SHGAPE Council Minutes
March 29, 1996

President M. Les Benedict called the Council of the Society for Historians of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era to order at 4:05 p.m., March 29, 1996, in Private Dining Room #5, Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, Ill. In addition to President Benedict, the following Council Members attended the meeting: Immediate Past President, Robert W. Cherny, Vice President Elisabeth Israels Perry, Secretary-Treasurer, Roger D. Bridges, Newsletter Editor Kriste Lindenmeyer, Peter Argersinger, Kendrick Clements, and Ari Hoogenboom. Past President Charles W. Calhoun, H-SHGAPE Editors Ballard A. Campbell and Phillip VanderMeer, and SHGAPE members Ruth Crocker, Bob Goldman, Nina Mjagkij, and Jacqueline M. Moore also attended the meeting.

President Benedict submitted an agenda adopted.

The Council Minutes for the January 6, 1996, meeting was approved with the following change: Professor Peter Argersinger, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, noted that he had been present at the March 22, 1995. Professor Jacqueline M. Moore, Austin College, remarked that she had attended both the January 6, 1996, meeting and the March 22, 1995, meeting.

Secretary-Treasurer Bridges reported the checkbook balance as of March 26, 1996, at $3,781.51. President Benedict asked that financial reports cover the calendar year as well as the periods between Council meetings.

President Benedict thanked Professors Ruth Crocker, Auburn University, Nina Mjagkij, Ball State University, and Archivist Thomas Rosenbaum, Rockefeller Archives, for their service on the Prize Committee and commended them for a job well-done. He then announced that he had appointed the following to the Prize Committee for the ensuing two years: Professor Nina Mjagkij, Ball State University, chair; Professor Robert Weir, Bay Path College, and Professor Melanie Gustafson, University of Vermont. He announced that the Program Committee for the coming year would consist of: Professors Elisabeth Israels Perry, Sarah Lawrence College, chair; Julie Green, University of Colorado, Peter C. Holloran, Mount Ida College, and Walter K. Nugent, University of Notre Dame.

After President Benedict's discussion of the need to examine the publication needs of the society, the Council directed the President to appoint a Publications Committee to consider what scholarly publications would best serve the members of SHGAPE, as well as the feasibility of establishing such scholarly vehicles.

Professor Ballard C. Campbell, Northeastern University, Boston, reported that H- SHGAPE had grown from 455 to 495 members since January 1, 1995. He noted that it is a closed list (members must be affiliated with an institution, or be a bona fide independent scholar, or show a mature interest in the field). In addition to posting discussions, the Editors have introduced bibliographical essays. Many people have volunteered to do essays, but more are needed.

Professor Campbell then indicated that the Editors were attempting to work out a policy for posting conference papers that would protect the rights of all. After discussion the Council asked Professor Campbell to modify slightly the policy statement he had previously prepared. The refined policy statement is then to be circulated to the Council.

Professor Phil VanderMeer, Arizona State University, reported that the Book Review project was moving forward more slowly than he had hoped. The Council directed Professor VanderMeer to prepare a policy statement on reviews and to post it on H-SHGAPE.

President Benedict announced that Professor Donna R. Gabaccia, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, had agreed to serve as chair of the H-SHGAPE Board until a new chairperson is appointed. The President will nominate a new chairperson for the Council's approval in the near future. He also advised the Council that the H-SHGAPE Editorial Board recommended the reappointment of Professors Cherny and Lindenmeyer to two-year terms as H- SHGAPE Editors. Approval was moved, seconded, and approved.

It was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously that bylaw 8b. be amended to read as follows:

8 b. Editorial Board: Members of the H-SHGAPE Editorial Board are appointed for three-year overlapping terms, with reappointment possible. At the OAH meeting of the SHGAPE Council, the President shall nominate for the Council's approval one member of the Board to serve as its chair for the following year. At the AHA 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.

It was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously to add a new bylaw 8c as follows:

8c. The chair of the Editorial Board shall coordinate deliberations relating to the appointment of Editors.

It was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously to change old bylaw 8(c) to 8(d) and have it read as follows:

8d. Editors: At the OAH meeting of the Council, the Editorial Board shall recommend H-SHGAPE Editors for two-year, overlapping terms. Editors may be reappointed. Editors are appointed subject to approval by H-Net.

Professor Lindenmeyer reported there will be three newsletters this year. More and more news items are being reported to her because information on the membership forms is being forwarded to her in routine fashion by the secretary-treasurer. It was suggested that the Editor assign individuals to attend SHGAPE sponsored sessions and report them for the Newsletter. The Council directed President Benedict to appoint a committee to meet with Lindenmeyer to discuss possible changes in the Newsletter.

Professor Crocker, Prize Committee Chair, reported a large number of articles nominated and that the quality was high. Still, the winner of the prize--Lawrence Glickman--had clearly submitted the best article. She also suggested that the chair of the Committee should have previously served on the Committee to assure continuity. Professor Crocker recommended that the Committee submit some revisions to the rules for the prize. The new Committee will draw up the rules for circulation and have them available for approval at the next Council Meeting. In the meantime, however, they will govern submissions for the 1996-97 submissions. Articles nominated by others or submitted by the author, must be postmarked no later than December 1, 1996. The Council also instructed the Committee to prepare a draft bylaw incorporating the Committee into the Society's bylaws.

Professor Cherny, reporting for the Distinguished Lecture Committee (consisting of himself as past President, current President M. Les Benedict, and Vice President/President-Elect Elisabeth I. Perry) reported that the Committee had selected Professor H. Wayne Morgan, University of Oklahoma, as the Distinguished Historian of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. He announced that Professor Morgan had accepted the invitation to deliver the address at the 1997 SHGAPE Luncheon held at the annual OAH Meeting. The Council agreed that the Society would pay the lecturer's travel expense to the Convention, provide his meal, make him/her an honorary life member of the Society, provide a suitably framed certificate or plaque commemorating the event, and pay for his luncheon. President Benedict told the Council he would propose an amendment to the Bylaws regarding the distinguished speaker at the SHGAPE luncheon to bring them into conformity with the new title of the speaker, Distinguished Historian of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, and other elements of the honor.

Professor Perry reported that the Program Committee had already received three proposals for co-sponsored sessions at the 1997 AHA Convention. They would seek to include the best proposals on the affiliate program, even if not accepted for the regular program by the AHA Program Committee.

Professor Benedict reported that SHGAPE was continuing to work with the Ohio Historical Society and The Ohio State University in planning a William McKinley Conference commemorating the one hundredth anniversary of his election to the presidency. President Benedict announced he would appoint additional ad hoc members to the Program Committee to help develop this program.

Owing to time constraints, the proposed bylaw 6 revision was laid over to the next meeting, as was discussion of the function and composition of the Membership Committee. Secretary-Treasurer Bridges said he would get out renewal notices to those who had not renewed as soon as possible after the meeting. In the meantime, President Benedict will appoint an ad hoc membership chair.

The Council adjourned at 6:00 p.m. to attend the SHGAPE Cash Bar Reception in the Palmer House Hilton, Parlor E.

Respectfully Submitted,

Roger D. Bridges
Secretary-Treasurer

Approved 01/03/97