission is April 1 and October
1 annually. . . . Organizations
must improve the quality and
availability of charitable health
care, artistic and cultural organi-zations,
education and community
services for multi-year capital and
building campaigns only. . . . The
US Airways Corporate Giving
Program invests in IRS 501(C)(3)
nonprofit arts and culture, health,
human services, education, envi-ronment
and civic organizations
that enhance the quality of life in
the airline's hub and focus cities
of Boston, Charlotte, Las Vegas,
New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix,
Pittsburgh and Washington, DC.”
For more information, visit
www2.usairways.com/en-US/
aboutus/corporategiving/
default.html.
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 11
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Grants from Public or Museum-Related Organizations (continued)
in-kind services. The ABPP encourages potential
applicants to contact the ABPP staff and discuss
proposed projects before preparing an application.
Contact the ABPP Grants Manager by email at
kristen_ mcmasters@ nps.gov or at (202) 354-2037 for
more information. The Historical Preservation Group,
a Federation member, won a grant in 2009.
For more information, visit www.nps.gov/history/
hps/abpp/funding.htm.
Native American Graves Protection and Repatria-tion
Act Consultation and Repatriation Grants
The National Park Service invites proposals for FY
2010 Native American Graves Protection and Repa-triation
Act (NAGPRA) grants. NAGPRA is a Federal
law that provides a process for museums and Federal
agencies to return certain Native American cultural
items—human remains, funerary objects, sacred
objects, and objects of cultural patrimony—to lineal
descendants, culturally affiliated Indian tribes, and
Native Hawaiian organizations. Two types of grants
are available. Consultation/Documentation Grants
are awarded annually and range from $5,000 to
$90,000. Applications are due March 2, 2010. Repa-triation
Grants of up to $15,000 are awarded on an
ongoing basis, October through June. More informa-tion
and applications are available online at
www.nps.gov/history/nagpra/grants or by calling
(202) 354-2203.
cultural sites are often happy
to help.
• Join an e-mail listserve of
museum personnel to trade
ideas and ask for advice. Some
listserves to consider include
those offered by Museum Ed
(www.museum-ed.org), the
North Carolina Museums
Council (www.ncmuseums.org),
or the N.C. Museum Educators
Roundtable. You can ask for
your name to be added to the
NCMER discussion group by
emailing bj.davis@ncdcr.gov.
• Take one of your favorite on-site
programs to another location,
such as a library, school, or
community center. You’ll
attract a new audience, help
promote your site, and help
the library or school meet its
educational goals.
At the North Carolina Museum
of History, we partner with
the Cameron Village Regional
Library to offer a monthly
program called History Corner.
It’s a history lesson and story-time
for children ages 5 to 9.
Museum staff develop the
lesson based on an aspect of
North Carolina history and
use reproduction touch-items
to teach the class. The children’s
HISTORY HELP
C ollaboration may mean the
difference between a successful
museum program and a non-existent
one. In our current envi-ronment
of budget cuts and staffing
overload, it has become even more
important that cultural institutions
collaborate in program planning
and implementation.
Libraries, historic sites, and
museums share an overlapping
set of functions. Performing these
functions though collaboration
rather than in isolation creates a
win-win for users and institutions.
Here are a few ways that your
institution can partner with other
agencies to make your programming
dollars go farther.
• Identify partner agencies.
Contact other museums and
historic sites to get ideas or
discuss ways you can work
together on projects and
programs. Other agencies you
may consider working with
include libraries, arts councils,
schools and universities,
community groups, Boy Scouts/
Girl Scouts, and churches. As
an added bonus, these organi-zations
may also be willing to
help promote your site’s
events to their membership.
• Share ideas with other cultural
agencies. Look through the
Calendar of Events in the
Federation Bulletin to see if
another historic site is doing a
program you’d like to try. Call
their staff. See if you can
brainstorm ideas to make
their successful program work
at your own location. Staff
and volunteers at other
Using Collaboration to Create Successful Programs
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 12
librarian selects a few story-books
to accompany the lesson,
reads one of the stories to the
participants, and sends the
children home with a reading
list of other book titles for
additional reading on the
subject. We close with an
activity such as a trip to the
museum galleries, a craft, or
a game.
This collaborative program
with the public library has
been very successful; we have
a waiting list almost every
month! The program, which
meets monthly at both the
library and the museum, covers
a different topic each month.
Since the program’s inception
in 2006, we’ve talked about
fashion history, gingerbread
and Moravians, pirates on the
coast, quilts, and gold discovery,
among many other topics.
• Trade spaces. Offer gallery
space at your museum to a
community group. For instance,
this year marks the 100th
anniversary of 4-H in North
Carolina. A historic farm with
museum space could partner
with a local 4-H club to set up
an exhibit focusing on the
agricultural history of the area.
You could also talk to a local
“Collaboration may mean the difference between a
successful museum program and a non-existent one.
In our current environment of budget cuts and
staffing overload, it has become even more important
that cultural institutions collaborate in program
planning and implementation.”
By Rachel Dickens, Education Programs Coordinator, North Carolina Museum of History
are offered throughout 21
counties. For more information,
go to http://togetherweread.org.
If you’d like help getting
started on a reading program,
contact the North Carolina
Humanities Council for infor-mation
on “Let’s Talk About
It”—a nine week reading and
discussion series led by a new
scholar each week. Museums
can apply to the Humanities
Council to order the books and
pay the speaker honoraria.
• Combine your staffing resources
and train across the board.
Establish a partnership with
another cultural agency—
museum, library, university—
and have joint training sessions
for your staff and volunteers.
When your museum has a
large event or is short-staffed
for other reasons, call on your
friends at your sister agency.
When I worked at Duke
Homestead, I was also respon-sible
for knowing the tour for
Bennett Place and Historic
Stagville, the three state
historic sites in Durham.
Once a year, I also had to
brush up on my knowledge of
Alamance Battleground and
Aycock Birthplace for programs
at those sites.
• Be a voice for other cultural
institutions, and turn your
museum into a tourism office.
Learn about what other
museums and sites are doing
in your area so you can encour-age
visitors to spend more
time in your county. Remember,
tourism means big money in
North Carolina, even when
your admission is free!
HISTORY HELP
library about putting up a
small display about your
museum in their lobby. Duke
Homestead State Historic Site
has worked with the Durham
County Public Library to create
a small exhibit in a lobby case
at a downtown Durham
branch. The North Carolina
Museum of History currently
has an exhibit at the new
downtown Raleigh Convention
Center. I’ve also seen great
exhibits at airports while
walking through the terminal.
• Read a book. Offer your
museum as a location for a
local book club to meet. Or
participate in a community
book reading by selecting a
book that’s relevant to your
community, and publicize a
book club through your libraries,
museums, and schools. The
Carnegie Museum of Art and
Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh
have a monthly program called
“Bound Together Book Club.”
The staff selects a book related
to an exhibition. The program
begins with a 15-minute gallery
talk highlighting the visual
and literary connections.
Participants are then able to
converse with fellow readers
and library staff in a casual
museum setting.
There are many examples of
community book clubs in
North Carolina; the most
successful example may be the
“Together We Read” program.
In its fifth year, Together We
Read, is western North Caro-lina’s
region-wide reading and
discussion program. Partici-pants
select a book, and
programs based on the reading
Using Collaboration to Create Successful Programs (continued)
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 13
• Use technology to your benefit.
Link your website to other
agencies for cross-promotion.
If you have activities for fami-lies
such as scavenger hunts
or gallery guides, put those
on-line so parents can
download them before arriving
at your site. Museums that
are in close proximity to each
other can create a scavenger
hunt that encompasses both
sites. Individuals who complete
the entire hunt and visit both
museums can receive a small
prize from your gift shop.
• Offer workshops for teachers.
Work with your county’s central
office to offer workshops that
will earn CEU credits for
teachers. The North Carolina
Museum of History offers two
summer institutes for public
school teachers. The 2009
Summer Teacher Institute,
“Happy Days are Here Again:
Children’s librarian Benjie Hester
presents a story to the class during
a History Corner lesson at the N.C.
Museum of History.
to invigorate their classroom
presentations. In addition to
giving tours and leading a
workshop on creating exhibits
in the classroom, museum
educators picked up program-ming
tips from the visiting
artists.
• Get connected with volunteer
agencies. Make sure that your
local Junior League and college
career centers are aware of
your museum and your volun-teer
needs. The Junior League
is committed to promoting
volunteerism and improving
communities.
Collaboration requires effective
team work and a common goal.
Two agencies with different
missions will find it very difficult
to collaborate; therefore the key to
a successful partnership is select-ing
a good partner! It may take
time to develop such a relationship,
but when you succeed, both insti-tutions
and the visitor benefit!
Editor’s Note: If you would like
more information about the Museum
of History’s History Corner program
HISTORY HELP
The Great Depression and
Recovery in North Carolina,”
was sponsored by the North
Carolina Museum of History,
North Carolina State Historic
Sites, North Carolina State
Archives, National History
Day in North Carolina, and
North Carolina Department of
Cultural Resources. During
the four-day workshop, teachers
were able to interact with
speakers, participate in
discussions, and try new
hands-on activities. Teachers
received resources, such as
primary source materials on
the Great Depression, to take
back to the classroom. Partici-pants
who completed the
institute received a certificate
for thirty contact hours toward
recertification in social studies.
