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(FWD) NCC Washington Update, Vol 7, #18, May 3, 2001



NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE, Vol. 7, #18, May 3, 2001
by Bruce Craig <rbcraig3@juno.com> of  the National Coordinating Committee
for the Promotion of History
*****************

1.   NHPRC Meeting Report
2.   Advisory Council Releases Report on Status of Historic Resources
3.   Historians Convene in Los Angeles
4.   Plans for Smithsonian Reorganization Challenged
5.   News Bits and Bytes: Genealogical Research Guide Published; Children's
Museums are a Big Hit; Library of Congress Conference Planned

1. NHPRC MEETING REPORT
On May 2-3, 2001, the National Historical Publication and Records Commission
(NHPRC) met to consider the most recent submissions of grant proposals. They
also met to address a number of issues relating to the Commission's
activities, programs, and finances. At this writing, the Commission is still
meeting in an effort to obligate some $2.417 million currently available for
grants. Decisions are expected to be tough as in this funding cycle,
competition is stiff - over $8.5 million in requests have been submitted for
the Commission's consideration.

During the afternoon session of the May 2 meeting, the Commission considered
a series of resolutions relating to how the NHPRC would address funding
requests in light of an inadequate level of appropriations for FY 2001. After
some two hours of discussion, the Commission passed the following resolutions
designed to help guide NHPRC staff and the Commission itself in future
decision making: "RESOLVED, that given the inadequate level of FY 2001
appropriations in the face of requests before the Commission at this meeting
[May 2, 2001], the Executive Committee  recommends the following:
1. That no publications project is to be funded above the level received in
FY 2000.
2. That records projects recommended by the staff for funding by the
Commission receive the balance of funds available for this fiscal year.
Further toward this end, the Commission consider the records projects based
upon a list of staff priority recommendations with those records projects on
the staff priority list unfunded in this cycle considered for contingent
funding in the event that additional funds become available this year.
3. That those records projects recommended by staff that are unfunded this
year be endorsed by the Commission and their resubmission encouraged. 4. That
the Commission direct Commission staff, working with a committee of
Commission members and others as appropriate, to develop a set of criteria to
be used for the evaluation of the second tier documentary editions for review
and approval at the next meeting of the Commission."

The resolutions were considered and adopted.  During the extended discussion
of the four resolutions it was noted that with respect to resolution number
one, that while no publications project will be funded above the level
received in FY 2000, some projects may receive less funding depending on
their current status. In relation to resolution number two, it was noted that
refunds and deobligations (characterized as "contingency funding" in the
resolution) may be freed up for records projects that currently are not
slotted to receive funding due to insufficient appropriations in this funding
cycle. In relation to resolution three, the Commission hoped that staff would
make it clear to grant seeking institutions, that the fact that a project was
"endorsed" but did not receive funding does not mean the submission was not
worthy.  Project administrators should be encouraged to resubmit their
proposals in the next funding cycle when NHPRC monies may not be so tight.
Most of the discussion, however, centered on the fourth resolution. Several
Commissioners believed that some of the language in the original draft
resolution prepared by the Executive Committee did not accurately reflect the
views of the full Commission - language that related to "relative ranking" of
second tier projects was removed prior to the final vote.

The Commission also passed a resolution encouraging staff to work with The
First Archivists Circle (a recently formed entity) and other institutions
that are seeking to convene an organizing a meeting in 2002 to assess the
current status of Native American archives and record keeping.  The group
hopes to advance a proposal to the NHPRC, in part designed to develop a
national archival infrastructure.

Because at this writing the NHPRC meeting is still in progress, additional
information about the Commission's activities - including additional other
resolutions - will be reported on in the next NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE.

2.   ADVISORY COUNCIL RELEASES REPORT ON STATUS OF HISTORIC RESOURCES
On April 23, 2001, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation released a
report that advocates a wide range of executive and legislative action needed
to remedy various problems plaguing the Federal government's care of historic
properties that it controls. The Council's report - "Caring for the Past,
Managing for the Future: Federal Stewardship and America's Historic Legacy" -
 states that while the Federal government owns, manages, or administers more
than 665 million acres of land and 430,000 buildings, many of the properties
are in disrepair or ignored. Various recommendations entailing changes to
government policies and regulations, new legislation and better funding and
staff support throughout the government's historic preservation program
offices are suggested to remedy many of the problems.

Solutions are gathered together under four headings: leadership, commitment,
accountability, and collaboration/partnership. One major finding in the
"leadership" section is that the President needs to clarify the Executive
branch's leadership role in promoting historic values and preserving historic
resources. In the "commitment" section, the report takes Congress to task for
not providing consistent, reliable, and adequate funding to meet its
stewardship responsibilities. This section also includes a recommendation to
amend Section 111 of the National Historic Preservation Act to make it easier
to lease and exchange historic properties under Federal jurisdiction with
non-Federal parties. The section on "accountability" calls for the initiation
of  internal audit programs and better integration of federal historic
preservation responsibilities and needs into strategic plans, performance
standards, and management systems. Finally, the "collaboration" section
recommends the removal of certain legal impediments in order to promote
successful public-private partnerships.

The report is available online at http://www.achp.gov (click on "Federal
Historic Preservation Stewardship Report") or, for a hard copy that can be
mailed to you, contact Paulette Washington at (202) 606-8512.

3.  HISTORIANS CONVENE IN LOS ANGELES
Over eighteen hundred historians convened in Los Angeles April 26-29, 2001,
for the 94th annual convention of the Organization of American Historians
(OAH). There was an array of professional and scholarly sessions as well as
thought provoking keynote addresses by National Endowment for the Humanities
Chairman William Ferris and Columbia University's Kenneth T. Jackson.
Jackson's Presidential Address was entitled, "The Power of History."

