The American Association for State and Local History held its annual business meeting on Friday, November 4.
During the meeting:
- John Dichtl, president and CEO, gave an update on the state of the association and the field.
- Council treasurer Becky Beaulieu presented a financial report.
- Norman Burns, outgoing Council chair shared advice for the field and getting involved with AASLH.
- Incoming chair Burt Logan introduced himself and shared his view on AASLH’s future.
- New Council members and leaders were announced and those whose Council tenure had ended were thanked.
If you missed the meeting, you can watch the recording:
Council Chair
Burt Logan succeeds Norman Burns as Council Chair. Burns’ two-year term as Chair has ended, but he will stay on Council as Immediate Past Chair.
Logan retired as Executive Director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection (OHC) earlier this year and is now an Executive Consultant to the OHC Board. Prior to Ohio, he led the USS Constitution Museum in Boston for fourteen years. He was the Director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc from 1986 to 1995, and began his museum career in 1983 as Executive Director of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
“Having been affiliated with AASLH for more than 40 years, I have never seen the organization stronger than it is now. Finances are solid, membership is growing, and most important programming is robust and relevant,” said Logan. “Every day, Council, staff, and volunteers are helping both individuals and organizations preserve and present a historical narrative of communities, states, and the nation that includes and values the contributions of all. This dedicated effort is especially timely as we approach the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. It is a humbling, yet exhilarating moment to be Chair of Council. I look forward to working with all who support AASLH and its mission during the coming months.”
Council Leadership Changes
This summer, members elected the following Council leaders. They will serve two-year terms.
- Vice Chair: Christy Coleman of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia. Following her two-year term as Vice Chair, Coleman will succeed Logan as Council Chair for two years and then serve as Immediate Past Chair for two years. Coleman was a member of Council and her term had just expired.
- Treasurer: Rebekah Beaulieu of the Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, Ohio. Beulieu was re-elected to this position.
- Secretary: Scott Wands of Connecticut Humanities.
New Council Members
Members also elected four new members of Council this summer. These new members will serve until 2026.
- Lisa Anderson of the Utah Valley University Museum of Art in Orem, Utah. Anderson was serving on Council as an interim member whose term had expired.
- JerriAnne Boggis of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- Stacey Halfmoon of the Choctaw Cultural Center in Miami, Oklahoma
- Christie Weininger of the Hayes Presidential Library and Museums in Fremont, Ohio
“This new AASLH Council is the right mix of people to help us make the most of coming Semiquincentennial,” said Dichtl. “AASLH will be using the resources, new funding, and public attention and interest in the 250th anniversary of the United States to strengthen all our history organizations, and serve our local communities even better.”
Outgoing Council Members
AASLH thanks these Council members whose terms have expired.
- Immediate Past Chair: John Fleming, museum consultant.
- Secretary: Dina Bailey of Mountain Top Vision
- Jeff Matsuoka of the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Alexandra Rasic of The Gamble House Conservancy in Pasadena, California