The North Carolina Museum
of History also partnered with
the United Arts Council of
Raleigh and Wake County to
offer the 2009 Arts Integration
Institute. This workshop is
designed to give elementary
school teachers a hands-on
opportunity to learn techniques
Using Collaboration to Create Successful Programs (continued)
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 14
or other collaborative programs,
you can email Rachel Dickens at
rachel.dickens@ncdcr.gov or call
her at (919) 807-7969.
The N.C. Museum of History
collaborated with the United Arts
Council of Raleigh and Wake
County to host a United Arts
Council Arts Integration Institute
for teachers. In this picture,
museum staff member Susan
Horton is helping teachers learn to
make mounts for classroom exhibits.
T he Institute for Museum and Library Services
encourages organizations with volunteer programs
that focus on preserving our heritage to apply for
designation as Preserve America Stewards. Preserve
America Stewards receive a letter and certificate of
recognition signed by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Other benefits include authorization to use the Preserve
America logo in public outreach and promotions,
listing in an online Preserve America directory, and
publicity in the Preserve America e-newsletter.
To be designated, applicants must demonstrate that
their programs provide volunteers with opportunities
to contribute in direct and tangible ways to the
preservation, protection, and promotion of historic
properties; address an otherwise unfilled need in
heritage preservation through the use of volunteer
efforts; and demonstrate innovative and creative use
of volunteer assistance in areas such as youth involve-ment,
volunteer training, public education, and
public/private partnerships.
Four application and designation cycles occur each
year, with application deadlines on March 1, June 1,
September 1, and December 1. For more information,
visit www.preserveamerica.gov/stewards.html.
Apply to Become a Preserve America Steward
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 15
HISTORY HELP
Conducting Research in the North Carolina State Archives
(Part One of a Two-Part Series)
Editor’s note: The North Carolina State Archives is
one of the oldest state archives in the nation and has
an extensive collection of records of interest to historians,
genealogists, and other researchers. This two-part
article explores the different types of records that the
Archives has and describes how to find and request
items if you come to the Archives to conduct research.
T he North Carolina State Archives invites you to
discover a wealth of historical resources available
to help you with your research. When you come to the
Archives in Raleigh, you can consult a will written in
the seventeenth century; read court records from the
1700s; peruse the papers of governors, legislators, and
other prominent North Carolinians; and more.
The North Carolina State Archives maintains custody
of over 100 million documents and 500,000 reels of
microfilm. The holdings include local county records,
state agency records, private manuscripts, and maps.
The Archives also holds over 1 million photographic
negatives, newspapers on microfilm, audio-visual
materials, copies from family Bibles, church and
cemetery records, organization records, colonial and
district court papers, military records, and many
other categories of records.
The County Record Series
The record series used the most frequently by the
public are the county records. Most of the older records
of the current 100 counties and the six defunct ones
are arranged and preserved in the Archives. County
records are arranged into nine series, labeled 100
through 900. This numbering scheme is reflected on
the call numbers found in the Search Room card catalog.
The 100 series includes bonds, with the exception of
marriage and guardian bonds. Apprentice, bastardy,
tavern (or ordinary), and officials’ bonds are included
in the series. Officials’ bonds include sheriffs, constables,
clerks of court and other county officials that are
elected or appointed to positions with fiduciary responsi-bility.
The 200 series includes county copies of the decennial
federal census. The Archives has microfilm copies of
the census from 1790 to 1930, with the exception of
1890. (Nearly all of the 1890 census for North Carolina
was damaged in a fire in the U. S. Department of
Commerce and later destroyed.) You can also see the
original census volumes of the 1850-1880 decades;
these volumes are state or county copies. Please note
that a 72-year restriction is imposed upon federal
census records. It will be 2012 before the 1940 census
is available for research.
The 300 series includes county court records. These
include minutes, appearance, and both civil and
criminal trial and execution dockets, equity records,
and loose civil and criminal action papers. Civil actions
concerning land have been arranged as a subseries of
the court records, and selected counties have other
specialized subseries, such as those concerning railroads
or concerning slaves.
The 400 series includes land records, except those
which are part of civil actions. Original deeds left at
the register’s office by one of the parties to the convey-ance,
retired deed books, grants, land entries and
grants, deeds of gift and trust, petitions for partition,
land divisions, processioners records, and land fore-closures
for taxes are all included within this series.
The Archives has microfilm copies of county deed
books. Indices to land conveyances are also available
on microfilm.
The 500 series includes court records related to the
settlement of the financial affairs of people who died
intestate. These are generally referred to as estate
records. Folders of original estate papers are arranged
alphabetically by the surname of the deceased within
By Debra A. Blake, Public Services Branch Supervisor
“When you come to the Archives in
Raleigh, you can consult a will written
in the seventeenth century; read court
records from the 1700s; peruse the
papers of governors, legislators, and
other prominent North Carolinians;
and more.��
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 16
HISTORY HELP
Conducting Research in the North Carolina State Archives (cont’d)
each county. Another alphabetically-arranged and
related series is the guardians’ papers. The series is
arranged by the names of the ward. These original
estates and guardians records may also have been
transcribed in one of several recording dockets, bearing
titles like appointment of administrators, executors,
and guardians, accounts of sale, guardians annual
accounts, final settlements, and petitions for widows’
dowers or yearly allotments.
The 600 series includes such vital records as birth,
death, marriage, and divorce. It includes marriage
registers, licenses and certificates, records of cohabi-tation,
divorce actions, disinterment/reinterment
permits, and records of grave removals.
Not included in this series are marriage bonds, which
were issued in North Carolina from 1741 to 1868.
These early marriage records are grouped into a sepa-rate
series and arranged by county and then alpha-betically
by the name of the groom. Most marriage
records created after 1868, such as registers and
licenses, remain in the courthouses but are available
on microfilm at the Archives.
North Carolina did not keep statewide birth and death
records until 1913. The Archives does not have any
birth certificates, but it does have death certificates
until 1975 on microfilm. Death certificates are also
available online at Ancestry.com.
The 700 series includes tax records. Please note that
some early tax lists are filed under various state
agencies such as the Secretary of State, Treasurer
and Comptroller, Governor’s Office, and General
Assembly Papers. The lists are cross referenced in the
Search Room card catalog within each county division.
The 800 series includes wills and related records. The
Archives has loose, original wills, although clerks were
supposed to copy each will into a will book as well.
The will books and their indices, for the most part,
remain in the county and the Archives has microfilm
copies of them. All of the pre-1900 wills in the Archives
are listed in a volume by Dr. Thornton Mitchell called
North Carolina Wills: A Testator Index 1663-1900.
Please note that this book is only an index and does
not provide the researcher with a call number for
requesting a particular will. Call numbers for all
county records are listed on the cards in the card
catalog in the Search Room. The contents of
Mitchell’s book are also in our MARS online catalog,
which can be searched at www.archives.ncdcr.gov/
mars.
The 900 series includes miscellaneous records, which
vary widely from county to county. This series often
includes business records, early school records, mill
records, road records, slave records, military records,
election records, and records of the wardens of the
poor. Special proceedings before the clerk, as well as
the clerk’s orders and decrees, which involved civil
cases in which no point of law was disputed, are part
of this series. Military discharges are available on
microfilm in this series.
State Agency Records
There are many different state agency records. In the
Search Room there are black notebooks that contain
finding aids for all the state agencies. These finding
aids describe the agency and give call numbers neces-sary
for requesting records that have been fully
processed. There are card files for a few of the larger
and more useful series within certain agencies, which
are even more precisely described.
The Secretary of State’s records are among the most
useful for the genealogical researchers. This group
contains numerous types of records, such as land
grants, tax lists, and wills and estates prior to 1798.
One important series is the Secretary of State land
The North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh has an
extensive collection, including more than 100 million
documents and 500,000 reels of microfilm.
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 17
HISTORY HELP
Conducting Research in the North Carolina State Archives (cont’d)
grants. These records, which are simply deeds in
which the grantor is the state or the crown, are for
the most part in fragile condition and are retired once
they are microfilmed. Few land grants have any
genealogical information on them at all, although they
are invaluable for tracing land.
In the State Auditor records, the Civil War pension
series is probably the most valuable series because it
contains pension applications made by Civil War
veterans and/or their widows. Also of note are the
records pertaining to artificial limbs provided to
Confederate Civil War veterans. These records are
listed in the MARS online catalog.
Military records are of great interest to genealogists
and they tend to appear at almost all levels of govern-ment:
county, state, and federal. An important thing
to keep in mind about wars is that they are generally
financed by the national governing body rather than
the state, so the National Archives or the military
branches are the most likely places to have these
records. The Confederacy, of course was the financing
body for the South in the Civil War but their records
were confiscated by the federals when they took
Richmond, making their records part of the national
body of records. There may be auxiliary records at the
state and local levels, but the bulk of the records are
created and maintained at the federal level.
Colonial wars and militia returns are records which
include primarily lists of men serving in the militia
for various periods and include the Spanish Invasion
of 1742-1748, Frontier Scouting and Indian Wars
1758-1788, and the War of the Regulation 1768-1779.
Most of the records of Revolutionary War, such as
service and pension records, are federal records and
are located at the National Archives. There is an index
to the pensions, which are by far the most useful of
the Revolutionary War materials. The genealogical
branch of the State Library, another agency within
the Department of Cultural Resources, has four volumes
of abstracts of these pension records. The Archives
has some Army Account books which list men and
amounts of money paid them. These lists give no
other information and do not necessarily indicate
soldierly service; they do prove patriotic service such
as the giving of foodstuffs to the cause. There are also
some pay vouchers, which give a name, amount of
money paid them, and sometimes the reason for the
payment. These records are available on microfilm.
