2007 Annual Convention Celebrates North Carolina's Scientists, Inventors, Food, and Foodways

The Tar Heel Junior Historian Association’s 2007 Annual Convention was held on April 27 at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh.


In a morning ceremony, North Carolina Museum of History director Ken Howard welcomed all THJHA members and their advisers to the convention. After greeting everyone, Suzanne Mewborn, THJHA program coordinator, announced a roll call of clubs in attendance. This year’s attendance was 890 junior historians, advisers, and family members. The High Flying Eagles and Soaring Eagles from Bald Creek Elementary School led convention attendees in singing North Carolina’s state song, “The Old North State.” Following opening remarks, everyone prepared to attend morning workshops.

The 2007 Annual Convention celebrated North Carolina’s scientists and inventors, as well as food and foodways. Workshops highlighted article topics from both the fall 2006 and spring 2007 Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine issues. Bob Garner, barbecue authority and author, introduced participants to barbecue and its history in North Carolina. Junior historians discussed the origin of the word barbecue, as well as why eastern North Carolina sauce has not traditionally contained tomatoes. Other workshops included strawberry shortcake creations with Sheri Castle, an accomplished food writer and cooking instructor, and ice-cream making with the North Carolina State University Food Science Department. Junior historians also learned how rationing during World War II affected cooking and the taste of food. Wade Cline from the Minges Bottling Company spoke with junior historians about Pepsi-Cola, the historic “drink of the Carolinas.” The North Carolina State University Engineering Department guided junior historians through experiments with building their own roller coasters while learning about roller coaster history. Junior historians designed toys from found objects and made brainteasers from straws and paper clips! Sandy Cole, a ninth-generation potter whose family has been making pottery in North Carolina since the 1700s, guided junior historians through a hands-on clay activity, and Monika Fleming, a THJHA adviser and community college educator, shared oral history interviewing techniques. Junior historians learned about David Marshall “Carbine” Williams by visiting the museum’s exhibit on Williams and talking with a museum curator about the inventor’s colorful past. Some junior historians visited the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences exhibit Nature’s Explorers and observed how scientists of the past viewed the natural landscape.

A delicious lunch was served by Ron’s Barn from Coats. Those who had requested lunch tickets enjoyed barbecue, chicken strips, cole slaw, buttered potatoes, hush puppies, sweet tea, and a variety of desserts.

In the afternoon, everyone convened in the museum lobby to learn who had won the top prizes in the 2007 THJHA contests.

Click on the headings to the left for descriptions and images from the 2007 convention!