Monthly Archives: December 2010

Year in Review: 2010

Posted on by
1

As we look forward to 2011, I thought I would take a look back at 2010.  This year has proven to be one of the most important years in my life.  It began by starting my final semester at MSSU.  After receiving acceptance letters and graduating with my Bachelors degree, I wound up in Virginia.

Driving in 2010: August trip to Virginia (Red) and December Trip home (Yellow)

JANUARY

-January 11 – Began my internship at George Washington Carver National Monument

-January 18 – Began my final semester at Missouri Southern State University

FEBRUARY

-February 24 – Senior Assessment Day at MSSU

MARCH

-March 6 – Co-coordinated History Day competition for Missouri’s 6th Region

APRIL

-April – Received acceptance letters from James Madison University and Washington State University.  After speaking with both, it is clear that I will only receive funding from JMU unless someone leaves the program at WSU.

-Accepted the offer from JMU

-Began looking for apartments in Harrisonburg, Virginia

-April 24 – Completed my internship at GWCNM

MAY

-May 22 – Graduated with my BA in History from MSSU

-Found an apartment in Harrisonburg and paid the security deposit

JUNE & JULY

-Packed

-House sat for two friends

-Made final preparations for moving to Virginia

-July 21 – Started this blog!

AUGUST

-August 2 – ABF U-Pack took my stuff to Virgina

-August 10 – Leave for Virginia.  Stayed overnight in Lebanon, Tennessee

-August 11 – Stopped in Bristol, Tennessee and toured Bristol Motor Speedway . Stayed overnight in Lexington, Virginia

-August 12 – Arrived in Harrisonburg, Virginia (my first time seeing Harrisonburg, and my apartment, in person)

-August 14 – My parents left Virginia for Missouri

-August 23 – Orientation for the Graduate School in the morning – A seminar for TA and GA students in the afternoon

-August 27 – Orientation for the Department of History

-August 30 – Beginning of first semester at JMU

SEPTEMBER

-September 18 – Made a trip to James Madison’s Montpelier, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, and James Monroe’s Ashlawn-Highland

OCTOBER

-October 17 – Attended the Kevin Harvick Fan Club Gathering in Kernersville, North Carolina

NOVEMBER

-November 10 – Presented my lecture to my TA class

-November 22 – Registered for Spring 2011 courses

DECEMBER

-December 10 – Final day of classes

-December 11 – Final exam for TA course

-December 14 – Left Virginia for Georgia, had to avoid the winter storm in the Midwest.  Stayed with my Aunt and Uncle.

-December 15 – Drove the rest of the way to Missouri.  My first time being home since August 10.

SS United States: A Ship in Distress

Posted on by
1

HISTORY

SS United States

Built in 1950, the SS United States is over 1,000 feet long and holds the record for fastest transatlantic crossing.  The maiden voyage for the SS United States was in 1952, and she took back the Blue Ribbon for the United States.  Her transatlantic crossing beat the fourteen-year record of the Queen Mary by over ten hours (with a time of 3 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes).  It was no surprise to the print media however.  It was predicted the SS United States would easily beat the record with its speed of 36 knots.  On its return voyage to New York, which took only 3 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes, the record for the westbound crossing was also taken by the SS United States.  To this day, the westbound crossing record is held by the SS United States.

The 1950s was a lavish time in America and the pleasure cruise was at its height.  The SS United States was also at her peak.  Throughout the 1950s, the ship was often 90% booked with each voyage.  However, the jet age was entering maturity.  Travel was no longer a leisure, but an inconvenience to many and the ocean-going cruise liners were hit hard.  In 1964, the SS United States was sold to a foreign company and in November 1969, she was withdrawn from passenger service and laid up in Norfolk, Virginia.

SS United States’s Lavish Interior

SAVING THE SS UNITED STATES

The United States Navy had control of the ship until she was sold in 1978. In 1984, the interiors were auctioned off to pay off various debts.  The SS United States was eventually moved to Philadelphia in 1996. There was hope in 2002, however, when the Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the ship with the intent to renew service.  This proved to be too costly and the Norwegian Cruise Lines offered the ship for sale.  Many scrap yards expressed interest.

It was about this time that a group of people took interest in the SS United States because they did not want to see it scrapped and the SS United States Conservancy was born.  Fund raising efforts were strong, but not strong enough to purchase the ship for NCL.  In 2010, however, that changed.  A local philanthropist, H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, donated up to $5.8 million to purchase the ship from NCL.  The Conservancy is now working to find a future home for the SS United States.  Plans have been suggested for making the ship into a casino in Philiadephia, while others have suggested she should be moved to New York City.  Either way, the cost is going to be high.  The ship was stripped of everything in the 1980s, but this also presents an opportunity.  She is, in essence, a blank slate.

SS United States today in Philadelphia

As a historian, I hate to see an important piece of maritime history teetering on the edge of destruction.  The SS United States would be a great addition to a casino or as a hotel.  The preservation of the ship is of upmost importance.  Naturally there are critics of the efforts to preserve the ship, but I do not want to see the SS United States have the fate of her sister ship, the SS America.  The SS America was being towed to a new location when she ran a ground.  Little effort was made to save the ship and she ultimately rusted and collapsed into the sea.

The tragic end of the SS America

The SS United States is an important part of America’s history and deserves every chance to be immortalized.  The ship has many connections to families across the world, but it should also hold a special connection to every American.  Ships such as the Lusitania and Titanic are immortalized, but they are not American ships.  The SS United States was the pride of American cruising in the 1950s.  Today, cruise liners are popular, but none are American.  The SS United States and her sister ship, the SS America were two out of a small number of American flag ships.  The SS America is gone and the SS United States faces a similar fate.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

-Donate to the SS United States Conservancy

-Purchase items from the SS United States Conservancy Store

-Become a SS United States Plank Owner

-Post links to this blog or to SS United States sites on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc.