The Archives has muster rolls and pay vouchers for
the War of 1812. They are very similar to those of the
Revolution and are available on microfilm. For the
Mexican War, the Archives has a roster of troops that
has been published. A copy is in the Search Room.
An accurate roster of Confederate troops is currently
being compiled by the Historical Publications Section
and is called North Carolina Troops. Seventeen volumes
have been published and are widely available. The
compilers are using available sources in the Archives
to compile the roster, including newspapers, muster
and pay rolls, service records, as well as other sources
available in the Civil War Collection. As previously
mentioned, the Archives has Confederate pension
records. The service records of Confederate soldiers,
while housed at the National Archives, are available
on microfilm. Also on microfilm are the records of
some of the Federal prisons that held Confederate
prisoners of war, such as Point Lookout, MD, and
Elmira, NY. Finally, the Archives has a huge array of
records in the Civil War Collection. All are unindexed
and somewhat tedious to access, but include muster
rolls, clothing allowances, regimental records, some
reminiscences, and various other types of records. A
large finding aid is available in the Search Room.
For the Spanish-American War a roster of troops has
been published and is widely available.
I hope this partial overview of the Archives’ collection
will encourage you to come to the Archives, to visit
our web site (www.archives.ncdcr.gov), or to call us at
(919) 807-7310 to learn more about our state’s rich
documentary heritage. Part Two of this article, which
will appear in the March issue of the Bulletin, will
explore other collections in the Archives as well as
how to conduct research on-site and by mail.
“The Secretary of State’s records are
among the most useful for the genea-logical
researchers. This group
contains numerous types of records,
such as land grants, tax lists, and
wills and estates prior to 1798.”
HISTORY HELP
In this section, we review museum
or history-related sites that might
interest you. We welcome your
suggestions as well.
Caring for Artifacts
www.si.edu/mci/english/
learn_more/taking_care/
index.html
The Smithsonian’s Museum
Conservation Institute offers
downloadable brochures on caring
for artifacts and documents as
well as a list of resources for further
information.
Cultural Heritage Tourism
www.culturalheritagetourism.org
This web site offers advice on
developing heritage tourism; links
to toolkits; success stories; ideas
for funding; lists of helpful books
and online reports; and other
resources.
Finding Board Members in the
Triangle Area
http://triangleboardconnect.org
This interesting resource offers a
free way to match nonprofit boards
with potential board members in
Chatham, Durham, Orange, and
Wake counties. Nonprofit organi-zations
can use it to search for
potential board members with
needed skills, experience, and
affiliations, and individuals who
are interested in serving on a non-profit
board can post their infor-mation
on this site.
Historical Resources from the
Gilder Lehrman Institute
www.gilderlehrman.org
According to its website, the
Gilder Lehrman Institute of
American History “promotes the
study and love of American history.”
Visitors to the site can search the
institute’s large collection of historic
documents; visit online exhibits;
read historical articles; listen to
podcasts by historians; see lesson
plans; and more. Among the insti-tute’s
many resources is the online
journal History Now, which focuses
on a different historical theme in
each issue. For instance, the 2009
issue focused on the American
Revolution and included 7 articles,
lesson plans, and suggestions for
further reading. Archived issues
of History Now are available at
www.historynow.org/past.html.
Report on Using Mobile
Technology for Museums
http://chnm.gmu.edu/labs/
mobile-for-museums/
The Center for History and New
Media has a link to the report
“Mobile for Museums.” According
to the web site, “Museum profes-sionals
see great potential in
reaching new audiences and
pleasing old ones by providing
content and social interaction via
mobile devices. The biggest
challenge is that many museums
do not quite know where to begin
when working with a small
budget and small staff with limited
technical knowledge. This site
addresses those needs by proving
a brief overview of what is being
done in the mobile museum world
and offers suggestions based on
this research on how to economi-cally
provide mobile users with a
positive experience with your
museum.”
Resources to Help Nonprofits
www.nonprofitpathways.org
The WNC Nonprofit Pathways
web site offers a range of resources
that may be of interest to Federation
members. Included on the Web
page is a “Nonprofit Resources”
section that includes links to
information about topics such as
“Tough Times,” “Boards/
Governance” “Communications,”
“Evaluation,” “Financial Manage-ment,”
“Fund Development,” and
more.
Scholarly Lectures Available
Online
http://forum-network.org
Created by PBS and NPR, Forum
Network features taped interviews
and videos of lectures by authors
and scholars on a wide range of
topics, from art and architecture
to politics and public affairs.
Visitors to the site can search by
topic, country, or time period to
access these free resources. A
search under 19th century, for
instance, reveals topics as varied
as “Lafayette in America in 1824
and 1825” “Capitol Men: The First
Black Congressmen,” “Time for
Tea: Women as Patrons of the
Decorative Arts 1690-1850,” and
more.
Useful Resources
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 18
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Site. The performances will take
place at St. Matthews Episcopal
Church. For more information,
call (919) 732-7451
* * * * * * *
APEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Apex)
http://apexhisoc.freeservers.com,
apexhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Historical Home Tour
Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Get in the holiday spirit by touring
five historic homes in Apex and
the historic Apex train depot.
Homes to be featured include the
Harward Jones House, the
Harward-Bagley-Boyette House,
the McNeil-Brooks House, the
Jordan House, and the Maynard-
Pearson House. Tickets: $10 in
advance, $12 per person on tour
day; a map will be provided with
the tickets.
* * * * * * *
AYCOCK BIRTHPLACE (Fremont)
www.nchistoricsites.org/aycock/
aycock.htm
(919) 252-5581
Christmas Candlelight Tours
December 1 and 3, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
This program will feature Primitive
Baptist singers, a shadow play,
and open hearth cooking.
1959 Movies: Operation Petticoat
Sunday Dec. 13, 3 p.m.
As part of the 50th anniversary of
Aycock Birthplace becoming a
State Historic Site, the site is
showing movies that were popular
in 1959. Operation Petticoat,
which stars Cary Grant and Tony
Curtis, explores what happens
when a submarine takes on board
a group of stranded Army nurses
during wartime. The movie will be
shown in the site auditorium;
popcorn and drinks will be avail-able
for purchase. Free.
* * * * * * *
BENTONVILLE BATTLEFIELD
STATE HISTORIC SITE (Four Oaks)
www.bentonvillebattlefield.nchist
oricsites.org
(910) 594-0789
Christmas Open House
Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Costumed interpreters will decorate
the kitchen in festive themes, using
holly and magnolia
branches, cotton stalks,
various fruits and cranberry
and popcorn strands. Enjoy
cookies and hot cider and
talk with costumed military
interpreters about how the
common solider spent his time on
furlough with friends and family.
* * * * * * *
BEAUFORT HISTORICAL ASSOCIA-TION
(Beaufort)
www.beauforthistoricsite.org
(800) 575-7483
Coastal Carolina Christmas
Walk
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Tour the Beaufort Historic Site
buildings decorated in period
fashion for Christmas, and enjoy a
special narrated holiday bus tour
through the Historic District aboard
the vintage British double-decker
bus. Period seasonal music can be
heard throughout the Historic
Site. No admission charge for
Christmas Walk, fee for bus tour.
Christmas Candlelight Tour of
Homes
Saturday, Dec. 12, 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m.
Another way to get ready for the
holidays this year is to visit beau-tiful
Beaufort homes all “dressed
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 19
ALLIANCE FOR HISTORIC
HILLSBOROUGH (Hillsborough)
www.historichillsborough.org
(For a complete list of events,
please visit the web site.)
Painted Furniture of the
Piedmont
Friday, Dec. 4, 3 p.m.
Come to the Leland Auction House
to hear June Lucas, director of
research at Old Salem Museums
and Gardens, discuss the paint-decorated
furniture of Piedmont
North Carolina. Ms. Lucas will
present an overview of the known
groups of paint-decorated furni-ture
from the region, as well as
discuss the evolution of style over
time. Free. For more information,
please call (919) 644-1243.
Candlelight Tour
Sunday, Dec. 6, noon-7 p.m.
Enjoy this annual candle-light
tour of Hillsborough.
Tickets: $20 for adults
day of the tour, $15 in
advance; $5 for children
day of the tour, $3 in
advance.
Walking Tour
Saturday, December 12th, 10 a.m.
and 2 p.m.
Come to the Alexander Dickson
House and explore Hillsborough’s
history on a 90-minute guided
walking tour through its historic
district. Cost: $5. For more infor-mation,
please call (919) 732-7741.
A Christmas Carol
Thursday-Friday, Dec. 17-18,
7:30 p.m.
Join local authors Michael Malone
and Alan Gurganus and other
artists as they perform Charles
Dicken’s classic holiday tale. Tickets
cost $15 and can be purchased in
advance or at the door; proceeds
benefit the Burwell School Historic
up” for the season. See truly
lovely decorations amid twinkling
candlelight as you walk the fes-tive
streets of this quaint town
and visit the inviting homes. You
can also hop aboard the British
double-decker bus to go from
house to house while singing with
carolers from the St. Paul’s Epis-copal
Church youth group. Don't
miss it! Cost: $12 per person.
Valentine Membership Party
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
In an effort to increase member-ship,
the BHA opens the buildings
of the Beaufort Historic Site for
current and prospective members
to explore, which allows them to
see how the BHA uses member-ship
dollars to preserve and
promote the rich cultural heritage
of Beaufort and Carteret County.
Free.
