News of the Profession

“Reacting to the Past” Wins Award
“Reacting to the Past,” an approach to general education in which students are assigned roles in elaborate games, won the $30,000 Theodore Hesburgh award for 2004, funded by TIAA-CREF. The concept was created by Mark C. Carnes, professor of history at Barnard College, general editor of the American National Biography, and OAH Distinguished Lecturer. “Historical simulations are a commonplace of graduate-level political science, international affairs, and economics,” Carnes noted. “But while social scientists employ modern analytical tools to ‘fix’ a problem in the past, ‘Reacting’ forces students to empathize with the past rather than ‘fix’ it.”

Within the past three years, “Reacting to the Past” has been adopted by over 120 faculty at some 60 colleges and universities. This year, the University of Texas (Austin) and the University of Georgia have made “Reacting to the Past” a cornerstone of their honors programs.

In the Chronicle Review (November 12, 2004), Larry Carver, director of the Honors Program at the University of Texas, reported that he had never seen students so engaged. “They write more than the assignments require; everyone, shy or not, participates vigorously in the debates. They read important texts with real understanding, making complex arguments and ideas their own.”

“I have found teaching a ‘Reacting’ seminar to be one of the best educational things I have done in twenty-five years,” added Frank Kirkpatrick, interim dean of the faculty and professor of religion at Trinity College. “In short, the seminar was education at its very best: intense, collaborative, and a deep immersion in the great debates of history.”

“This was a fantastic opportunity to develop materials to teach students to think like Puritans,” declared Michael Winship, coauthor of the “Trial of Anne Hutchinson,” one of the games in the series. Winship is professor of history at the University of Georgia and author of Making Heretics: Militant Protestantism and Free Grace in Massachusetts, 1636-1641 (Princeton University Press, 2002).

Barnard College has used the Hesburgh award to supplement a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE) to allow faculty from other colleges and universities to “learn” Reacting by playing mini-versions of the games. Three workshops are scheduled for the remainder of this academic year: at the University of Texas (Austin) (May 23-25), at Barnard College (NYC, June 20-23), and Bemidji University (Minnesota)&emdash;date to be announced.

Registration and other information is available at the “Reacting to the Past” web site <http://www.barnard.edu/reacting> which was selected as web site of the month by History News Network (April 2004).

Presidential Sites Bill Introduced
On February 17, 2005, Congressman Paul Gillmore (R-OH) in the House and Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH) in the Senate introduced legislation (H.R. 927 and S. 431), “The Presidential Sites Improvement Act.” The legislation seeks to create a President Sites Grant Commission and awards grants to improve and maintain sites that are devoted to preserving the legacy of presidents of the United States. The bill authorizes appropriations up to $5 million annually for five years in federal grants administered by the National Park Service. The majority of the money would be granted to properties with operating budgets under $700,000; a small amount would be set aside for emergency assistance.

As reported last year during the 108th Congress, the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) counts over 130 historic properties that can be classified as “presidential historic sites” and approximately 45 of the number as federally funded or operated areas. With the state funding crisis and decline in tourism in some states, virtually all the non-federal presidential sites have little cash and enormous maintenance needs. The legislation assists sites by providing matching grants to help address the long-term maintenance, interpretive, and other preservation related needs. In the long term, the bill promotes understanding of American history through the recognition and preservation of presidential sites.

Those interested in advancing this legislation are urged to contact their member of Congress (202-224-3121) and urge them to become a cosponsor of the legislation. Hearings on the measures are pending.

NARA and Nixon Library Reach Agreement on Donation
In mid-March National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace Foundation officials exchanged what was characterized as “general terms of agreement letters” regarding the donation of the still private Yorba Linda, California, based Nixon presidential library and thus laid the groundwork for eventual incorporation of the Nixon library into the presidential library system.

On March 14, 2005, Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein wrote a letter to Nixon library director John Taylor regarding the incorporation of the library into the federal archives system. The letter emphasized the need for library officials to comply with National Archive and Record Administration (NARA) policies and provisions of the Presidential Libraries Act. Taylor responded a day later with a letter in which he pledged to be a “constructive and collaborative partner” with NARA. Taylor promised to execute a transfer the nondeeded Nixon papers (including pre- and postpresidential materials) so as to create “a vital resource for scholars and for all Americans for generations to come.”

A key provision in the exchange provides that, once under NARA control, the library is to house “a unitary collection in every possible respect, including especially the late president’s official non-deeded pre-presidential records as well as the so-called personal papers.” The unification of the governmental and privately held collections is expected to be a boon to scholars and researchers, however, the controversial and much contested Nixon tapes that are presently being processed in College Park, will not be transferred until their processing is completed, which is projected to be accomplished in 2008 or 2009.

Though an official binding memorandum of agreement has yet to be drafted or signed, the informal exchange of letters indicates that NARA anticipates accepting the Nixon Library donation from the Nixon library foundation in February 2006 under terms of the Presidential Libraries Act, provided sufficient funding is present in the NARA FY 2006 budget for operations and that the retrofit of facilities is completed by the library. Weinstein’s letter states that the Nixon Library is “responsible for securing funds for the archival storage addition” that will house the archival collections, but neither letter makes it clear exactly where those funds are to come from.

