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Grand
Canyon Historical Society |
2002 Grand Canyon History Symposium I January 24-27, 2002 The inaugural Grand Canyon History Symposium, the first such gathering to address historical topics specific to Grand Canyon National Park! One of our goals for Symposium I was to introduce NPS administrators and interested members of the public to the history of issues confronting the park today. Another was simply to learn more of the legacy of this crown jewel of the National Park System. |
In January 2002, nearly 200 historians, witnesses to history, park employees, and others with a passion for Grand Canyon history gathered on the South Rim for the inaugural Grand Canyon History Symposium. Nothing like that had ever been attempted before, and the resulting presentations, discussions, and storytelling sessions generated lively discussions among the attendees.
In an effort to bring the ideas, arguments, and first-person accounts from that event to a larger audience, historian Michael F. Anderson, PhD, has assembled A Gathering of Grand Canyon Historians: Ideas, Arguments, and First-Person Accounts, a collection of essays based on the presentations at the history symposium. The resulting volume is diverse, thought-provoking, entertaining, and controversial. Most of the essays and contributors are included in this 200-page illustrated book and it is available through the Grand Canyon Association. (See list of presentations below.)
Symposium I Sponsorship
Cooperating organizations including Grand Canyon Association, Grand Canyon Field Institute, Arizona Humanities Council, Grand Canyon National Park Lodges, Grand Canyon Historical Society, and the National Park service have contributed staff, time, money, and services to make this conference as affordable as possible for attendees.
Article published in February 2002 issue of The Bulletin
1st Grand Canyon History Symposium
A tremendous round of applause goes out to all the organizers, sponsors, speakers and participants in this ground-breaking 4-day event. The interest in this event was so great that, unfortunately, many people were unable to register because of the limited space. Those who were fortunate - hikers, historians, river runners, rim walkers, armchair enthusiasts and adventure-seekers - were brought together by their mutual love for the Grand Canyon.
Individual presentations included a moving tribute to AZRA for the pioneering of raft trips for disabled youth and adults, Jim Ohlman's award-winning Grand Canyon National Park Tramway of 1919, the history of the Shrine of the Ages, Lee Albertson's great research on the Kolb Airfield of 1926, John Azar's wonderful talk on the Mystery Cabins of the Buckskin Mountain, the talk by CCC worker Roy Lemons, Michael Anderson filling in for Louis Purvis's talk on "The Ace in the Hole", and Frank Barrios presented his research on the Dunn-Howland Murders (which had been highlighted earlier in The Ol' Pioneer). This is just one day's line-up!! There was also a luncheon speaker, and a banquet with Jim Babbitt as the keynote speaker.
There was only one frustration to this phenomenal event - there were too many interesting talks occurring simultaneously, and it was difficult to make decisions on which to attend. The Grand Canyon Pioneer Society was well represented and proud to be a part in the first of hopefully many more such gatherings.
Carolyn Castleman, Steve Verkamp, Susan Verkamp and Lee Albertson enjoying lunch with fellow GC Pioneers between sessions at the 1st Grand Canyon History Symposium
[Article submitted by Nancy Green, published in February 2002 issue of The Bulletin]
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Presentations
COLORADO RIVER Rafting for People with Disabilities by Sandra Munoz-Weingarte Historic River Running by Bonnie Brune Environmental History of the Colorado River: The Changing Focus of Science by Emma P. Benenati and Joseph P. Shannon Hard Hulls, Hard Knocks, Hard Heads: The Evolution of Hard-Hulled Rowboats in the Grand Canyon by Brad Dimock An Appointment with Death: The Howland-Dunn Tragedy Revisited by Frank M. Barrios GPS in 1869: The Geographical Powell Survey by Richard Quartaroli River Law and Rights by Bill Swan Hydropolitics in the Far Southwest: Carl Hayden, Arizona, and the Fight for the Central Arizona Project, 1952-68 by Jack August Jr. Lee's Ferry Revisited by Doug Kupel Evolution of the Printed Colorado River Guide in Grand Canyon, Arizona by Richard Quartaroli George Young Bradley: Chronicler of the 1869 John Wesley Powell Expedition down the Green and Colorado Rivers by Michael P. Ghiglieri Casinos of Stone: Monsoon Gambling and Playing the Slot Canyons by Tom Myers ANTECDOTES & MORE The Grand Canyon and Colorado River on Postage Stamps by Bill Bishop Hoover Dam Castings by Fred Simonelli The 1919 Transcanyon Aerial Tramway Survey by Jim Ohlman Shrine of the Ages by Juti Winchester Kolb Airfield 1926 by Lee Albertson Buckskin Mountain by John Azar BACKCOUNTRY Whatever Happened to Jazz? by George Steck Grand Canyon National Park Toll Roads and Trails by Mike Anderson Building the Yaki Trail by Henry Karpinski CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS A Hard, Rocky Road to Nowhere by Roy Lemons Blue Denim University: The Civilian Conservation Corps' Retooling of Arizona Youth by Peter MacMillan Booth Civilian Conservation Corps Company 818: Building the Colorado River Trail by Louis Purvis GRAND CANYON HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHY Lantern Slides c 1900 by Jim Babbitt Grand Canyon Summer of 1897 by Mary J. Straw Cook The Photographs of Robert H. Kuhne: Grand Canyon National Park in Its Infancy, 1920-23 by Mona Lange McCroskey GRAND CANYON RESEARCH Geology in the American Southwest: New Processes, New Theories by Gretchen Merten A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way: A History of Archaeological Research at the Grand Canyon by Janet R. Balsom Biological Research at Grand Canyon by Larry Stevens ETHNIC/AMERICAN INDIAN Grand Canyon's Railroad Culture by Al Richmond Parens Patria: Issues Relating to the Colorado River Boundary between Grand Canyon National Park, the Hualapai Reservation, and the Navajo Nation by Andrew Majeske TOURISM SESSION Rails at Both Rims by Al Richmond The Civilian Conservation Corps' Role in Tourism: The CCC's Retooling of Arizona's Natural Resources by Peter MacMillan Booth Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, Grand Canyon Architect: Stories in Stone by David Frauman PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT Scenery versus Habitat at the Grand Canyon by J. Donald Hughes Bert Lauzon's Grand Canyon by Bradford Cole Orphan Mine by Mike Amundson The 1898 Diary of Zella Dysart by Mona Lange McCroskey |