MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING AND COUNCIL OF THE SOCIETY FOR HISTORIANS OF THE GILDED AGE AND PROGRESSIVE ERA, January 6, 2006
President Donna Gabaccia called the Council Meeting of the Society for Historians of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era to order at 5:05 p.m., January 6, 2006, in Room G, San Jose Convention Center. In addition to President Gabaccia, University of Minnesota, the following SHGAPE Council and other Members attended the meeting: Vice President Peter Argersinger, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; temporary Secretary Roger D. Bridges, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center emeritus; JGAPE Editor, Alan Lessoff, Illinois State University; Eric Rauchway, University of California, Davis; Charles W. Calhoun, East Carolina H-SHGAPE Editorial Board Chair Jacqueline Moore, Austin College; H-SHGAPE Newletter Editor David Blanke, Texas A & M University–Corpus Christi; Dan Letwin, Pennsylvania State University; Kristin Hoganson, University of Illinois at Urbana–Chanpaign; Christopher Nichols, University of Virginia; Rebecca Edwards, Vassar College, Ballard Campbell, Northeastern University; and John Enyeart, Bucknell University.
Professor Rauchway moved acceptance of the Minutes of April 1, 2005, with the correction of the typographical error for plagiarism; Professor Hoganson seconded, passed with correction.
President Gabaccia that she had talked with Thomas Culbertson, executive director of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center who confirmed that the Center would be pleased to maintain its relationship with SHGAPE but declined serving as Secretary-Treasurer because he did not think he would be in regular attendance at Society meetings. Under the circumstances she had asked Roger D. Bridges to continue as interim Secretary and Pnil VanderMeer as Treasurer until matters could be clarified and the necessary changes made to the Constution and By-laws. The council endorsed her recommendation.
President Gabaccia then announced the results of the election of new Council Members as follows: Jacqueline Moore, Austin College, Joseph “Andy” Fry, University of Nevada at Los Vegas, and Paul Hietter, Mesa Community College. She announced that Ruth Crocker who had been elected Vice President/President-Elect had declined to serve because of a change in her academic responsibilities (she had been named head of Women’s Studies at Clemson University).
In the absence of Acting Treasurer Phil VanderMeer, President Gabaccia announced that the bank balance at the end of the year was $26,115.04, showing a net gain for the year of $5,680.21. The Endowment balance is approximately $6,000.
President Gabaccia announced that the OAH will permit only one stand-alone program per year special interest groups such as SHGAPE and SHEAR. For the Program Committee, Peter Argersinger filed a written report (filed), as did David Blanke for the Newsletter (filed), Skip Hyser (Membership), and Jacqueline Moore for the H-SHGAPE Editorial Board (filed).
Journal editor Alan Lessoff reported that he had explored publication possibilities with the University of Illinois Press and the University of Pennsylvania Press, he had also talked to Duke. He was not ready to make a recommendation at the moment. He reported that the gating program with the History Cooperative was working well.
Professor Moore reported that the Article Prize Committee was currently considering 15 articles and that the quality was very good.
Professor Moore, as Chair of the H-SHGAPE Editorial Board submitted a written report and summarized it briefly saying that the Board had been relatively inactive and that there were not many matters to come before it. She also reported that it was probably too large and suggested that the size be reduced and that the chairman be appointed at the AHA meeting with the remainder of the board appointed at the OAH meeting after consultation between the President and the Chair. Professor Ballard Campbell moved, seconded by Daniel Letwin, that By-Law 8.b. read as follows:
b. Editorial Board: Members of the H-SHGAPE Editorial Board are appointed for three-year, overlapping terms, with reappointment possible. At the AHA meeting of the SHGAPE Council, the SHGAPE President shall nominate for the Council's approval one member of the Board to serve as its Chair for the following year. At the OAH meeting of the SHGAPE Council, the President shall present a list of proposed Editorial Board members for the coming three-year term. The President and Secretary-Treasurer of SHGAPE are members of the Editorial Board ex officio. Editorial Board members should be SHGAPE members. Editorial Board members are appointed subject to approval by H-Net.
The motion carried. By consensus it was agreed that the size of the board should be reduced. President Gabaccia then appointed an ad hoc committee on education (and SHGAPE’s internet profile). The committee consists of Christopher Nichols, Jacqueline Moore and Wyatt Evans. committee,
David Blanke was appointed to the Nominating Committee for the coming year. Chairman Daniel Letwin reported that following the resignation of Professor Crocker, the committee had contacted Professor Jack Blocker who accepted the nomination. There will be a ballot in the spring Newsletter and the results announced at the OAH meeting.
President Gabaccia reported that following discussions with Patrick Reagan, the Web Page had been updated, but that it is difficult to keep up-to-date if information is not given to the Web Master. She asked that the editorial board discuss the desired content.
President Gabaccia reported that the Ad Hoc Committee is discussing changes in governance occasioned by changes at the Hayes Presidential. But the committee has not reached any conclusions at this point.
Professor Blanke reported that he will be stepping down as Newsletter editor after the fall issue.
Professor Moore moved that the Council and Society thanks President Gabaccia for her fine leaders ship and hard work over the past two years.
The Council adjourned to attend the SHGAPE reception in a nearby room.
The meeting adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
Roger D. Bridges
Secretary, ad interim.