* * * * * * *
CAPE FEAR MUSEUM OF HISTORY
AND SCIENCE
www.capefearmuseum.com,
(910) 798-4350
Volunteer Open House
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-noon
Volunteers gave more than 5,000
hours of their time to the Museum
last year. Drop by and discover
how to become part of this dedi-cated
corps. Opportunities are
available in the Museum Store,
working with the historic collec-tion,
and as an education docent.
Book Talk: Waterways to the
World, The Story of the North
Carolina State Ports Authority
Thursday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m.
Join historian and author Walter
R. Turner and N.C. State Ports
Authority Board Chairman Carl
J. Stewart, Jr., for a discussion
about the fascinating history of
the Port of Wilmington and the
State Ports Authority. Books will
be available for purchase in the
Museum Store. Free.
Winter Jazz: Grenoldo Frazier
Friday, Dec. 4, 6 p.m.
Pack a picnic, bring
your chairs, and enjoy
evening jazz at the
New Hanover County
Government Center.
Enjoy the perennial
crowd favorite
Grenoldo Frazier, as he delights
with his unique style. Free for
museum members, $8 for non-members.
Learning Center: Creative
Chemistry
Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12, 19, and 26,
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Is Oobleck a liquid or a solid?
What does an atom look like? Find
out as you investigate matter.
Explore solids, liquids, and gases
and experiment with mixtures!
Unravel a colorful mystery and
experiment with acids and bases.
Activities are appropriate for
children ages 5 to 12, with parental
participation required. Free with
museum admission.
New Hanover County Resi-dents’
Day
Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
New Hanover County residents
are admitted free to the Museum
the first Sunday of every month.
Cape Fear Skies: Celestial
Coordinates
Sunday, Dec. 20, 1:30, 2:30 and
3:30 p.m.
3….2….1…Blastoff! Venture into
Cape Fear Museum’s portable
planetarium and explore the night
sky in the daytime. Become a
“celestial navigator” and discover
how to use a coordinate system to
locate objects in the night sky.
This program is free with museum
admission and is appropriate for
all ages, with parental participation
required.
Family Workshop: Toy Time
Sunday, Dec. 27, 2:30 p.m.
Play with momentum, friction,
and gravity. Discover the science
behind folk toys. Build your own
toys. Enjoy experimentation,
discovery, and exploration for the
whole family. This hands-on
workshop is appropriate for
children ages 5 to 12 and costs $4
per person plus museum admission.
* * * * * * *
CARTERET COUNTY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY (Morehead City)
www.thehistoryplace.org
(252) 247-7533
Lunch with a Dash of History
Friday, Dec. 4
Join Rodney Kemp for his popular
talks about local history. This
month’s topic is “Tis the Season:
Christmas in Carteret County.”
Tickets cost $10 for lunch, $4
without lunch. Please call to buy a
ticket before the Wednesday prior
the lecture.
* * * * * * *
CASWELL COUNTY HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATION (Yanceyville)
(336) 694-4965
Christmas in the Museum:
2009 Gala Event
Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
and Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Come to the Richmond Miles
Museum and see fine art and
crafts by Caswell County artists.
* * * * * * *
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 20
Federation Bulletin
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
CATAWBA COUNTY HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATION
www.catawbahistory.org
(828) 465-0383
Holiday tours
Throughout December, Thursdays-
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and
Sundays, 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Enjoy holiday tours of the Harper
House and the Hickory History
Center. The festive atmosphere
will offer a unique vision of the
spectacular interior of the Harper
House, giving visitors an opportu-nity
to see original Victorian
Christmas decorations and tradi-tions.
Cost: $8 per person, $5 for
CCHA members. Groups of 10 or
more must make reservations.
Christmas at the Lyerly House:
Presenting a Victorian Holiday
Tea
Sunday, Dec. 20, 1:30 p.m.- 4 p.m.
Come to the historic
Lyerly House to enjoy
Christmas decoration,
Victorian food, live
holiday music, and a
tour of the impres-sively
decorated Harper House. A
photographer will be on site to
record your special day. Tours of
the Harper House will be available
at 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., and
are included with the purchase of
your ticket. Tickets cost $8 per
person, $3 for children 12 years
and under, and $6 for CCHA
members.
* * * * * * *
DUKE HOMESTEAD STATE
HISTORIC SITE (Durham)
http://www.nchistoricsites.org/
duke/duke.htm, (919) 477-5498
Christmas at the Homestead
Fridays, Dec. 4 & 11, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
Celebrate an 1870 Christmas
during evening tours of the
Homestead. This free tour features
period decorations, caroling, hot
apple cider, and other goodies.
* * * * * * *
FRIENDS OF HAYWOOD HALL
(Raleigh)
www.haywoodhall.org
(919) 832-8357
Christmas at Haywood Hall
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 12-13,
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Celebrate Christmas
at Haywood Hall
with music, hot
spiced cider, natural
greenery, and good
cheer. Enjoy musical
performances of holiday favorites
and Christmas carols as well as
occasional performances on the
1819 Geib pianoforte, located in
the music room. You can also
taste home-baked sweets, talk
with docents to learn more about
the house, and see a Christmas
tree trimmed with period decora-tions.
Free.
* * * * * * *
HICKORY LANDMARKS SOCIETY
www.hickorylandmarks.org
(828) 322-4731
Poinsettia Sale
Through Dec. 16
Get in the holiday spirit by buying
poinsettias for your home. Stop by
Maple Grove in Hickory to buy
your plants, or place your orders
by calling the society. Proceeds
from this sale benefit the society.
Propst House Museum Home
Tour and Open House
Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
Enjoy this free tour of the historic
Propst House.
HIGH POINT MUSEUM
www.highpointmuseum.org
(336) 885-1859
Blacksmithing Demonstration
in the Historical Park
Saturdays, Dec. 5 and 19, 10 a.m.-
4 p.m. and Sundays, Dec. 6 and
20, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Come watch our costumed black-smith
in action as he crafts various
iron pieces. All ages are welcome
to this free, drop-in program.
26th Annual Holiday Open
House
Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
This annual event has become a
tradition with local families. Come
for a day of special reenactments,
music, demonstrations, refresh-ments,
and hands-on activities
like candle dipping! Fun for all
ages. No reservations are required
for this free program.
Candle Dipping in the Historical
Park
Saturday, Dec. 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.,
and Sunday, Dec. 20, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Light up your dark days of winter
with a candle made in our historical
park. Our costumed interpreters
will show you how. All ages are
welcome for this drop-in program.
Cost: $1 per candle, free for
members.
* * * * * * *
HIGHLANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
www.highlandshistory.com
(828) 787-1050
Christmas Showhouse
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 & 6,
1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Enjoy touring the 19th-century
Downing/Stewart/Michael House.
Tickets cost $15 and can be
purchased on the society’s Web
site.
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 21
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 22
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
HISTORIC HOPE PLANTATION
www.hopeplantation.org
(252) 794.3140
Christmas Open House
Dec. 6, 2009, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Enjoy music and refreshments
during this free open house.
* * * * * * *
HISTORIC ROSEDALE FOUNDA-TION
(Charlotte)
www.historicrosedale.org,
(704) 335-0325
Scotch Irish Home Tour
Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, 1:30 p.m.
Enjoy a traditional
antebellum Scots-Irish
Christmas in the North
Carolina southern pied-mont.
Rosedale will be
decorated with all natu-ral
greenery and fruit.
Enjoy holiday refresh-ments
at the end of the tour.
Adults: $8, students/seniors: $5,
with early registration by check
before December 16.
* * * * * * *
HISTORIC STAGVILLE (Durham)
www.historicstagvillefoundation.org
(919) 620-0120
Christmas in the Big House,
Christmas in the Quarters
Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Come see and take part in traditions
that were part of Christmas cele-brations
for both the planter family
and the enslaved community. We
recreate the experience of holiday
festivities through vendors, artisans,
decorations, crafts, games, and
music. Try your hand as a black-smith
or experience traditional
African American storytelling,
singing, and dancing near the
slave quarters at Horton Grove.
The event also features Sid Luck,
a 5th generation potter, from
Seagrove and the Sankofa Cultural
Dance Troupe!
* * * * * * *
LEVINE MUSEUM OF THE NEW
SOUTH
www.museumofthenewsouth.org
(704) 333-1887
An Evening with Steven V.
Roberts
Tuesday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m.
Enjoy this reading, discussion,
and book signing with journalist
and New York Times bestselling
author Steven V. Roberts.
Robert’s latest book, From Every
End of This Earth, follows the
stories of thirteen immigrant
families and delivers an eye-opening
look at immigration in
America today. He captures the
voices of those living the promise
of a new land—and the difficulties
of starting over among strangers
whose suspicions increasingly out-weigh
their acceptance. Please
call the museum to make reserva-tions.
Legacy: The Myers Park Story
Booksigning and Talk
Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m.
Come to the Duke Mansion to
hear Charlotte historians Mary
Kratt and Tom Hanchett as they
talk and sign copies of Legacy:
The Myers Park Story, an updated
edition of the award-winning
neighborhood history. Copies of
the book, along with Mary Kratt’s
new book Charlotte, North Carolina:
A Brief History, will be on sale.
For more information, please call
Pat Martin at the Duke Mansion
at (704) 714-4448.
New South for the New South-erner
and NASCAR
Thursday, Jan. 7, 5:30 p.m.
