Closing Out the Year in Hawaii: Reflections from 1845

Reflections On the Close of the Year 1845

The Friend, Honolulu: January, 1846 Edition

Momentous thought! another year

Has winged its rapid flight,

'Tis past with all its sights and scenes

Forever from our sight-

'Tis gone with all its hopes and fears-

Its joys and sorrows-smiles and tears.

Vail mortals! insects of an hour,

How fleeting is your life,

How hard you toil for wealth and power,

All eager for the strife;

Why would ye grasp an empty name

A tyrant's or a miser's fame?

My youth's companions, where are ye?

And thou, the fondly loved-

The world's a dreary waste to me

Since from your midst I roved;

Have ye run out life's latest sands,

Or gone like me to foreign lands?

Alas! for many a saddened heart

Will mourn the year that's gone,

To whom the world can ne'er impart

The joys forever flown;

Nor bring them back, the loved-the lost-

The beautiful-the parent's boast.

Blest is the man whose mental eye,

Looks far beyond the world,

He sees the glories of the sky

Harmoniously unfurled-

Bright vision of eternal youth,

Eternal as the God of truth.

Honolulu, Dec. 31st.

A Sailor in College: 1864

The following appears in the November 1864 edition of The Friend, the Honolulu-based publication of Samuel C. Damon of the American Seaman's Friend Society:

The valedictorian at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, Jacob W.H. Ames, Newport, N.H., at eighteen years of age, was a sailor before the mast, not acquainted with much more than his letters.

At twenty-four he has graduated at the head of his class, competing with twenty-three good scholars, all of whom, doubtless, have enjoyed the usual educational advantages.

The Supreme Court Historical Society, Washington, D.C.

Many people -including historians and history teachers- are unaware that the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., has its own historical society.

The Supreme Court Historical Society is:

"a private non-profit organization, is dedicated to the collection and preservation of the history of the Supreme Court of the United States. Incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1974, it was founded by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, who served as its first honorary chairman. The Society's headquarters is located at Opperman House, 224 East Capitol Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20003. Opperman House has two important resources: The Goldman Library and the Membership Lounge. The Goldman Library has a conference table suitable for small meetings and luncheons. The books housed therein have been collected through the efforts of Professor James B. O'Hara, a Trustee of the Society, and comprise one of the finest collections of judicial biographies, Justices' writings, and histories of the Court. The collection also includes materials relating to Solicitors and Attorneys General and Presidents of the United States. The Membership Lounge is a meeting space located on the third floor sufficient in size for small receptions and luncheons.

"The Society accomplishes its mission by conducting educational programs, supporting historical research, publishing books, journals, and electronic materials, and by collecting antiques and artifacts related to the Court's history. These activities and others increase the public's awareness of the Court's contributions to our nation's rich constitutional heritage."

The Society's web site connects visitors with various educational resources for use in and outside of the classroom. We particularly call attention to the History of the Court, How the Court Works, Publications, and the Learning Center.

Air Force Historical Foundation Awards

The Air Force Historical Foundation stimulates interest in America’s air power history and heritage by sponsoring awards that honor the making – and documentation – of Air Force history.

The History Education Council of Hawaii refers our news-blog visitors to this link for a listing of awards sponsored by the Foundation. Please save this link to your bookmarks or favorites.

Junior Statesmen of America: 2010 Summer School Courses Announced

The Junior Statesmen of America is proud to announce its summer 2010 program offerings. We continue our long-time partnership with Georgetown, Princeton, and Stanford universities to offer a three-week residential summer school experience. Students enroll in one college level government or speech course that is supplemented by JSA’s signature Congressional Workshop. Summer 2010 course offerings include: AP U.S. Government, AP Macroeconomics, International Relations, War & Diplomacy, Political Communication, Constitutional Law, and Media & Politics. Additionally, we have several special programs including an extended four-week AP U.S. History program at Princeton, a Freshman Scholars program for rising high school freshmen, and the JSA Diplomat program in Beijing, China! Students in the JSA Diplomat program will earn college credit and take courses in Modern Chinese History & Politics and Beginner’s Chinese. Our summer school programs are the pinnacle of the JSA experience and attract hundreds of student leaders annually. We are committed to getting JSA members to summer school. To that end, we are offering a JSA member tuition rate of $3,750 (non-member rate: $4,500) to make summer school more affordable for JSA members. Click here to nominate an outstanding student leader for summer school. Weeklong leadership institutes complete JSA’s summer offerings. They include: The Gene Burd Institute on Media & Politics (UCLA), generously endowed by alumnus Professor Gene Burd; Energy & the Environment (Stanford); Texas Institute on Leadership & Politics (UT Austin); Northeast Institute on National Security (Columbia); and the Arizona Institute on State & Local Government (Arizona State). These programs give student unparalleled access to elected officials and leaders private, public, and non-profit sectors. To learn more about our programs, visit www.jsa.org/summer.

Foreign Policy Research Institute Education Programs

Founded in 1955, the Philadelphia-based Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to bringing the insights of scholarship to bear on the development of policies that advance U.S. national interests. FPRI adds perspective to events by fitting them into the larger historical and cultural context of international politics.

The History Education Council of Hawaii calls attention to FPRI's education programs and recommends them to Hawaii educators.

The Wachman Center is dedicated to improving international and civic literacy.

The History Institute

In 1996, the Wachman Fund inaugurated a series of weekend History Institutes for secondary school teachers, chaired by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Walter McDougall and FPRI Senior Fellow David Eisenhower. In addition to papers and audio/video from past conferences, a selection of classroom lessons submitted by participants is available.

Learn more about FPRI's programs by going to this link.

The Beveridge Family Teaching Prize (K-12)

Established in 1995, this prize honors the Beveridge family’s longstanding commitment to the AHA and K-12 teaching. Friends and family members endowed this award to recognize excellence and innovation in elementary, middle school, and secondary history teaching, including career contributions and specific initiatives. The prize will be awarded on a two-year cycle rotation: in even-numbered years, to an individual; in odd-numbered years, to a group.

The next prize will be awarded to a group. To be eligible, the group must be composed of a majority of K-12 teachers. The group can be recognized either for excellence in teaching or for an innovative initiative applicable to the entire field. The prize carries a cash award of $1,500 for the group project (plus travel expenses for the group leader) and will be awarded at the annual meeting in January 2011. See past winners of this award.

Each letter of nomination must include the name and address of an individual in the group that can be contacted. After receipt of this nomination letter, this individual will be contacted and asked to submit the following electronically or by mail: vita (no more than 3 pages) of the primary participants, an essay of no more than five pages in length describing the contribution or product, discussing the achievement or innovation in approach and development, and summarizing the historical scholarship utilized. Up to ten pages of appropriate supporting materials can be included (i.e. letters of support and course materials, excerpts from a text book, or other evidence of contribution).

Only the letter of nomination should be mailed (no faxes) to:

Beveridge Family Teaching Prize
American Historical Association
400 A Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003-3889

The deadline for the letter of nomination is March 15, 2010.