2009 Annual Convention Celebrates Primary Sources and Little Known North Carolina History

The Tar Heel Junior Historian Association’s 2009 Annual Convention was held on April 24 at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh.

In a morning ceremony, Dr. Jeffrey Crow, deputy secretary of the Office of Archives and History, welcomed all THJHA members and their advisers to the convention. Debra Derr, the Department of Cultural Resources’ chief deputy secretary, and Melanie Soles, the department’s legislative liaison, also addressed the group. After greeting everyone, Jessica Humphries, THJHA program coordinator, made announcements and introduced museum staff members who led convention attendees in singing North Carolina’s state song, “The Old North State.” Following the opening ceremony, everyone prepared to attend workshops. This year’s attendance was 595 junior historians, advisers, and family members.

The 2009 Annual Convention celebrated primary sources and little-known North Carolina history. Workshops highlighted article topics from the fall 2008 and spring 2009 Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine issues. Award-winning broadcast journalist Scott Mason shared some of his favorite and most interesting Tar Heel Traveler stories and clips with junior historians. The Lucky’s Plott workshop gave participants an opportunity to learn about the state’s symbols and meet a Plott hound named Lucky. In the Haunting History workshop, Tony Reevy used primary sources to tell stories about North Carolina railroads and ghost trains. Junior historians also learned about work that is happening at the Queen Anne’s Revenge shipwreck and how the artifacts are being conserved. Helen Snow from the Greensboro Public Library’s Speakers Bureau shared information about the lives of Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and other Tar Heel pirates. Employees and volunteers from Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens in New Bern reenacted the Stanly-Spaight duel that students read about in the fall 2008 issue of Tar Heel Junior Historian. Students in the More Than a Pretty Picture workshop learned how to analyze photographs and explored the work of photographers Margaret Morley and Tim Barnwell. Harry Warren told students about Colonel Fred Olds, whose collection of North Carolina history items eventually became the basis for the North Carolina Museum of History.

Gardner’s Barbecue of Rocky Mount served a delicious lunch. Those who had reserved lunch tickets enjoyed barbecue sandwiches, coleslaw, chips, a drink, and cookies.

In the afternoon, everyone convened in the museum lobby to participate in the roll call of clubs and to learn who had won the top prizes in the 2009 THJHA contests.

Click on the headings above for descriptions and images from the 2009 convention!