Monday, February 25, 2013

Recieving the Ralph Steen Award, ETHA

Receiving the Ralph Steen Award, l. to r., Victoria Cummins, Scott Sosebee, and  Light Cummins

The East Texas Historical Association met in Galveston from February 21 to 23. I was gratified to receive the Ralph Steen Award at this meeting. This award is conferred at the annual spring meeting of the East Texas Historical Association for outstanding service to historical efforts in East Texas. Victoria Cummins and I also attended the annual women’s breakfast that takes place at this meeting. Since the origins of this breakfast many, many years ago, the main activity has always been an absolutely simple but most important and elegant occurrence. People talk about their research and teaching, or museum work, others talk about what is happening in their towns or about what their personal interests might be if they are a lay historian. Some folks talk more than others, and often we question each other and make comments about what is being said. Then, as the meeting winds to a close, individuals usually seek each other out to have conversations about their mutual interests. Personally, I have learned so much over the years at this breakfast for that reason. And, to my personal knowledge, several recent conference sessions and an historical article, along with some essays in several books of readings, have come from contacts or information traded at that breakfast.

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