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Adm Joseph D. Stewart, US Maritime Service, Superintendent of the US Merchant Marine Academy, was the host of a productive and entertaining 4day joint conference held by NMHS and the North American Sociery for Oceanic History on 17-20 May at the academy's campus. Aimed at furthering the dissemination of information and current research on the "Merchant Marine in Peace and
Claire Phelan presenting her paper, "7he Personal and Public Implications ofImpressment'' to NASOH and NMHS conferees.
War," the conference attracted scholars from aro und the country whose research topics ranged from "Merchant Seafaring in the Early Republic" to "World War II Logistics" to "Educating Women for the Sea Service." The latter session included presentations by CDRAndrea M. Marcille of the US Coast Guard and Capt. Cynthia Robson, USMS. Both women gave candid talks and entertained questions about their personal histories in the ranks of their respective careers. Their portrayals showed how far women have come in maritime careers, bur they also drove home how discrimination and prejudice are still very real problems that the sea services have yet to overcome. Their professionalism in
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how they handled trying situations in their training and working lives, and even how they handled some difficult questions from the floor, was inspiring to say the least. NMHS chairman Walter Brown and NASOH president John Hattendorf recognized Captain Channing Zucker, program coordinator, and Dr. Joshua Smith, conference coordinator, for their success in organizing stimulating program sessions and tour visitations to see first-hand the maritime contributions of the region. In a whirlwind of touring, the group visited the American Merchant Marine Museum at Kings Point, the training vessel Kings Pointer, the Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler, South Street Seaport, Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey, Federal Hall, and the Museum of American Finance. One highlight of the event was the Hidden Harbor Tour, sponsored by the Working Harbor Committee in New York. NMHS president emeritus Peter Stanford, Working Harbor Committee director John Doswell, and New York State Histo-
7he Hidden Harbor Tour left from South Street Seaport, home to the famous squareriggers Waverrree (left) and Peking (right).
(above) Experts on the maritime history of the Port ofNew York, Peter Stanford and Joe Meany, gave a lively tour up the East River. (background photo) 7he rivers surrounding Manhattan are busy with harbor traffic and commercial shipping. Seen from the Hidden Harbor Tour is the NY DEP sludge vessel, Newtown C reek, crossing under the Manhattan Bridge, with the Brooklyn Bridge and the buildings oflower Manhattan astern.
rian Emeritus Joe Meany narrated the tour up the East River. The tour boat navigated between commercial traffic on the river against a backdrop of a once-vibrant New York and Brooklyn commercial waterfront, now abandoned in many places. Between the formal presentations and the tours of maritime New York, no one left without a richer understanding of the role of the merchant marine and this great port in our nation's history. NASOH's 2008 annual conference will be held in Pensacola, Florida, in May, and NMHS will hold its annual meeting in St. Michaels, Maryland, and tour the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum on 31 May 2008. Mark:. your calendars. -Burchenal Green, President SEA HISTORY 120,AUTUMN 2007