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Previous Newsletter2012 ASDAH Newsletter
Letter to the Members Dear ASDAH Members, As this issue goes to press, the recent 2012 London Olympics remains a fresh memory in the minds of most. After 108 hours of watching the games, I learned several lessons from the experience. First, it takes an enormous amount of teamwork to stage the Olympic Games—and the Brits did it just right (despite the carping of Governor Romney, who forgets that the British have been staging sports, pageantry, pomp and circumstance securely for over 500 years). Second, in many competitions the old saying that winners never quit and quitters never win was borne out by the almost superhuman determination of some athletes not only to win medals, but also to surpass previous Olympic and world records. For their amazing feats, many of these athletes’ names are now household words: Usaine Bolt (Jamaican racer), Gabby Douglas (U.S. gymnast), Missy Franklin (U.S. swimmer), and Oscar Pistorius (South African double amputee racer) to mention only a handful. Third, although it is great to win twenty-two medals (like U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps) and to remain undefeated in one’s field (like U.S. beach volleyball icons Misty May Treanor and Terri Walsh Jennings), eventually the day comes when age and physical injuries require one to retire from the sport as these three have now done. What then? Is there life after the Olympics? Fourth, the nations with the most athletes (like the U.S., Britain, and Russia with hundreds each) do not necessarily win all the medals in every sport. Sometimes it’s “the little guys” from tiny nations like Azerbaijan, Nepal, Botswana, or Kazakhstan who win the gold, silver, or bronze through hard work, skill, and sheer determination. Finally, while the eyes of the world were focused on the physical competition at the Olympics, most TV viewers were probably unaware that the Ancient Greeks also staged competitions in music, drama, history and literature at the Pythian Games held every four years at Delphi in honor of Apollo. Although in 1892 the world revived the Olympic Games created to honor Zeus, they neglected to resurrect these Pythian Games. But in 1891-2 on the Nebraska prairies, Seventh-day Adventists established an institution to foster creativity in the arts and humanities. Although today its student body (around 800) is smaller than the combined number of athletes on the U.S. and Russian Olympic teams (over 1000), Union College’s past teaches us not to despise “the day of small beginnings.” After all, Union College is now the oldest Adventist college still bearing its original name; the only one still located at its original site; the first accredited Adventist college (1905); and the first to offer colporteur scholarships (1906). It was in Lincoln that J. N. Loughborough completed the research and writing for The Great Second Advent Movement (1892) and began preparing a German version of the book. Here the eminent historian Dr. Everett Dick pioneered the Medical Cadet Corps program in the 1930s; on the campus of Union College he also wrote his books--The Sod-House Frontier, The Dixie Frontier, Tales of the Frontier, to mention only three that won him national fame and inspired me to pursue history as a career at Southern Missionary College (where he thrilled us with his stories during a 1970 visit). So it seems appropriate as the world celebrates 120 years of the modern Olympics that the members of the Association of SDA Historians return to Union College 120 years following its first school year to celebrate with Clio, the Muse of History, the God-given creativity that inspires us to teach, to write, and to share our research with one another. Leave your discus, javelin, and boxing gloves at home, friends, but bring your papers, your enthusiasm, and your desire to learn with you as we gather for the Seventh ASDAH Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. George Gibson and his talented team are working with Olympic fervor to prepare for this conference. Let’s all unite behind them to make this seventh ASDAH conference a gold-medal event! Yours for the best in history, Brian E. Strayer, Editor ASDAH Newsletter The Seventh Triennial ASDAH Conference The Seventh Triennial ASDAH Conference will convene on the campus of Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, March 21-24, 2013. Following the theme of this conference—“Adventist Transitions between 1880 and 1920”—authors are invited to submit papers that approach the topic from any perspective—historical, sociological, textual, literary/historical, or other theoretical models. While the general theme is to discuss the transitions in Seventh-day Adventism, papers from varying perspectives and historical backgrounds are appreciated. Papers may be presented from either an American or global focus on Adventism during this time period. In addition, proposals for sessions or papers on other historical topics not related to Adventism are certainly welcome and will be grouped together in appropriate sessions. Academy history and social studies teachers are also invited to plan sessions dealing with problems, challenges, and pedagogical issues in the teaching of high school and academy history. Papers should be no longer than 10-12 pages (about twenty minutes when read aloud). Please send proposals for sessions and/or abstracts (or completed papers) by January 31, 2013 to Dr. Ed Allen at [email protected] or Union College, 3800 South 48th Street, Lincoln, NE 68506. The cost of registration is $60 until January 31 and $70 thereafter. Lodging on campus is available at the Ortner, Rees, and Prescott Rooms for the following rates: $25 (2 twin beds, 1 bath), $35-$55 (1 queen bed, 1 bath), $60 (2 queen beds, 1 bath), $80 (1 queen bed, 1 sofa pullout, 1 bath, kitchenette), $95-$100 (2 queen beds, sofa pullout, 1-2 baths, kitchenette). Please contact the Ortner Center at www.ucollege.edu/ortner. Off-campus lodging is available at nearby motels in Lincoln, Nebraska; the two closest are the Hampton Inn (hamptoninn3.hilton. com/en/hotels/Nebraska/Hampton-inn-lincoln-south-heritage-park-LNKNEHX/index.html) and the Comfort Suites (www.comfortsuites.com/hotel-lincoln-nebraska-NE118). George Gibson estimates the cost at around $100-$108 per night. Meals at the college cafeteria (on the à la carte program) range from $5 to $10 depending on what one takes. Many fine restaurants are also available in Lincoln. Those driving to Lincoln, Nebraska, may find directions to the Union College campus available at