Find Charlotte’s heart, soul, and
history in our fun program series
led by staff historian Dr. Tom
Hanchett, featuring lively discus-sions
and guest speakers. Learn
about the NASCAR racing scene
in the Charlotte region, past and
present. Winston Kelley, director
of the NASCAR Hall of Fame,
previews what visitors will experi-ence
when the museum opens in
May 2010. Cost: $5 per person,
free for museum members. Please
call the museum to make reserva-tions.
MLK Day at Levine Museum
Monday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Special WSOC-TV Family Focus
Day honoring Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Enjoy free admission all
day!
New South for the New South-erner
with Lawrence Toppman
Tuesday, Jan. 26, 5:30 p.m.
Charlotte Observer movie and arts
critic Lawrence Toppman explores
movie-making in the Carolinas,
from Elvis Presley's Speedway to
George Clooney's recent Leather-heads.
And Levine Museum staff
historian Dr. Tom Hanchett answers
your questions about history in
the Charlotte region. Admission
$5, free for Friends of the Arts
and Levine members. This
program will be held at Davidson
College in the Lilly Family Gallery
in the Chambers Building.
* * * * * * *
LOWER CAPE FEAR HISTORICAL
SOCIETY (Wilmington)
www.latimerhouse.org
(910) 762-0492
Old Wilmington by Candlelight
Saturday, Dec. 5, 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
and Sunday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
Federation Bulletin
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Enjoy this tour of historic homes
decorated for the season. Cost: $30.
* * * * * * *
MOORE COUNTY HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATION (Southern Pines)
www.moorehistory.com
(910) 692-2051
Annie Oakley Shooting and
Game Festival
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 4-5
Come to Pinehurst for this free,
two-day event that celebrates the
deep history and heritage of
shooting sports in the Sandhills
with a tribute to Annie Oakley
and the Pinehurst Gun Club. The
festivities are designed for shooters
and non-shooters alike and include
a shooting tournament, Tom Knapp
shooting exhibition, shooting
demonstrations by members of the
USA Shooting Team, and special
dinners and silent auction. Funds
raised through the silent auction
will go to the Moore County
Historical Association, Tufts
Archives, and USA Shooting Team.
Bryant House Holiday Open
House
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 5 - 6, 1 p.m.-
4 p.m.
Come to the Bryant House in
Carthage to see how the early
settlers in this part of the county
lived, celebrated, and decorated
for the holiday season. Plus, at
the Bryant House, you’ll also see
the circa 1700 McLendon Cabin.
Free.
Shaw House Holiday Open
House
Friday-Sunday, Dec. 11-13, 1 p.m.-
4 p.m.
Come to the ca. 1820 Shaw House
in Southern Pines to enjoy old-time
decorations appropriate to
the early days, warm apple cider,
and homemade cookies. On Satur-day,
demonstrations of weaving
and of open hearth cooking will
take place at the 18th-century
Garder House, which is near the
Shaw House. Be sure to shop for
holiday gifts at the Shaw House
shop, which features Christmas
cards, history books, and more.
Free.
The Sandhills: The Comfort of
Tradition and Ritual
Jan. 24, 2 p.m.
Come to the First Baptist Church
in Southern Pines for this free
program featuring teacher and
scholar Mary Wayne Watson.
Watson will explore Scottish folk
traditions still preserved in Scot-land
County.
* * * * * * *
MOUNT AIRY MUSEUM OF
REGIONAL HISTORY (Mount Airy)
www.northcarolinamuseum.org
(336) 786-4478
Storybook Museum: Christmas
Crafts
Friday Dec. 11, 10 a.m.
Join your museum for our
monthly preschool story time
programs featuring stories, songs,
and activities. Come examine our
Victorian Parlor and learn about
Christmases past. Free.
History Talks: NC Women in
the Civil War
Thursday Dec. 17, 6:30p.m.
Join your Museum for an evening
with North Carolina women
during the Civil War. Local writer,
actor and storyteller Terri Ingalls
will spin stories of three women
caught up in the War Between the
States. Be it writing, working or
fighting, women found ways to
contribute to the war efforts that
forever changed their lives. Free,
though donations are always
appreciated.
Annual Holiday Open House
Saturday Dec. 19, Noon-4 p.m.
Enjoy this free open
house as you
tour four floors of
museum exhibits, see
our themed Christmas
trees, and enjoy light
refreshments and holiday music.
Don’t forget to check out the
museum shop for unique holiday
gifts!
* * * * * * *
MURFREESBORO HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATION
http://www.murfreesboronc.org/
(252) 398-5922
Candlelight Christmas
Thursday and Friday, Dec. 10 and
11, 4 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Each year, hundreds
of visitors make the
pilgrimage to Murfrees-boro
to recapture and
experience anew the
spirit of Christmases
past and present.
Visitors stroll along the Historic
District’s candlelight streets and
walkways. They are invited to
tarry in a multitude of old homes
and buildings and are welcomed
graciously by the citizenry. This
year’s event will feature the
customary progressive dinner and
the buildings will be festooned in
unique decorations of Christ-mases
past—all depicting the
theme “Small Town Christmas
Magic.” Visitors can also enjoy a
horse-drawn carriage ride as well
as musical entertainment in
twelve historic structures. Cost:
$25 for adults, $7 for children.
* * * * * * *
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 23
Federation Bulletin
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MUSEUM OF THE ALBEMARLE
(Elizabeth City)
(252) 335-1453, moa@ncmail.net
Albemarle Christmas “Home
for the Holidays”
Saturday, Dec. 5, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Enjoy the museum’s open house,
and experience the sights and
sounds of the holidays with a
1940s theme. There will be creative
activities for children and a visit
from Santa! Free.
Designer’s Workshop: Deck
Those Halls
Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Design and make a
wreath from glazed faux
fruit and silk greenery.
All supplies and a deli-cious
lunch are provided.
Fee and reservations are
required. For more infor-mation,
call (252) 335-1453 or
e-mail moa@ncmail.net.
Albemarle Historic Roundtable
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2 p.m.-3 p.m.
This event will focus on artifacts
from Gates County in the exhibit
Our Story. One featured item is a
Gates County quilt donated by
Edwin Nixon in 1986. The quilt,
recently restored through a gener-ous
grant, will be unveiled during
the program. Free.
Civil War Living-History Public
Day
Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Learn about the Battle of Eliza-beth
City, which took place Feb.
10, 1862, during this event featur-ing
living-history presentations.
Firing of artillery at Waterfront
Park will occur every half hour.
Junior Docents will engage children
in hands-on activities that include
dances, games and chores of the
period. Free.
Albemarle Historic Roundtable
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2 p.m.-3 p.m.
Ronnie Woolard from Mid-
Atlantic Christian University will
present the lecture “The Impact of
Chaplains on Civil War Soldiers.”
Free.
Albemarle Historic Roundtable
Wednesday, March 24, 7 p.m.-8 p.m.
Dr. Ed Wiser will present the lecture
“Ingenuity Under Fire: Torpedo
Boats and Emerging Technology
in the Civil War.” Wiser is a
licensed captain, a marine techni-cian,
and adjunct professor of
strategy and policy at the Naval
War College. He will explore the
types of craft employed, the devel-opment
of the spar torpedo, and a
brief overview of torpedo boat opera-tions,
with special emphasis on
activities in North Carolina. Free.
* * * * * * *
MUSEUM OF THE CAPE FEAR
(910) 486-1330, mcf@ncmail.net
(All programs are free.)
Saturday History Specials
Every Saturday All Year, 2 p.m.
Take advantage of a special learn-ing
experience every Saturday.
Participate in hands-on activities,
hear a brief lecture, or see a craft
demonstration.
Holiday Jubilee: A Children’s
Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 6, 1-5 p.m.
Bring the whole family to ring in
the holiday season. There will be
plenty to see, hear and do at the
museum, 1897 Poe House and Ar-senal
Park. Rediscover the mu-seum’s
galleries during a scaven-ger
hunt, make a traditional
Christmas cracker to take home,
hear high-school musicians, and
more. The nostalgic Christmas
decorations and a cooking demon-stration
on a 1902 stove
are always favorites at
the Poe House. Stop by
the Arsenal House to
hear music played on a
mandolin and storytel-ling
by the hearth. Chat with a
Civil War soldier re-enactor near
the Ghost Tower.
Ninth Annual Civil War Quiz
Bowl
Thursday, Jan. 28 , 7 p.m.
Test your knowledge of Civil War
trivia and compete against others
who share your interest. The con-test
is limited to 20 participants,
and registration is first-come,
first-served. Registrations will
also be accepted at the door until
all 20 slots are filled. Prizes will
be awarded for first place in adult
and youth levels.
Eighth-Grade North Carolina
Quiz Bowl
Saturday, Feb. 27, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
For the second consecutive year,
eighth-grade students from the
Cape Fear region will test their
knowledge of North Carolina
history. Topics will range from the
state’s early settlers to present-day
business and industry. The
public is invited to watch top-notch
students show off their
knowledge.
* * * * * * *
NEW BERN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
(New Bern)
www.newbernhistorical.org,
(252) 638-8558,
Lee and Grant: A Comparative
Analysis
Sunday, Jan. 17, time TBA
Come to the Masonic Theater to
hear renowned Civil War historian
Ed Bearss talk about General Lee
and General Grant.
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 24
Federation Bulletin
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Livingston Taylor Live
Sunday, Jan. 31
The historical society kicks off
New Bern’s 300th anniversary
with a concert by Livingston
Taylor, brother of James Taylor
and a popular performer in his
own right. The concert will be held
at the city’s convention center.
Tickets cost $35 and can be
purchased online at the historical
society’s Web site.
