Eleventh Maritime Heritage Conference
Nathaniel Philbrick: New York Times bestselling author and historian Nathaniel Philbrick will be the keynote speaker. He is best known for In the Heart of the Sea, which won the National Book Award for non-fiction and was later made into a blockbuster movie directed by Ron Howard. His new book, Valiant Ambition, looks at the relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold and the fate of the American Revolution. A prolific writer, Philbrick is also the author of Sea of Glory; Mayflower; The Last Stand; Why Read MobyDick?; Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution; Abram’s Eyes; and Away Off Shore. Philbrick lives on Nantucket, where he was the founding director of Nantucket’s Egan Maritime Institute and where he is a research fellow at the Nantucket Historical Association. 14
courtesy nathaniel philbrick
Kenneth Stewart is the founder of Diving With a Purpose, an AfricanAmerican-led program that for over a decade has involved hundreds of youth and adults in training to assist in underwater archaeology projects. He established formal agreements between DWP and NOAA and the National
courtesy kenneth stewart, dwp
“Our Maritime Communities—Stronger Together” is an apt theme for the upcoming Maritime Heritage Conference, as it ably describes the power of exchanging ideas and information, programs and projects, building friendships, and collaborating with colNew Orleans, February 14-17, 2018 leagues among a maritime heritage field more than 1,000 organizations strong. If you are an established leader, or even more so if you are new in the field, we hope to see you in the Big Easy in February. The 11th Maritime Heritage Conference will also serve as the 55th annual meeting of the National Maritime Historical Society, the 45th annual conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships—Tall Ships America, and the 82nd annual meeting of the Steamship Historical Society of America. Also participating are members and leaders of the Historic Naval Ships Association, the Council of American Maritime Museums, the North American Society for Oceanic History, the US Lighthouse Society, plus independent scholars, writers, docents and volunteers. This year we’ll have artists joining us from the American Society of Marine Artists. We were delighted to learn that RADM Michael Alfultis, USMS, president of SUNY Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, will be sending cadets to attend. The list grows. During the four-day event, Tall Ships America will announce the winners of their prestigious awards for Lifetime Achievement, Sail Trainer of the Year, and Education Program of the Year. Did I say awards? The National Maritime Alliance will present four Maritime Heritage Conference awards of distinction:
courtesy kenneth stewart, dwp
eleventh
14–17 February 2018 • New Orleans Join Us!
Ken Stewart and members of Youth Diving with a Purpose, heading out to a dive site in Florida. Park Service, and has contributed more than 15,000 volunteer hours. His early adventures in scuba led to the idea of forming an organization of African American divers that would meet, travel, and support a youth program to expose those least likely to have these kinds of experiences to the underwater world and maritime heritage. This led to the co-founding of the Tennessee Aquatic Project and Development Group, Inc., (TAP) with the assistance of Willie Sweet. Since 1994, TAP has influenced the lives of hundreds of young people. Of those who participated in the program for more than one year and became certified open water scuba divers, all have attended college. He serves as program director, scheduler, mentor, and spokesperson for both Diving With a Purpose and Youth Diving With a Purpose. He is responsible for planting the seeds for the National Association of Black Scuba Divers Youth Educational Summit (YES). YES encourages young people to achieve their potential through programs organized by the National Association of Black Scuba Divers. Mr. Stewart’s work has been recognized by awards from the US Department of the Interior and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. SEA HISTORY 161, WINTER 2017–18