www.ucollege.edu/admissions/union-info/directions-union and a campus map provided at www.ucollege.edu/welcome/buildings-landmarks-and-maps. George recommends that those who are flying in may actually save money by flying into Omaha (which serves more airlines than Lincoln) and either taking the Omalink shuttle service (www.omalink.com/) to Lincoln for $49.95 per person ($79.95 round trip) or driving a rental car about an hour to campus. However, the college does offer shuttle service for $10 each way for those who fly into the Lincoln airport, which is served by United Airlines and Delta Airlines. Sabbath afternoon provides three options, each costing $39 (for transportation and a box lunch): a trip to see thousands of Sandhill Cranes that stop at the Platte River area on their northern migration; a visit to Pioneer Village, one of the most comprehensive collections of Americana in the Midwest; and a tour of the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, one of the best in the Midwest and Nebraska’s number one attraction. The guest speaker for the plenary session will be Professor Ron Numbers, currently Hilldale Professor of the History of Science and Medicine in the Department of Medical History and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ron received his B.A. Degree in History from Southern Adventist University (1963), his M.A. in History from Florida State University (1965), and his Ph.D. in the History of Science from the University of California-Berkeley (1969). He taught at Andrews University and Loma Linda University prior to teaching at the University of Wisconsin. Currently working on a major biography of John Harvey Kellogg, Ron’s keynote presentation will discuss Kellogg’s place in the history of medicine and his relationship to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. George Gibson and his talented team are working with Olympic fervor to prepare for this conference. Let’s all unite behind them to make this seventh ASDAH conference a gold-medal event! Yours for the best in history, Brian E. Strayer, Editor ASDAH Newsletter News Notes Colleges and Universities Andrews University In 2012 the History & Political Science Department had 23 Political Science Majors, 12 History Majors, and 8 Social Studies Majors for a total of 43 majors. Marcella Myers and Gary Wood teach political science courses while Kathryn Silva Banks (U.S., African-American), Brian Strayer (Early Modern Europe, SDA), and John Markovic (chair, Modern Europe, History of the Christian Church) teach history courses. At the Third Annual Andrews University Celebration of Research, Brian Strayer presented a short paper on “The Legacy of J. N. Loughborough to Seventh-day Adventism.” Currently he is preparing the index and proof-reading the final copy for his book J. N. Loughborough: The Last of the Pioneers, volume 8 in the Review and Herald press’s Adventist Pioneer Biographies series. During the summer of 2012, he completed nineteen of the projected twenty chapters on the history of the Jackson, Michigan, SDA Church (1849-2012), the oldest continuously meeting SDA congregation in the denomination. He reviewed Nicolas Lyon-Caen’s book Le jansénisme parisien au XVIII siècle for the on-line edition of French History. Having spent two years helping the Department achieve Michigan Department of Education approval for its four major programs, he is currently leading his colleagues to achieve National Council for the Social Studies accreditation in the fall of 2013. Kingsway College Connie Solomon will soon complete her M.A. in Education at La Sierra University. She teaches upper-division courses in United States History, World History, and Canadian Government. She plans field trips every year for each of these courses. Recently her U.S. History class spent five days visiting historic sites in Virginia (Mt. Vernon), Washington, D.C.(Holocaust Museum, Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, war memorials, Arlington Cemetery), and toured the Gettysburg battlefield. Southern Adventist University Following the passing of his wife Carol Jean (Nelson) Pettibone last fall, Dennis Pettibone relinquished the Department chairmanship. Although he officially retired last May, he continues to teach half time. After several years as academic dean at Southwestern Adventist University, Ben McArthur has returned to Southern to teach U.S. History courses and work on a biography of former GC president Arthur G. Daniells for the Adventist Pioneer Biographies series. Independent Scholars Although retired, Maurice Hodgen, who lives in Riverside, California, continues an active professional life. In March his article “Della Robias at the Inn” was published in the Mission Inn Museum. Last May, he made a presentation to the Men’s Forum in Riverside entitled “History of Mysteries: A Personal Journey. He has two lengthy forthcoming articles—“First Boy” and “Seventeen Years in a Frontier Village”—soon to be published in the Monroe County, Wisconsin History Room. From Apopka, Florida, Marley Soper, an Adjunct Professor at Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences (now the Adventist University of Health Sciences), teaches in the distance education division from his home. His favorite course is “Lessons on Living, Biblical Perspectives.” Marley continues helping out at the Robert Williams Library twice a week. Although busy as the director of the General Conference Archives, David Trim continues his historical scholarship endeavors. In 2011, Cambridge University Press published Humanitarian Intervention: A History, edited by Brendon Simms and Trim. Also in 2011, Brill Press published The Huguenots: History and Memory in Transnational Context: Essays in Honour and Memory of Walter Utt, a festschrift edited by Trim. Academy Teachers Atlanta Adventist Academy Since 2000 Stan Hobbs has served as principal, vice-principal, and social studies teacher. Presently he teaches government, economics, U.S. History, history electives, world geography, and an American History 154 Extension Class for Southern Adventist University. Blessed with boundless energy, he takes his students on field trips to Plymouth Plantation, the Breaker’s, the Old Manse, Old Sturbridge Village, Andersonville Civil War Prison, the National Prisoner of War Museum south of Atlanta, Fort Sumter, Savannah, Tybee Island Lighthouse, and the Wormsloe Plantation to mention a few. In addition, Stan sponsors the National Honor Society and the AAA Scholar Program. Department of History and Political Science Buller Hall 135 Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI 49104 Address Service Requested ASDAH Newsletter |