* * * * * * *
NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF
HISTORY (Raleigh)
www.ncmuseumofhistory.org
(919) 807-7900
(All programs are free. For a
complete list of events, please call
or visit the Web page.)
Ninth Annual African Ameri-can
Cultural Celebration
Saturday, Jan. 30, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Come celebrate our state’s rich
African American heritage and
culture! This large event includes
something for all ages: musical
performances, dance, storytelling,
craft demonstrations, and more.
The celebration features a variety
of presentations and many oppor-tunities
to explore African Ameri-can
history and present-day culture.
Perspectives on History:
Rethinking Slavery and Freedom
in Early Virginia and the
British Atlantic
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
Professor Holly Brewer of N.C.
State University will discuss the
struggle between English authori-ties
and colonists in the 1690s
over issues of sovereignty, such as
the powers of owners over slaves.
This lecture is part of the
“Perspectives on History” series,
which examines history in new
ways and features lectures by
internationally recognized schol-ars
from the National Humanities
Center. Be sure to save the dates
of March 16 and April 13 for the
other lectures in this series. To
register, call (919) 807-7847.
History à la Carte: 50 Years
Since the Sit-Ins
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 12:10 p.m.-
1 p.m.
In February 1960 four African
American college freshmen in
Greensboro ignited a sit-in move-ment
protesting racial segregation.
Come hear Amelia Parker, execu-tive
director of the International
Civil Rights Center and Museum,
as she talks about the movement’s
early days and the museum that
now occupies the historic F.W.
Woolworth store where it all began.
* * * * * * *
NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD
MUSEUM/NEW HOPE VALLEY
RAILWAY (New Hope)
www.nhvry.org, (919) 362-5416
Santa Trains
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 5-6, Dec.
12-13, 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m.,
2:45 p.m., 4 p.m.
Enjoy a ride on the
rails with Santa. Cost:
$9 per adult, $6 per
child aged 2 to 12.
Tickets may be
purchased online.
* * * * * * *
OLD SALEM (Winston-Salem)
www.oldsalem.org
(888) 653-7253
(For a complete listing of events,
please visit the Web site.)
Fireside Gathering: An Evening
Museum Class Experience
Tuesday, Dec. 1
Choose one of three possible
classes: baking traditional goodies
with Old Salem staff; making a
pewter spoon; or constructing
wooden candle handles for the
wall. Cost: $25. Please pre-register
by calling (336) 721-7300.
Christmas Candlelight Tour of
19th Century Salem
Fridays-Saturdays, Dec 4-5 and
Dec. 11-12 , 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30
p.m., and 8 p.m.
Take a guided tour by candlelight
through the Historic District,
where the customs and traditions
of an 19th century Salem Christmas
will be brought to life through all
of your senses. The evening will
include music, games, food, and
drink, and interacting with our
staff to create your own special
memories. During the tour you
will visit the homes of Dr. Vierling
and Brother Vogler. Tours are
available to a limited number of
people and are booked on a first-come,
first-served basis. (The
December 4 tours are already sold
out.) Please call 336-721-7350 to
book your spot. Cost: $18 per
adult ($15 for Friends), $12 per
child ($10 for Friends).
Salem Christmas
December 19, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Come celebrate the Christmas
Season with Old Salem. The en-tire
day is full of holiday activities
for all ages–from music to food,
from games to puppet shows–a
full day of experiences that culmi-nates
in an evening of candlelit
buildings and a special celebration
on Salem Square. Please visit the
web site for a list of the different
activities that will be offered. Ac-tivities
are included with an All-in-
One ticket.
Film: The Black Candle “A
Kwanzaa Celebration”
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 25
Federation Bulletin
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sunday, Dec. 27, 4 p.m.
Old Salem and Triad Cultural
Arts, Inc. present this landmark
documentary, with Kwanzaa as
the vehicle to explore and celebrate
the African American experience.
This film is by M.K. Asante, Jr.
and narrated by Maya Angelou.
Kwanzaa is seven days focused on
traditional African values of
Family, Community, Responsibility,
Commerce, and Self-Improvement,
and a time for reaffirming African
American people, their ancestors,
and culture. Free.
* * * * * * *
PAGE-WALKER ARTS AND HISTORY
CENTER (Cary)
www.friendsofpagewalker.org
(919) 460-4963
Winter Concert Series: Enloe
High School Ensemble
Sunday, Dec. 13, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Enloe has an outstanding reputa-tion
for its high quality vocal music
program. The choirs have performed
at Carnegie Hall, St. Patrick’s
Cathedral, and the Cathedral of
St. John, the Divine, in New York
City. Tickets: $15.
Winter Concert Series: Little
Windows
Sunday, Jan. 24, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Enjoy this performance featuring
a mix of Appalachian and Irish
music and traditionally-based
originals, with a special focus
placed on unaccompanied ballads.
Tickets: $15.
Winter Concert Series: Love
Bits & Bites
Sunday, Feb. 21, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Enjoy this collection of
scenes, one-acts, and
songs that celebrate
love. There will be two
acts on each of two
floors of the Page-Walker; the
audience will change floors at inter-mission!
Tickets: $15.
* * * * * * *
PRESERVATION DURHAM (Durham)
www.preservationdurham.org
(919) 682-3036
Lunch and Learn: Off To War—
The 113th Field Artillery Unit
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 11:30 a.m.
Come to Tosca Ristorante Italiano
in West Village in Durham to
enjoy a meal and to learn about
the 113th Field Artillery Unit,
which played an important part in
the United States’ participation in
World War I. Cost: $19 for Preser-vation
Durham members; $17 for
senior members; and $25 for others.
Reservations are required; please
contact the Preservation Durham
office by the Friday before each
program if you plan to attend
* * * * * * *
PRESERVATION GREENSBORO/
BLANDWOOD (Greensboro)
www.blandwood.org
(336) 272-5003
Christmas at Blandwood
Through Dec. 31
Enjoy tours of Blandwood mansion
while seeing how homes were
decorated for Christmas in the
mid-1800s. Admission charged.
Blandwood Ball
Saturday, Jan. 30
Help support Preservation
Greensboro by attending this
fundraising event at the Greens-boro
Country Club. Please contact
Preservation Greensboro for more
information.
* * * * * * *
THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF
CHAPEL HILL (Chapel Hill)
www.chapelhillpreservation.com
(919) 942-7818
Holiday House Tour
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 12-13,
1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Tour six historic homes that
embody the spirit of Chapel Hill.
Trace the evolution of the town
along Franklin and Rosemary
Streets, where quaint bungalows
were joined by elegant Colonial
Revival Homes. Tickets: $20 in
advance, $25 day of tour.
* * * * * * *
SOUTHPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
(Southport)
www.southporthistoricalsociety.com
Christmas Home Tour
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2 p.m.-7 p.m.
This popular event is an important
fund-raiser for the historical society
and features eight beautifully
decorated historic homes in
Southport. A free trolley will be
available to take you from house
to house. Other events that day
include a winter craft festival on
the lawn of Ft. Johnson and a
lighted flotilla starting at 7 p.m.
Tour tickets cost $10 in advance,
$15 day of the tour. Please note
that tickets are limited and can be
purchased at the Southport Visitor
Center, Franklin Square Art
Gallery, and Southport-Oak
Island Chamber of Commerce as
well as the Latimer House in
Wilmington. Tickets can also be
purchased by sending a check to
Southport Visitor Center, 113 W.
Moore St., Southport, NC 28461.
DECEMBER 2009 PAGE 26
EXHIBITS
BEAUFORT HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATION
www.beauforthistoricsite.org
(800) 575-7483
Best of the Mattie King Davis
Art Gallery
Through December
Come see paintings, jewelry, pottery,
scarves, blankets, cards, and
other locally made items that are
perfect for holiday gift-giving.
* * * * * * *
CAPE FEAR MUSEUM OF HISTORY
AND SCIENCE (Wilmington)
www.capefearmuseum.com
(910) 798-4350
(All exhibits are free with museum
admission.)
Going to the Movies
Opens December 11
Experience the history of a century
of movie-going in the Lower Cape
Fear region. Discover how the
theater experience has changed
over the years, and watch some of
the first films local residents may
have seen.
Conservation Matters
Explore the art and science of
artifact conservation. Discover
what it is, who does it, and why it
matters to museums. A selection
of beautifully conserved furniture
and other wooden objects from the
Museum’s permanent collection
will be on display.
Cape Fear Treasures: Drink
Glimpse a selection of drinking
vessels, as you explore treasures
from Cape Fear Museum’s collec-tion.
From 18th-century bottles, to
fancy teapots, to modern-day sou-venir
mugs, discover objects that
help tell the stories of liquid
consumption through time.
* * * * * * *
GRANVILLE COUNTY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY (Oxford)
www.granvillemuseumnc.org
(919) 693-9706
Glimpses of Granville
Come to the museum at Harris
Hall and see interesting images
and items from Granville County.
* * * * * * *
JOHNSTON COUNTY HERITAGE
CENTER
(919) 934-2836
Grist Mills Then and Now
See photographs and other records
of the two dozen or more grist mills
that once filled Johnston County.
The exhibit includes a map labeling
the locations of known mills, and
visitors are encouraged to come
take a look and tell us about others
for which we have no records.
