June 18, 2009

 

 

The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has awarded Chandler’s History in Your Own Backyard kiosk program with an Award of Merit through its 2009 Leadership in History awards program. The honor is in recognition of excellence in the collection, preservation and interpretation of state and local history. It is considered the nation's most prestigious awards competition for recognition of achievement in state and local history. The award will be presented at the 2009 AASLH annual meeting in Indianapolis on August 29.

The History in Your Own Backyard Program shares local history by installing permanent signage in City parks that features stories and photographs of the people and places that once existed in the surrounding area. Kiosk topics have included sheep ranching, dairying, ethnic neighborhoods, businesses, the development of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and prehistoric Chandler. The program started in 2003, and has placed kiosks in seven parks throughout Chandler, with the most recent one dedicated at Arbuckle Park in April. An eighth kiosk, the West Mini Park kiosk, will be dedicated in collaboration with the City’s Neighborhood Programs Division in the fall of 2009.

Chandler officials recently announced that budget constraints would prohibit the installation of any future history kiosks until the City’s financial situation improves. City staff is also considering obtaining private donations or sponsorships to pay for the kiosk construction and installation in return for recognition on the kiosk panels. In the meantime, research will continue subjects for additional kiosks, which will be designed and produced online as “virtual” kiosks until funds become available to produce and install the actual kiosks in City parks. The kiosks cost approximately $6,000 each.

“We are proud that our kiosk program has won several awards in recent years,” said Jean Reynolds, Chandler’s Public History Coordinator. “Although economics dictates that we have to limit park installations in the foreseeable future, we are committed to finding partners in the community that we can collaborate with to continue kiosk installations. We will also expand the program’s presence on the City’s Web site in the coming months.”

History kiosk photos and information can be found at www.chandleraz.gov/history.

At the August event, City staff will also accept an Award of Merit recognizing individual achievement that is being given posthumously to Dr. Noel Stowe. An Arizona State University professor, Dr. Stowe founded the university's Public History Program. He was dedicated to preserving Arizona heritage and had served on the Chandler Museums Advisory Board. He died last December.

For more information about the American Association for State and Local History awards, go to www.aaslh.org/aaslh_awards.htm. The awards are cosponsored by The History Channel.