It is widely believed that through the efforts of the lobbying firm Cassidy and Associates, the Nixon Library is seeking to secure not just a Congressional earmark for operations but also one for construction of the yet to be built archives facility&emdash;an action that would most likely affect NARA’s budget in FY 2006 and beyond. According to Weinstein’s letter to Taylor, “it is important to the National Archives that we not take over the operation of the Nixon Library at the expense of our other programs and services,” but Weinstein’s letter does not specifically urge that the Nixon library is to raise the funds needed for the archives component through private sources. It has been the long-standing tradition and precedent for the establishment of other presidential libraries that all facilities be constructed with private sector or nonfederal funds prior to donation to the federal government.

New Humanities Caucus Launched in the House of Representatives
Two members of the House of Representatives have launched a new Humanities Caucus in the 109th Congress. The caucus, cochaired by Representatives Jim Leach (R-IA) and David Price (D-NC), “seeks to ensure the continued vitality of the humanities programs that enrich American intellectual and cultural life.”

The caucus will work to raise the profile of the humanities through a variety of activities including education briefings and strategy sessions for members and congressional staff; public briefings; special events for Members, Congressional staff, and their families (such as film screenings, lectures, and tours). For the kickoff event, National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Chair Bruce Cole led a tour for Members of Congress and their spouses at the National Gallery of Art. Cole’s talk, entitled “Renaissance History and its Craftsmen,” focused on how political, cultural and religious trends can be studied in the art and architecture of the Renaissance.

The Humanities Caucus now includes some thirty-five members. Please contact your representative today and urge them to become a member of the Humanities Caucus. To contact your congressman, visit <http://www.humanitiesadvocacy.org> or call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative.

Senators Deliver “Make History Strong In Our Schools” Message, Reintroduce History Reform Bill
Using the vehicle of the 230th anniversary of the battles of Lexingon and Concord that served as the catalyst for the war of American independence, on Patriot’s Day (April 19) the National Council for History Education (NCHE) sponsored a “Make History Strong in Our Schools Day” event in the U.S. Capitol. While the event sought to make a connection between the study of history, civics, and patriotism, the NCHE event also sought to raise concern about the “No Child Left Behind Act” which has resulted in a “decrease of time devoted to teaching history.” The day after the press event, Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) announced their intention to introduce legislation seeking to gather statewide information about student’s comprehension of U.S. history in an effort to assess the current state of history education in the country.

During the Patriot’s Day press event, historian Theodore Rabb set the stage for comments by Senators Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) and John Warner (R-VA) who both addressed the assembled media. Neither senator spoke specifically about the impact of the “No Child Left Behind” program on history education, rather they focused their comments n the importance of teaching history in schools.

Senators Alexander and Kennedy, though not in attendance, communicated their support for the NCHE effort. Historical reenactors from Colonial Williamsburg portraying presidents George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison also each briefly addressed the group with relevant comments on the importance of history to the founding fathers. The NCHE hoped that the message being sent by a bipartisan array of senators and the words of past presidents would send a powerful message and an evocative image to the nation’s legislators that emphasizes the need to keep history alive and strong in our nation’s public schools.

The next day, the two senators announced their intention to reintroduce legislation (a similar bill was not enacted in the 108th Congress) to create a ten-state pilot study to provide state-by-state comparisons of U.S. history and civics test data that is administered through the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). According to Alexander, “Permitting state-by-state comparison of eighth and twelfth grade scores will help put the spotlight on what our children are and are not learning across the country.” At this writing, the bill has yet to be introduced.

NPS Urges No New Heritage Area Sites Pending Enactment of Generic Guideline Legislation
During a Senate hearing in which a proposed national heritage area in eastern Kansas&emdash; “Bleeding Kansas” National Heritage Area (S. 175)&emdash;was under consideration, the National Park Service (NPS) urged Congress to defer consideration of this and other legislation authorizing any new national heritage areas until Congress establishes a uniform system of guidelines for creation, administration, and management of such areas. Among other things, the NPS witness stated that all such areas should be subjected to a test of “national significance” prior to establishment.

According to Janet Snyder Matthews, NPS associate director for cultural resources, the proposed Kansas heritage area meets criteria for national significance, but nevertheless, comprehensive legislation needs to be in place before allowing more heritage areas to be designated.

Generic legislation establishing guidelines for heritage areas have been advanced in Congress in the past but have failed to be enacted into law. Lawmakers are hesitant to enact such legislation partly because proposed guidelines place limits on the total amount of federal dollars that can be appropriated to an individual heritage area over a period of years. However, generic heritage area legislation has been introduced yet again in both the House and Senate (S. 243/H.R. 760) with the Senate bill having already been reported out of committee (S. Rept. 109-38); it is currently pending action on the Senate floor.

Since 1984, Congress has established twenty-seven national heritage areas throughout the country. Heritage area designation brings money and other resources from the National Park Service to assist in the preservation of heritage sites often located in multiple jurisdictions. Critics charge the creation of such areas divert desperately needed funds from “crown jewel” national park units.

&emdash;Bruce Craig