* * * * * * *
LEVINE MUSEUM OF THE NEW
SOUTH (Charlotte)
www.museumofthenewsouth.org,
(704) 333-1887
Blindsided by Disaster: The
20th Anniversary of Hurricane
Hugo
Through Dec. 6, 2009
Twenty years ago, Hurricane
Hugo caught most people off
guard by sweeping unexpectedly
through the area, causing massive
power outages, destruction, injuries
and even death. Learn more about
this event and record your own
memories of Hugo when you visit
this exhibit.
On the Edge: Homeless and
Working Among Us
Through Jan. 3, 2010
Since October 2008, photographer
Susan Sidebottom has been using
photography and oral interviews
to document homeless individuals
and families that are transitioning
to affordable housing through rent
subsidies, sharing their stories
from before, during, and after their
journey to a home. Told from the
perspective of the homeless, On
the Edge strives to humanize the
statistics on an issue of immediate
interest, and highlight a growing
challenge in our community.
Charlotte Through Our Eyes
Through Jan. 10, 2010
The Museum hosts an exhibit
from Silent Images, a non-profit
that works with the homeless and
underprivileged. Charlotte
Through Our Eyes celebrates the
photography skills of urban and
at-risk youth in the Charlotte
area. The exhibit offers a fresh
perspective on Charlotte as the
children invite us to view the city
through their camera lenses.
* * * * * * *
MUSEUM OF THE ALBEMARLE
(Elizabeth City)
(252) 335-1453, moa@ncmail.net
America’s Secret Warriors: The
OSS and the George Watts Hill
Collection
Through Feb. 28, 2010
This display reveals the secrets of
the ultrasecret Office of Strategic
Services (OSS) during World War II.
North Carolinian George Watts
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 27
In-State Exhibits
EXHIBITS
Hill had daily contact with the
OSS, and his operation helped to
develop many of the secret weapons
and devices used in clandestine
operations in the war.
* * * * * * *
MUSEUM OF THE CAPE FEAR
HISTORICAL COMPLEX
(910) 486-1330, mcf@ncmail.net
Poe House Christmas Decora-tions
Through Jan. 3, 2010
This year’s 1897 Poe House holiday
decorations center on a children’s
theme. Tours occur on the hour from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday,
and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday.
* * * * * * *
NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF
HISTORY (Raleigh)
www.ncmuseumofhistory.org
(919) 807-7900
Barbie — Simply Fabulous at 50!
Dec. 4, 2009, to July 5, 2010
Since her debut in 1959, Barbie
has followed 108 career paths,
donned fashions by 70 world-famous
designers, and captured
the imagination of countless little
girls. This small exhibit offers a
glimpse of the history and evolution
of the world’s most popular doll,
whose changing look has mirrored
women’s changing roles in society.
The exhibit includes 16 personal
reminisces of North Carolinians
across the state.
* * * * * * *
ORANGE COUNTY HISTORICAL
MUSEUM (Hillsborough)
www.orangeNChistory.org
(919) 732-2201
Here Comes the Bride: Weddings
in America
Through Dec. 20, 2009
Enjoy this traveling exhibit,
which explores such themes as
courtships and engagements;
weddings in early America; 19th-and
20th-century wedding attire;
decorations and gifts; the ceremony;
the honeymoon; royal weddings;
ethnic customs; and modern
changes in weddings.
* * * * * * *
PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF
CHAPEL HILL (Chapel Hill)
www.chapelhillpreservation.com
(919) 942-7818
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 28
ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER
(Atlanta)
www.atlantahistorycenter.com
(404) 814-4000
Let Your Motto Be Resistance:
African American Portraits
Jan. 30-April 25, 2010
This exhibit explores the history
of African American achievement
from the mid-nineteenth century
to the present through the changing
roles of photographic portraiture.
Starting with portraits from the
mid-nineteenth century, the exhibit
explores ways the sitters collabo-rated
with photographers to create
positive images and challenge
demeaning stereotypes, and in the
process shows how people demon-strated
their “resistance” to the
predominantly negative represen-
Out-of-State Exhibits
tations of African Americans
circulating in American mainstream
culture.
Past Perfect: Architectural
Paintings by Kenneth Eugene
Peters
Dec. 6-23, 2009
Enjoy beautiful paintings by Peters,
who is fascinated by architecture
and the important role it has in
our lives. Peters is especially inter-ested
in the transient nature of
light, particularly at sundown.
* * * * * * *
WAYNE COUNTY HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATION (Goldsboro)
www.waynecountyhistoricalnc.org
(919) 734-5023
Taverns, Saloons and Moonshine
Madness
Through Dec. 31, 2009
See moonshine stills, bottles, and
more while learning about the
history of moonshine in Wayne
County.
Goldsboro Rifles
In honor of the 150th anniversary
of the Goldsboro Rifles—a local
military unit first formed before
the Civil War—the museum is
hosting this small exhibit featuring
photos, information, and a replica
of the Rifles’ flag.
In-State Exhibits
WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES
In-State Workshops
EDGECOMBE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
Historic Preservation Trades
Courses
Edgecombe Community College in
Tarboro is offering a number of
weekend continuing education
classes focused on historic preser-vation
trades. On Saturday, Janu-ary
23, Scott Power and John
Wood will offer “Introduction to
Historic Preservation.” Cost: $65.
On Saturday, February 6, Reid
Thomas will talk about “Energy
Efficiency in Historic Buildings.”
Cost: $65. On Saturday, January
30, and Sunday, January 31,
Randy Hodges will offer
“Blacksmith and Iron Works.”
Cost: $65. And on the weekends of
February 20 to 21 and February
27 to 28, Kevin Wilson will offer
“Timber Framing.” Cost: $120.
The college is also offering a number
of for-credit classes during the
spring semester. For more infor-mation
about any of these classes
and to register, please contact
Monika Fleming at (252) 823-5166
or flemingm@edgecombe.edu.
Online Workshops
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR
STATE AND LOCAL HISTORY
The Basics of Archives
Jan. 11-Feb. 12, 2010
Participants proceed at their own
pace through this online workshop
that covers the basics of archives
management and practices includ-ing
acquiring collections, process-ing,
housing and preservation,
and providing access. It will take
approximately 15 to 20 hours to
complete this course. Cost: $85 for
members, $150 for non-members.
Planning for Your Digitization
Project
Jan. 26-28, 2010
According to AASLH, “The purpose
of this online webinar is to introduce
archivists, curators, librarians
and other staff from cultural heri-tage
institutions to the range of
issues associated with digitization
of primary source materials. This
webinar provides an introduction
to the issues involved in digital
project management.” The course
involves three 75-minute sessions
to be completed between Jan. 26
and Jan. 28. Cost: $85 members,
$150 non-members.
Are You Ready for Volunteers?
March 1-26, 2010
According to AASLH, this 2.5
hour course “will assist you in
understanding the importance of
having a nonprofit that is ready to
engage volunteers by addressing
the following: What does a non-profit
need to know when incorpo-rating
a volunteer program?
What strategic considerations
need to be examined? How do you
know if a volunteer program is
successful? How do you assess a
volunteer program?” The class can
be taken anytime during the dates
above. AASLH notes that this
course is designed for the general
nonprofit, not specifically for history
organizations. Cost: $40 members,
$105 non-members. Registration
opens January 3; deadline to
register is February 24.
To register for any AASLH work-shop
or to learn more, visit
www.aaslh.org/workshop.htm,
email Bethany Hawkins at
hawkins@aaslh.org, or call (615)
320-3203.
Out of State Workshops
VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF
MUSEUMS
Not So Patently Obvious: A
Workshop on Intellectual
Property
Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
According to VAM, this workshop
aims to help museum, library and
visual resource professionals
recognize the differences between
copyright, patent, and trademark
law and gain a better understand-ing
of the role of “fair use.” Lectures
will be given by legal professionals.
The workshop will be held at the
Muscarelle Museum of Art in
Williamsburg.
How to Sustain Your Museum
During Tough Times
January 21, 2010, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
How does your museum stay rele-vant?
In what ways is your museum
irreplacable? If it isn’t, how do you
make it so? In this workshop, Dr.
Charles F. Bryan, Jr., and several
other museum professionals will
discuss sustainability. Participants
will then engage in an exercise
designed to get them to think
about how their institutions may
or may not be meeting the needs
of their audiences. The workshop
will be held at the Virginia
Historical Society in Richmond.
The cost for either of the VAM
workshops is $50 for members,
$75 for non-members. To register,
visit www.vamuseums.org or call
(804) 788-5823
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 29
In-State or Online Workshops
WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES
T he American Association of
Museums’ Committee on Edu-cation
has issued a call for entries
in AAM’s Excellence in Exhibition
Label Writing Competition. As
stated by AAM, “Excellent exhibi-tion
labels are clear, concise, and
captivating. This combination is
not easily achieved, and the writers
and editors who craft the best
label copy often go unrecognized.
This competition is designed to
showcase examples of great label
writing, identify innovative
approaches to label writing and
editing, highlight best practices,
and help us learn from one another.”
The deadline for submission is
December 7. For more informa-tion,
visit www.curcom.org/
label_comp.php.
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 30
Conferences
In-State
N.C. DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL
RESOURCES
NC Connecting to Collections
Dec. 7, Jan. 15, and Feb. 8, 10 a.m.-
2 p.m.
Come to one of these three regional
meetings to help the N.C. Depart-ment
of Cultural Resources learn
how to address your collections
needs. DCR has received a planning
grant from the Institute for Museum
and Library Services to gather
information from cultural organi-zations
about their collections.
Using information gleaned from
these meetings, DCR will apply
for a larger grant to help organi-zations
care for and preserve
these collections.
