Speakers
Thursday Opening Plenary
“The Future of the Past at the Pennsylvania State Archives”
State Archivist David Carmicheal will discuss planning and execution of the new state-of-the-art Pennsylvania Archives Building. Before coming to the PHMC, Carmicheal directed the Georgia Division of Archives and History from 2000 to 2012. During his tenure, he oversaw the design and construction of the award-winning Georgia Archives building, introduced the Virtual Vault to provide online access to more than 1.5 million archival documents, and helped lead national efforts in emergency management, particularly for the protection of essential government records. In 2009, he was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Society of American Archivists. Carmicheal holds a Master of Arts degree in History and Archives from Western Michigan University.
7:00-8:30PM on Thursday, October 26th, 2023 at the Penn Harris Hotel, Keystone C/D.
Friday Luncheon
“Doing History in the Twenty-First Century”
A Lunchtime presentation on “Doing History in the Twenty-First Century” with Anthea M. Hartig, the Elizabeth MacMillan Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the first woman to hold the position since the museum opened in 1964. An award-winning public historian and cultural heritage expert, Hartig is the president of the Organization of American Historians. Prior to joining the Smithsonian, she served as the executive director and CEO of the California Historical Society in San Francisco. Hartig is a third-generation native of Southern California, where she grew up in the greater Pomona Valley. She earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in history at the University of California, Riverside, her bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Los Angeles and studied as an undergraduate and graduate student at the College of William and Mary.
12:30-1:45PM on Friday, October 27th, 2023 at the Penn Harris Hotel, Grand Ballroom.
Friday Plenary
“The Midland Project”
President of the Friends of Midland Cemetery, Chair of the Pennsylvania Hallowed Grounds Project, and Local Legend, Ms. Barksdale will discuss the decades-long effort to restore Midland, a neglected African American cemetery in Steelton. The cemetery was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1993, Barksdale began the effort to restore the Midland Cemetery, and has made it her mission to restore, preserve and educate the public about the rich history of those buried at the cemetery. She has spoken widely across Pennsylvania and around the country sharing her experiences at Midland and advocating for African American cemetery preservation.
2:00-2:45PM on Friday, October 27th, 2023 at the Penn Harris Hotel, Grand Ballroom.
Friday Banquet
“Celebrating 90 Years of the Pennsylvania Historical Association!”
In 2023 we celebrate our 90th year by thanking all those who participate and have participated in the PHA’s past, present, and future. We will celebrate our 90 for 90 Campaign for the Future by honoring one of the PHA’s most important endeavors, the journal Pennsylvania History and this year’s Klein and Frantz award recipients. We will applaud the members and friends at all stages of their careers who are helping the PHA reach its campaign goal of $90,000.
Presiding over the Banquet is Benjamin Scharff, president of the PHA. He is joined by Linda Ries, editor, Pennsylvania History; Rachel Batch, co-chair, 90 for 90 Campaign and past president; and Anne Verplanck, co-chair, 90 for 90 Campaign and 2023 Program Chair.
7:00-8:30PM on Friday, October 27th, 2023 at the Penn Harris Hotel, Grand Ballroom.