Sources:

SS United States Conservancy

Courses: Spring 2011

Posted on by
Reply

I registered or classes back in November, but now I have my books and can give a brief descrption of each course.

HIST 593 - Historic Preservation…Mr. Darryl Nash

From the Graduate Catalog: “An introduction to the philosophy and technique of historic preservation. Course examines the Secretary of the Interior’s guidelines for restoration, state and national register forms and procedures, historic architecture, structural analysis, restoration techniques as well as the business aspects of historic preservation projects. Students undertake leadership assignments for architectural field assessments and national register nominations.”

Books: Everyday Architecture of Mid-Atlantic (By Dr. Lanier) and Twenty Buildings Every Architect Should Understand

HIST 673 - Graduate Research and Writing Seminar…Dr. Gabrielle Lanier

From the Graduate Catalog: “An intensive research and writing seminar focused on the process of conceptualizing, researching, writing and refining historical research papers grounded in primary sources. Emphasis will be on evaluation of sources, interpretation of evidence, refinement of presentation and development of professional standards of criticism. Required of all first year graduate students.”

Books: A Manual for Writers (We all know this book!!)

HIST 696 - Introduction to Public History…Dr. Gabrielle Lanier

From the Graduate Catalog: “An introduction to the varied and interdisciplinary “field” of public history – such as community/local history, historic preservation, archives, historical archaeology, museum studies, business and policy history, documentary editing and publishing, and documentary films – through readings, class discussions, occasional guest speakers, occasional field trips and an extended public history research project.”

Books: On Doing Local History, New History in an Old Museum, The Unfinished Bombing: Oklahoma City in American Memory, Domesticating History: The Political Origins of America’s House Museums, Public History: Essays from the Field, and Mickey Mouse History and Other Essays on American Memory

That is a total of nine books for the semester!  Not too bad.  I have also been given a different TA position for the semester and I will explain that in a post after I get back into the routine.  There is still some information I need to get about that.

Later this week, I will post a outline of my 2010.  It has been a life changing year!  Until then…

Eric

UPDATE: Art Feeds

Posted on by
Reply

“Love Naively.  Give Generously.  Be Foolishly Compassionate.”

A few months ago I wrote about a group of students from Joplin that started a organization called Art Feeds.  I support the efforts of this worthy cause and encourage everyone to help by donating supplies, money, or their time.  Just a reminder, Art Feeds supports children’s creativity by encouraging them to paint, draw, take pictures, sing or whatever they choose.  The people involved are working on their own time and helping as many children as they can.  They have incredible goals and they only keep expanding their goals.  They have expanded their efforts to Ghana and giving the same opportunities to children living there.  To learn more check out this video:

Follow Art Feeds online: Facebook - Twitter - MySpace - Flickr - YouTube

This holiday season, make Art Feeds part of your tradition!

Eric

Wrapping up the First Semester of Grad School

Posted on by
Reply

It has been awhile since I have posted, but I wanted to wrap up my first semester of grad school in a single post.  So many things have happened to me this past year, but the highlight has been moving to Virginia.

First off, I finished my first semester of grad school on December 13.  I returned my graded portion of the finals for my GHIST 102 course to Dr. Davis and, at that point, my semester was over.  This semester has been incredible.  Grad school has brought many opportunities.  Having a Teaching Assistantship has been the most beneficial to me.  Despite a few bumps in the road, I was able to create and deliver a lecture to a class of 40 students and my TA class of 110.  Of all the things I did this past semester, this is the most important.  The first real teaching experience and I look forward to more as grad school pushes on.

My assistantship was only a fraction of my semester, however.  The bulk of my time was devoted to reading, writing, and researching (the real “3 R’s”!) for my three courses.  The courses I took this semester have prepared me for the next three semesters.  The first semester is always the most difficult when moving to a new institution.  The process of getting to know the professors and the expectations of the department really takes most of the first semester.  That is not to say the courses I have enrolled in for next semester are going to be easy, but this semester was really a test.  I had to feel out grad school.  I had to learn to manage my time between reading, writing, researching, grading, and office hours.  I also learned, very early, it is VERY important to include relaxation and fun to that list!  I can honestly say that I did have fun this past semester.

My readings from the semester – articles and books!

Perhaps the most important part of grad school has been the people I have come in contact with.  First, the professors at JMU have been willing to assist me when I ask for help or advise.  That includes professors within the department I have never had any form of contact with.  The three I had this semester, Dr. Lanier, Dr. Owusu-Ansah, and Dr. Seth, have all been helpful and contributed greatly to my understanding of grad school and history as a discipline.  There is so much to be learned from each of them and I look forward to having more courses with them if the opportunity presents itself.

The most important people I have met at JMU are my fellow graduate students.  There are….well….I guess around 30 of us, and we are all serious about what we are doing.  The great thing about students at this level is that we all come from different backgrounds and it is possible to bounce ideas off each other.  Whether we are discussing thesis topics, grading methods, or debating the merits of various NFL teams, we have a good time doing it!  There is never a dull moment in the graduate office.  It is hard to believe that only seventeen shorts weeks ago, we had never met.  You would not think that now!

Overall, the Fall 2010 semester was successful, and I am looking forward to Spring 2011 and beyond.  I am back in Missouri (first time since August 10) for Christmas break, but look forward to returning to Harrisonburg after the new year.  In the coming weeks, I will wrap up 2010 with a year in review post and introduce my courses for Spring 2011.

Until then….

Eric