We need your input! Please plan
to attend one of the regional
meetings. The Dec. 7 meeting will
be held at Pack Place in Asheville,
the January 15 meeting will be held
at ECU in Greenville, and the
February 8 meeting will be held at
the Greensboro Public Library.
Please also help us by filling out an
online survey at www.ncecho.org.
You can register online for these
meetings at www.ncecho.org. If
you do not have access to the
internet, please call Hilary Perez
at (919) 807-7418. We hope to see
you at one of these meetings!
NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUMS
COUNCIL
Annual Meeting
Sunday-Monday, March 7-8, 2010
NCMC’s annual meeting features
workshops on topics of interest to
museums around the state. The
2010 conference will be held in
Raleigh. Meeting details are still
being finalized; be sure to visit
www.ncmuseums.org for updates.
Out of State
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
“Well made & Exceeding Fine”:
The Decorative Arts of New
England
February 7-11, 2010
Scholars have been documenting
the arts and crafts of early New
England for more than a century
and a half, but new and exciting
discoveries continue to be made
on a regular basis. At the 62nd
Colonial Williamsburg Antiques
Call for Entries: Excellence in Exhibition Label Writing Contest
Forum, “Well made & Exceeding
Fine”: The Decorative Arts of New
England, you are invited to explore
this rich and diverse heritage.
The 2010 Forum will bring together
a group of widely recognized
authorities on the remarkable
furniture, ceramics, textiles,
paintings, and buildings that
were produced in New England
between 1680 and 1830. More
than twenty curators, collectors,
and historians will present their
latest findings in a series of illus-trated
lectures and video-assisted
workshops.
In addition to the formal program,
Forum guests may register for
optional hands-on workshops
with the Colonial Williamsburg
collections and private tours of
historic homes in the region. Regis-tration:
$600. For more informa-tion,
visit www.history.org/
history/institute/institute_
about.cfm or call (800) 603-0948.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
The CARTERET COUNTY HISTORI-CAL
SOCIETY has published
Beginnings: The Lawrences of
Carteret County, 1760-1920, by
Ralph W. Lawrence and John
Bridgers. For more information,
please call (252) 247-7533.
THE CASWELL COUNTY HISTORI-CAL
ASSOCIATION is now selling
Images of America: Caswell
County. Cost: $26.70 (includes
tax and shipping). For more infor-mation,
please call (336) 694-4965.
The HALIFAX COUNTY HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATION has announced that
its new book, The Historic Archi-tecture
of Halifax County,
North Carolina, is available for
pre-order. Orders placed before
November 30 will cost $60, while
orders placed after November 30
will cost $75. This hard-cover
book features more than 500 prop-erties
and includes more than
1,000 illustrations. To order, send
your request and check to the
Halifax County Historical Society,
PO Box 12, Halifax, NC 27839.
Please note that the book will be
available in early 2010. To ask for
books to be mailed to you, please
add $10 per book for shipping and
handling.
HISTORIC HOPE PLANTATION
and the MUSEUM OF EARLY
SOUTHERN DECORATIVE ARTS
announce the publication of WH
Cabinetmaker: A Southern
Mystery Revealed, by Thomas
R.J. Newbern and James R.
Melchor. This book reveals the
identity of WH, a previously
unidentified but influential cabi-netmaker
whose work appears in
historic architecture of the lower
Roanoke River Basin as well as in
numerous collections of decorative
arts. Using extensive research of
furniture and architecture, as well
as court records and historical
documents of the period, the authors
trace the impact the mysterious
“WH Cabinetmaker” had on an
entire generation of tradesmen.
The book includes more than 400
color images of the cabinetmaker’s
work. For more information, contact
either the Historic Hope Plantation
at (252) 794.3140 or MESDA at
(336) 721-7360.
The LINCOLN COUNTY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY announced that it is now
selling Images of America:
Lincoln County, a publication that
was out of print for several years.
Containing more than 200 images,
this volume explores the personal
side of the county’s history, show-casing
everyday life in Lincolnton
and the smaller rural communi-ties.
For more information, visit
www.lincolncountyhistory.com or
call (704) 748-9090.
PENDER COUNTY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY announces that it is selling
History of Pender County, by
Mattie Bloodworth. Originally
published in 1947, this book has
been reprinted by the historical
society. Cost: $30 plus $5 S&H;
History of Burgaw, a collection
by Bill Reaves, covering 1849 to
2000. Cost: $30 plus $5 S&H;
Pender County Centennial,
1875 – 1975, featuring hundreds of
pictures of Pender County people
and Pender places. Cost: $6 plus
$2 S&H. Jeffrey Stark, An
Account by a Civil War Veteran,
transcribed by Mary Bowen
Caputo. This account was written
by Edward F. Small who served
with the 2nd Regiment North
Carolina Artillery. He was born in
Beaufort County and was stationed
at Fort Fisher when it was
attacked on December 23, 1864.
Cost: $12 plus $2 S&H.
The HISTORICAL
PUBLICATIONS
SECTION of the N.C. Office of
Archives and History announces
publication of three new titles.
A Day of Blood: The 1898
Wilmington Race Riot, by
LeRae Umfleet, $28.02 (paperback),
is a thoroughly researched, defini-tive
study that examines the actions
that precipitated the riot; the details
of what happened in Wilmington
on November 10, 1898; and the
long-term impact of that day in
both North Carolina and across
the nation. Guide to County
Records in the North Carolina
State Archives, $28.02 (paperback),
contains an exhaustive list of all of
the original and microfilmed records
for each North Carolina county that
are housed in the State Archives
as of March 1, 2009. This new edi-tion,
the first since 1997, describes
more than 13,000 bound volumes,
22,000 boxes of loose records, and
24,000 reels of microfilm. Haven
on the Hill: The History of
North Carolina’s Dorothea Dix
Hospital, by Marjorie O’Rorke,
$28.02 (paperback) presents the
story of Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix
Hospital from the events surround-ing
the 1848 legislative authoriza-tion
to fund and build the state’s
first mental hospital to the
ongoing debate over the property’s
future following the proposed
closing of the hospital in the early
21st century. This compelling
narrative includes the personal
stories of those who served the
patients and thoughtful analysis
of the trends and developments
that shaped the hospital as an
institution over more than a
century. To order these new titles,
please visit http://nc-historical-publications.
stores.yahoo.net or
call (919) 733-7442, ext. 0. Prices
include tax and shipping.
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 31
NEW PUBLICATIONS
DECEMBER 2009 Federation Bulletin PAGE 32
New Publications from Other Publishers
This is a selection of new books by other publishers
that may interest Federation members. We welcome
your suggestions as well.
ALTAMIRA PRESS
www.altamirapress.com (800) 462-6420
(Altamira gives a 15% discount for online orders.)
Nomenclature 3.0 for Museum Cataloging: Third
Edition of Robert G. Chenhall's System for
Classifying Man-Made Objects (3rd Edition), by
Paul Bourcier, Ruby Rogers, and the Nomenclature
Committee, $99.95 (hardcover)
According to AltaMira, “Nomenclature 3.0 is a much-expanded
edition of Robert G. Chenhall's system for
classifying man-made objects, originally published in
the 1970s. The Chenhall system is the standard cata-loging
tool for thousands of museums and historical
organizations across the United States and Canada.
In this third edition, three new hierarchical levels of
terms allow for more precise definitions of objects and
their functions. Every classification and object term
has been reviewed and revised as needed by a profes-sional
task force appointed by the American Associa-tion
for State and Local History.”
Practical Evaluation Guide: Tools for Museums
and Other Informal Educational Settings (2nd
Edition), by Judy Diamond, Jessica J. Luke, and
David H. Uttal, $65 (hardcover), $29.95 (paperback)
As stated by AltaMira, “Administrators of museums
and other informal-learning centers often need to
demonstrate, in some tangible way, the effectiveness
of their institutions as teaching tools. Practical
Evaluation Guide discusses specific methods for ana-lyzing
audience learning and behavior in museums,
zoos, botanic gardens, nature centers, camps, and
youth programs. This new edition incorporates the
many advances in the burgeoning field of informal
learning that have been made over the past decade.
Practical Evaluation Guide serves as a basic, easy-to-follow
guide for museum professionals and students
who want to understand the effects of such public
institutions on the people who visit them.”
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS
www.aam-us.org/bookstore/index.cfm, (877) 226-3034
Boomer Volunteer Engagement: Collaborate
Today, Thrive Tomorrow, by Jill Friedman Fixler
and Sandie Eichberg, with Gail Lorenz, $31.50 for
members, $35 for non-members
According to AAM, “This book contains everything
nonprofits need to engage skilled Boomer volunteers:
Boomer research that is current, relevant, and appli-cable
to volunteer engagement; 14 downloadable
PDF worksheets, including workplan and progress
report templates; a proven process for building
organizational capacity.”
LEFT COAST PRESS
www.LCoastPress.com, (800) 621-2736
Avoiding Archaeological Disasters, by Darby
Stapp and Julia Longenecker, $24.95 (paperback)
As stated by the publisher, “History museums and
historical societies aim to help their visitors connect
the past and the present. So what happens if, during
a construction project on your museum or another
local venue, the machinery runs into bones and
wooden slats? Archaeological discoveries happen all
the time in the course of construction…. If you are not
prepared, the consequences can be disastrous.
Whether this happens at your own site or at one in
your region that requires your oversight because of
its historical significance, this book will give you
enough information and archaeological perspective to
intelligently work with the various parties involved to
avoid an archaeological disaster.