Several new conference innovations were introduced this year including a
Thursday evening series of very popular regional receptions that were hosted
by members of the Executive Board. Other innovations included a Distinguished
Members reception that was held Saturday night honoring OAH members who have
belonged to the OAH for over 25 years; the OAH also launched a series of
Sunday morning "Chat rooms" where informal discussions on a variety of topics
took place in a collegial atmosphere.

During the business meeting, several resolutions were adopted including one
relating to the hiring and retention practices of part-time and adjunct
faculty. In addition,  a "best practices" resolution relating to the
employment of faculty, and a resolution supporting full funding ($10 million)
for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) also
passed.

The next annual meeting of the OAH is slotted for the Renaissance Hotel in
Washington D.C. April 11-14, 2002. Mark you calendars!

4.  PLANS FOR SMITHSONIAN REORGANIZATION CHALLENGED
In a recent NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE (see Vol. 7, #15, April 11, 2001) we
reported on plans advanced by Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence M. Small to
reorganize the Smithsonian's scientific research programs. Offices and
facilities scheduled to be closed include the National Zoo's Conservation and
Research Center (which works to save endangered species) in Front Royal,
Virginia, the Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education, an art
conservation laboratory, Smithsonian Productions (the center for the
Institution's video, audio, and multi-media productions) and three offices in
the Smithsonian libraries (including the Museum Support Center Branch in
Suitland, Maryland). Overall, Small is seeking to eliminate about 180 jobs or
about 2% of the present Smithsonian workforce of about 6,000 employees. Now
though, it appears that Small's plans are running into stiff opposition from
within the Smithsonian itself, from professional organizations, Congress, and
the public.

Key opponents of the proposed closings include many members of the
Smithsonian's scientific staff, 37 professional organizations, as well as
powerful members of the Virginia congressional delegation including Senator
John Warner (R-VA) and  Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA). Wolf has called
upon Small to reconsider his closure plans: "What makes the Smithsonian
different from other museums and zoos is the history and research.  This is
the death of science and research at the Smithsonian."  Hill insiders report
that as a result of growing opposition, Smithsonian officials are quietly
considering their options including a scaled down plan that would stop short
of a total closure of one or more of these offices and programs.

Because of his suggested closings, some critics are now questioning not just
the Secretary's plans for the reorganization of research, but Small's fitness
to oversee the Smithsonian.  Small, an investment banker and past President
of Fanny Mae is only the second non-scientist to lead the Smithsonian in more
than 150 years. His appointment was opposed by several professional
organizations that, at the time of his appointment, argued that he lacked an
understanding of the importance of research.

Opposition to Small also centers on his management style and apparent
inability to motivate staff. According to Storrs Olson, a senior
ornithologist at the National Museum of Natural History, "In the short 15
months since he assumed that office he has become what is surely the most
reviled and detested administrator in the Institution's history." Another
scientist who asked that his name not be disclosed, believes Small "is really
mismanaging research." Other Smithsonian insiders report that Small's
"dictatorial" management methods are not appropriate for the sprawling
Smithsonian that includes such a diverse complex of museums ranging from art
to history to science.

During his tenure, Small has taken on the role as reformer.  He has publicly
characterized some of the museums he oversees as "shabby" and has raised
record amounts of money ($206 million last year) in an effort to move rapidly
forward in order to attain his vision for the Smithsonian.  This year, for
example, Small managed to get the Bush administration to support a 9%
increase for the Smithsonian - to $494 million in FY 2002 - but critics state
that these funds have been earmarked for the Secretary's pet construction
projects and salaries, and will not significantly contribute to a fundamental
improvement to the complex of museums. Insiders report that some museums
(including American History) will actually take cuts (for example, the museum
is scheduled to lose 20 vacant positions including a curatorial position in
social history).

Opposition to Small's plans comes at a critical time in the budget cycle as
the Smithsonian's governing Board of Regents is scheduled to meet May 7 to
consider Small's reorganization plans. Secretary Small has stated that he
believes he has the support of his Board. In a recent press event he defended
the budget and his plans by stating that "the Regents have charged senior
management with modernizing the Smithsonian and bringing it into the 21st
century.  That mandate is the basis for the Secretary's vision to improve
public impact, management excellence, financial strength and first-class
research."

5.  NEWS BITS AND BYTES:
Item #1 - Genealogical Research Guide: The National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) has issued a revised and updated edition of the popular
"Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives."  The publication
is an indispensable aid for researching family and local history as well as
social trends. Among other things, the guide explains how NARA's holdings are
organized, what information they contain, references to information available
online, new information of census records, and citations to a host of
microfilm publications. The 420-page book may be ordered from the National
Archives Trust Fund at (800)-234-8861.

Item #2 - Children's Museums: A new report contends that since 1990 an
estimated 100 youth museums have opened their doors to the public with at
least 80 more in the planning phase.  There are now 215 such institutions in
the county with a vast majority of them, 73%, being located in urban areas.
"Children's museums are the fastest-growing cultural institutions in the
world," claims Janet Rice Elman, Executive Director of the Association of
Youth Museums which issued the report.

Item #3 - Library of Congress Conference: The Library of Congress (LC) has
announced its intention to convene a National Preservation Policy Planning
Conference later this summer. The conference will draw on ideas developed
during the LC conference convened last October entitled "To Preserve and
Protect" as well as on the recommendations anticipated in the report of the
Council on Library and Information Resources' "Task Force on Retention of the
Artifact." According to Librarian of Congress, James Billington, the focus of
the conference will be on the preservation of printed materials in original
format. According to Billington, while the Library has been a national leader
in the preservation and conservation of materials in all formats, "we must
not lose sight of our responsibility for preserving those works created on
paper."  A specific date for the conference has yet to be set.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * * * *
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