Federation bulletin [2010 : December, v.30 : no.4]

Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies Federation Bulletin December 2010 Volume 30, no. 4 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. Gaston County Museum Wins Newsome Award The Gaston County Museum has won the 2010 Albert Raj' Newsome Award, which is presented each j'ear by the Federation to recognize note¬ worthy accomplishments in the preser¬ vation and promotion of local history. The award was given to the museum diming the Federation’s annual meeting on November 12, in recognition of its work creating the exhibit Healing the Children: The North Carolina Orthopedic Hospital. 'The exhibit told the story of a remarkable hospital, located in Gastonia, that had a profound impact on the lives of children from across the state. As exhibit curator Stephanie Haiar noted in her nomination, “The North Carolina Orthopedic Hospi¬ tal, which was open from 1921 to 1979, was the only place in North Carolina that offered free health care to children under the age of 16 who could not afford to pay for the expensive procedures needed to treat them orthopedic issues. Inside this issue: NCOH treated a variety of conditions, from congenital disorders and birth Federation News 2 defects to Scoliosis, Polio, and even bums. Most children who were admitted Member News 10 to the hospital stayed for an extended period of time, so there was a year- round school for the children, as well Grant Opportunities 13 as various child-focused activities and field trips.” The hospital helped History Help 20 thousands of children over the years. Calendar of Events 23 When staff at the Gaston Count}' Museum decided to create an exhibit Exhibits 31 about the hospital, they knew that they didn’t just want to display the Workshops and 33 photographs, documents, and other Conferences items the museum had been given after New PublicaPons 36 the hospital closed. They also wanted to gather and use oral history interviews to share the memories and stories of the people affected by the NCOH. Museum staff interviewed a total of 52 people, including former patients, doctors, nurses, teachers, grounds keepers, and volunteers. This diverse range of people allowed the museum to offer a broad view of the hospital and its history. Clips of these interviews were made accessible in the exhibit, and museum staff created a 30-minute introductory video from the oral histories. Special programs tied to the exhibit drew in visitors. One program in particular — a reunion of patients, staff, and volun¬ teers — was especially meaningful. As curator Haiar noted, “Because the children were usually at the hospital for multiple years, patients and staff formed life-long bonds, and this project allowed them to reconnect.” During its six-month display at the museum, Healing the Children raised community awareness about this hospital and its impact on people across the state. And the exhibit continues to educate the public; after the exhibit at the museum closed, portions of the exhibit were transferred to the site of the old hospital, so visitors to the building will be able to learn about its history for years to come. The Federation congratulates the Gaston County Museum for winning the Newsome Award and for its signifi¬ cant work preserving local history. 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