SHGAPE Council Minutes
January 8, 1999

President Elisabeth I. Perry called the Council Meeting of the Society for Historians of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era to order at 5:05 p.m., January 8, 1999, in Room 8226, Marriott Wardman Hotel, Washington, DC. In addition to President Perry, Vanderbilt University, the following SHGAPE Council and other Members attended the meeting: immediate past President M. Les Benedict, The Ohio State University; Vice President Walter Nugent, Notre Dame University; Secretary-Treasurer Roger D. Bridges, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center; Professors Charles W. Calhoun, East Carolina University; Michael Pierce, The Ohio State University; Patrick Reagan, Tennessee Technological University; Kendrick Clements, University of South Carolina; Rudy Higgens-Evenson, San Francisco State University; Scott Nelson, William and Mary College; Dennis Downey, Millersville University; Robyn Muncy, University of Maryland, College Park; Kristie Miller, McLean, VA; Charles W. Calhoun, East Carolina University; Ballard Campbell, Northeastern University; Jim Mohr, University of Oregon; Thomas Schoonover, University of Southwestern Louisiana; and Robert Johnston, Yale University.

After self-introductions, Professor Charles Calhoun moved adoption of the proposed agenda. Independent scholar Kristie Miller seconded the motion, it passed unanimously. Professor Robyn Muncy moved approval of the April 2, 1998, Minutes. Professor Kendrick Clements seconded the motion; it passed unanimously.

The Council accepted Secretary-Treasurer Bridges report that the Society s checkbook balance as of December 31, 1998, contained $6,007.56. Professor Calhoun moved acceptance of the Treasurer s report; Professor Walter Nugent seconded the motion; it passed unanimously.

President Perry asked Secretary-Treasurer Bridges to announce the results of the election for three Council Members. Bridges reported that Robert Johnston, Yale University; Kriste Lindenmeyer, Tennessee Technological University; and Thomas Schoonover, University of Southwestern Louisiana were elected. Two write-in candidates received one vote each.

President Perry then called for committee reports and asked that written reports be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer, if they had not already been submitted.

Professor Jim Mohr announced that his committee had successfully identified candidates for the Council and that the ballots had been distributed with renewals. He thanked his committee members for their hard work, and the candidates who agreed to stand for election.

Professor Perry announced that Professor Jeannette Keith will produce her last Newsletter prior to the OAH meeting. She will then resign to accept an NEH fellowship, but she also will continue to work with the bibliographic feature to be introduced.

Professor Hyser submitted a written report. All present were complimentary of Hyser s work in encouraging membership that he reported as standing at 285 on December 31, 1998.

Professor Campbell submitted a written copy of the H-SHGAPE Editor s report and indicated that he will post it, and the new Guidelines, on the Internet. There was additional discussion concerning the desire to place the Presidential Addresses and the Distinguished Historian Addresses on the Internet. Webmaster Professor Patrick Reagan reported that both Professor Wayne Morgan and Professor Benedict have submitted their addresses for posting. Indeed, the papers are now available on the Internet. It was generally agreed that both the Distinguished Historian and the President be advised that the Society expected their presentations to be posted on the Web site after delivery. The nominating committee will so inform presidential nominees, while chair of the Distinguished Historian committee with inform him/her when inviting the address. He then moved to a discussion of book reviews on the Web. He reported that Phillip VanderMeer had secured an assistant and that the number of books reviewed was increasing. There was still a problem with reviewers meeting the deadline, but there was progress. He also introduced two graduate students who had joined as H-SHGAPE Editors, Michael Pierce and Rudy Higgens- Evenson. There was an inconclusive discussion of whether to have article reviews or journal table of contents on the H-SHGAPE list. Professor Campbell reported that the matter will be determined by the editors and the Editorial Board.

Professor Patrick Reagan reported in some detail that he had revised and expanded the Web Site and continued to add features. Perhaps the most extensive change was that he had reorganized the Internet resources page.

Professor Charles W. Calhoun reported on progress concerning a journal for SHGAPE. He said the committee had explored costs and believed it was a viable option that should be pursued. He was directed by the Council to move forward and seek potential editors and explore possibilities for publishing the journal.

Professor Walter Nugent reported that the Organization of American Historians now will permit SHGAPE to sponsor session in addition to those that are co-sponsored by SHGAPE. He noted, also, that the no repeat rule does not apply to SHGAPE members who appear to SHGAPE only sponsored sessions. He noted that it benefits both SHGAPE and the OAH to have additional sessions sponsored by the former. He urged SHGAPE members to submit proposals to the SHGAPE Program Committee at the same time they did to the OAH. In addition, should they have a proposal that was developed after the OAH deadline, SHGAPE could still consider them.

By consensus, those at the meeting agreed that the term graduate student should be stricken from the Constitution and that it should be revised to permit graduate student representation on the Council in another fashion. President Perry agreed to submit an amendment at the next Council Meeting that will reflect the changed membership on the Council. The amendment, if accepted by the Council, will be submitted for a vote by the membership at the next election in the fall of 1999.

There was a brief discussion of whether to have a policy to sell the SHGAPE membership mailing list. There was general agreement that the list might be exchanged with related professional organization at no charge, but that their should be a charge for commercial entities that wished to promote books or other items of professional interest. There was consensus that there should be no formal policy at the present.

The Council adjourned at 6:00 p.m. to attend the SHGAPE Reception that was scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Warren Room, Marriott Wardman Hotel.

Respectfully Submitted

Roger D. Bridges
Secretary, SHGAPE

Approved 04/23/99