The Southwestern Historical Association

Minutes & Treasurer's Report

of the Annual Business Meeting for the Year 2003

to be held at San Antonio

between 16-19 April 2003

President Barbara Ganson (Florida Atlantic) opened the meeting at 4:04 p.m.  The Secretary, Stephen J Stillwell jr (Texas, Arlington) was called upon.  He asked for approval to amend the 1999 minutes to reflect an oversight in the listing of the Phi Alpha Theta awards.  This was approved.  He then summarized the 2002 minutes; these were approved.  Then as Treasurer, Stillwell gave a report; which was approved.

Ganson then gave a report on SSSA activities.  She is working on scholarships for graduate students to attend the conference.

Ganson then acknowledged those who had helped her over the past year, particularly the other officers and Past President Melodie Andrews (Mankato State).

Edward Weller (San Jacinto) then took the floor as General Program Chair.  He thanked the Section Program Chairs and declared the programs a success.  Then he noted that there was a possibility of the SSSA presidency going to a History member as this is an open year.

Glenn Melancon (Southeastern Oklahoma State) took the floor as journal editor.  He reported that the SSQ was still having difficulties with history submissions.  Then on the Red River Valley Historical Journal, Melancon reported that budget cuts at his institution had cost him release time and a student assistant.  This has delayed the issue.  He feels strongly that a new institutional home needs to be found.  A shift to Midwestern State (TX) is under review.  The journal has had positive feedback and submissions remain strong in numbers and quality.  Shifting gears, Melancon announced the nomination of Nupur Chaudhuri (Texas Southern) as the candidate for third vice-president / chair of the European & Asian History Section.  This nomination was carried.

Ganson took the podium again and distributed plaques to all former presidents since 1988.   This recognition was called for at the 1989 conference and had been overlooked.   All former presidents present received a round of applause and the thanks of the assembly.

Then the various paper awards were given.  First, Graydon A "Jack" Tunstall (South Florida), J Howell Smith (Wake Forest), and Ben Procter (Texas Christian) announced the Ben Procter / Phi Alpha Theta Awards in US History:

• 1st Place - Margaret Nunnelley (Rice) for "The Minute Women and Their World:  Conservative Women's Political Culture in Houston in the 1950s."
• 2nd Place - W Ben Secunda (Notre Dame) for "The Potawatomi Elijah:  Leopold Pokagon and the Purported Demise of His Band, 1820s-1830s."
• 3rd Place - Steve Bolin (Oklahoma State) for "The Encroachment of McCarthyism upon Religious Beliefs:  The 1951 Loyalty Oath Controversy at Oklahoma A&M." 

Then for European History:

• 1st Place:  Ruedigeer Cirsovius (Texas Christian) for "Troubled Paradise?  The Mosquito Coast between 1850 and 1920:  A Case Study of Informal Empire."
• 2nd Place:  Peter Yanez (California State, Fullerton) for "Conflict and Compromise:  Military and Diplomatic Interaction between Damascus and the Franks, 1104-1154."
• 3rd Place:  Diane DeWaters (Texas, Arlington) for "Terrae Incognitae in Sixteenth Century Maps:  Depicting the Unknown in New World Maps."

Then the Wider World Category for Asian, African, or Latin American history:

• 1st Place:  Terry N Jones (Oklahoma State) for "The Hidden Agenda of Darius I in the Behistun Inscription."
• No 2nd or 3rd Place prizes were presented.

All winners were presented with their checks and congratulated by the assembly.

Following the issuance of the student awards, the all conference awards were announced:

• Patrick Barr-Melej (Iowa State) announced the winner of the Latin American/African Section prize was Patricia Juárez-Dappe (California State, Northridge) for "Cañeros, Colonos, and Peones in Tucumán:  Changes, Conflict, and Consensus during the Sugar Boom, 1876-1916."  Honourable Mention went to Stephen A Webre (Louisiana Technical) for "Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús:  The Central American Years, 1684-1707."
• Melancon announced the Walter R Craddock Prize in European / Asian History was given to Judith Fai-Podlipnik (Southeastern Louisiana) for "The War against Communist Totalitarianism in Hungary:  Magyar Expatriates vs. Muskovites, 1945-1956."
• Andrews announced the winner of the United States Section prize was Jenny Harris (Brigham Young) for "Kansas Territory Map Guides." 

Next on the agenda was a discussion of a constitutional amendment to add a general program chair separate from the office of first vice-president.  This fell flat and was declared a non-starter.

Procter made an announcement about the Southern Historical Association meeting in November and that there was still time to get in a Phi Alpha Theta panel or two.

Ganson then invited everyone to the SwHA reception that was to follow immediately.  She then turned the floor over to incoming president Melancon.   He then presented Ganson with a plaque commemorating her presidential year.  Andrews asked for the floor and for a round of recognition for the secretary-treasurer & webmaster.  Melancon reminded all that next year a new secretary-treasurer would need to be elected.  He further said that there were committee appointments in SwHA and SSSA to be filled and asked that interested parties contact him.  Melancon then adjourned the meeting at 4:58 p.m.

signed Stephen J Stillwell jr (UTArlington)

Page last reviewed 9 July 2004.