presented by: sherry t. scott dr. jennifer wood final project npmn 600

US Historical Societies: Nonprofits fulfilling a legacy to promote and preserve history with a critical need to survive and safeguard all humanity

Presented By: Sherry T. ScottDr. Jennifer Wood

Final Project NPMN 600 University of Maryland University College

November 30, 2010

Introduction Garland County Historical Society Brief Overview of Sources The Antebellum South South Carolina Historical Society Synopsis of and Proposal for US

Historical Societies Conclusion References

Table of Contents

Historical Societies Fulfilling a legacy to promote and preserve history for all humanity

IntroductionHistorical Societies are nonprofits that make major cultural and historical contributions in the US. Without their dedication to collecting and preserving history, our civilization would not have a connection to our past or ancestors. They often contain valuable data including:

Birth records Census records Marriage records Death records

funeral home records, cemetery records, cemetery headstone inscriptions, and obituaries from a variety of sources

Military records Records and memorabilia from Confederate pension records to current-

day military information Miscellaneous records including poll tax lists and probate records and access to some on-line

databases


Introduction (cont.)

Historical Societies must learn to diversify their revenue stream if they are to survive in the future.

With the dwindling financial resources and donations, they must become more technically savvy to compete with larger

nonprofits such as museums and libraries. James Louis Petigrew, a noted scholar and attorney general of South Carolina, once stated, “Time which is the destroyer of the

works of men, gives them History in return for what it takes away” These nonprofits are critical to our human existence and serve an

important purpose as bellwethers from our past as well as to our future.


Brief Overview of Sources

South Carolina Historical Society

Garland County Historical Society Hot Springs,

Arkansas


Garland County Historical Society

Hot Springs, Arkansas

Yesterday…

Legend has it that chiefs and warriors would bathe in the hot springs before

going into a battle.


Today…Quapaw Baths and Spas resort is a National Historic Landmark

Famous Bath House Row

Mission Statement -

“Shaping the future by preserving the past” is the mission of The Garland

County Historical Society (GCHS) in Hot Springs, Arkansas which was

founded in 1960.

GCHS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that containsover 20,000 photographs, printed material such as books, maps,manuscripts, and wide variety of different artifacts.


Hot Springs, ArkansasThe author’s late father was born in 1921 and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Garland County Historical SocietyHot Springs, Arkansas


Many distinguished leaders have visited Hot Springs and 42nd President of the United States former President Clinton was born and raised in Arkansas

President Teddy Roosevelt Hot Springs, AR circa 1936

Many other relatives lived and worked in Hot Springs including the author’s

grandfather who was employed at the famous Quapaw Baths and Spa

formerly known as the Quapaw Bath House.


The long journey west to Hot Springs for the Glover Family was long and arduous, but the slaves and servants were free. Many of them originated from Charleston, South Carolina after the Civil War in the late 1800’s with only a few belongings and the clothes on their backs.


The Antebellum South


Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning…that was unless you were a slave on a plantation….

South Carolina Historical Society



Bear in mind that history in and of itself is not always pleasant nor kind, but the story must told or it runs the danger of being repeated.

The Antebellum

South

The Myth of Plantation Life



The Reality of Life on a Plantation

A Southern Belle’s Social Life


A Slave Family


The South Carolina Historical Society


The South Carolina Historical Society (SCHS) was founded in 1855. Today over 2 million articles and artifacts are securely stored in the Fireproof Building in Charleston, SC. The structure is also a National Historic Landmark and has the largest repository of Civil War memorabilia and antebellum history both pre and post in the entire world.

During a recent visit to SCHS to do more research on local history and genealogy, the author discovered that her paternal ancestors’ vast plantation records, deeds, wills, family papers and correspondence are stored in the historical society’s Fireproof Building located on 100 Meeting Street. (See Appendix A)


The South Carolina Historical Society (SCHS)

A Synopsis of and Proposal for US Historical Societies

Historical Societies need to do more to educate the public about their mission and purpose and the need for their existence.

Increase fund raising dollars from multiple sources

Increase staff support by hiring independent consultants, volunteers and college interns.

US Historical Societies need to augment their archives and collections, annual budgets and donations to educational programs and events


A Synopsis of and Proposal for US Historical Societies cont.

Develop more collaborative partnerships and shares resources to maximize capacity


Conclusion


Historical Societies are no longer mere “cabinets of curiosities,” but contain a wide variety of documents and data which are fundamental to educating and informing individuals about their past.

Historical Societies today are becoming vital conduits which connect people in the present to their distant past. These establishments further serve as family road maps and provide a GPS into our future.

Our society must support these veritable establishments, as they strive to promote and preserve history for civilization and all humanity.


References

1) American Historical Association. Website- http://www.historians.org/

2) Buettner, M. (2010). Program pairs up nonprofits and college students. McClatchy –

Tribune Business News. Retrieved November, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Dateline. (Document ID: 1711172761).3) Garland County Historical Society (2010) Website- http://www.garlandcountyhistoricalsociety.com/html/index.php4) Historic Charleston Foundation (2010) Website – www.historiccharleston.org5) Lawrence, S. (2003) History of Historical Societies in the US Article http://www.publichistory.org/features/HistoricalSocietyHistory.html6) National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Website - http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/apply/program.html


References (cont.)

7) NOT-FOR-PROFIT OF NOTE: Indiana Historical Society. (December,2008). Indianapolis Business Journal, 29(44), 25. Retrieved November 2010, from ABI/INFORM Dateline. (Document ID: 1627659341).

8) Perry. S. (2010) Chronicle of Philanthropy: Liberal Deficit-Cutting Plan Proposes New Charitable Tax Credit. http://philanthropy.com/blogs/government-and-politics/liberal-deficit-cutting-plan-proposes-new-charitable-tax-credit/27670?sid=&utm_source=&utm_medium=en

9) Scott, S.T. 2010. Author’s Family Stories, Oral Histories, and Folk Lore from 1965-2010. Unpublished research.

10) South Carolina Historical Society (2010) Website http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/?catID=17491

11) South Carolina Historical Society (2010). Carologue Fall 2010 Quarterly Publication ISSN 1544-5801.

12) South Carolina Historical Society (2010). Carologue Summer 2010 Quarterly Publication ISSN 1544-5801.

13) Quapaw Bath House and Spa. (2010) Website – http://www.quapawbaths.com/


Appendix A

Historical Societies Fulfilling a legacy to promote and

preserve history for all humanity

presented by: sherry t. scott dr. jennifer wood final project npmn 600

Documents

historical contributions

arkansashistorical societies

cemetery records

probate records

humanityhot springs

confederate pension

larger nonprofits

arkansas yesterday legend