NMHS:
A CAUSE IN MOTION
I
Redux—Inspiration and Cooperation
wikipedia commons cc by 4.0
n these unparalleled times of the COVID-19 pandemic, hisWhile we miss in-person seminars and the comradery and toric ships and museums are either still closed or open in re- exchange of ideas they generate, where necessity is forcing virtual duced capacities. Voyaging on ships, historic or otherwise, is sessions, creativity is producing events that would not have been at an all-time low while ship operators figure out how to set up possible in person. and manage socially distant spaces within the confines of a vessel. Since the closure, we have ramped up the content of the Most historical societies and libraries are still not open for lectures Resources section of our website, seeking out new relevant sites and presentations. That is yet to come. While there are no silver and updating the links regularly. Online visits to the NMHS linings to the global pandemic that continues to create such mis- website—www.seahistory.org—are at an all-time high. The most ery, many maritime heritage organipopular section of the website continues zations have been busier than ever. to be the “Sea History for Kids” web Faced with a situation no one had pages, accounting for 41% of the 58,000 predicted nor planned for, the maripage views on the website between time heritage community is coming March, when the nationwide shutdown up with all kinds of creative ways to began, to the time of this writing in carry on its mission by creating exmid-July. The Resources section, which hibitions, programs, and curricula includes the digital version of Sea Histhat visitors can access remotely. I tory magazine, garners another 22% of focused on the beginnings of this visitors. phenomenon in the last issue of Sea Every click on the Resources web History, and I return to it here because page opens a doorway to incredible museums, historic ships, and marimaterial for researchers, students, and time programs share their news with those simply enjoying surfing the web. us so that we can disseminate it to “Maritime Museums Get Creative with our readership, which is as broad and Virtual Resources,” a news feature about as varied as is the maritime heritage the impact of COVID-19 closures and community itself. found on the “Museums Online” page, Looking at a few examples: For has been a favorite. From there, you can its “Second Saturday Seminars,” the delve into Maine Maritime Museum’s Naval Historical Foundation (NHF) “Merchant Marine Muster” and access conducted a live online forum in July records dating back 200 years that on “Leadership Lessons from the document 17,746 mariners, 1,015 vesFictional Age of Sail, Horatio Hornsels, and 3,672 voyages. The Steamship blower versus Jack Aubrey,” the heroes Historical Society of America link, of the great sea classics by C. S. For“STEAMing Into the Future,” holds a ester (1899–1966) and Patrick wealth of resources including, to my O’Brian (1914–2000), discussing the delight, a lesson from the Sea Scouts on Engraving by Hans Sebald Beham (1500–1550) accuracy of the life and events porthe seven basic knots to master for the trayed, the personalities of the characters, and the lessons that apprentice rank. This is a fun activity that young people can do might be gleaned by our modern navy. Moderated by Dr. John at home—with “young” being a relative term, of course! Hattendorf, the Ernest J. King Professor Emeritus of Maritime My original intent in channeling “redux,” Latin for “that History at the Naval War College, the discussants were Naval War returns” was simply to explain my decision to hit upon the same College’s current Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History, theme as last issue’s NMHS Cause in Motion, where we explored Dr. Craig Symonds, and former Secretary of the Navy, the Hon- the maritime heritage community’s creative response during the orable John Lehman. RADM Edward “Sonny” Masso, USN (Ret.), first weeks of the COVID-19 shutdown. But “redux” introduced executive director of the Naval Historical Foundation, facilitated me to the goddess Fortuna Redux, a variation of the goddess the Q & A. It was brilliant; not a debate, per se, but a plethora of Fortuna from the Roman Empire, who oversaw one’s safe return interesting and thought-provoking information. NHF had 509 from a long or perilous journey. Fortuna’s image is typically repregistrants from 33 states and six countries, thanks in part to resented holding a cornucopia, while Fortuna Redux is shown by several like-minded organizations getting the word out to their a rudder or steering oar and sometimes in conjunction with a members—including us, the National Maritime Historical Soci- globe. A seafaring goddess who brings the mariner safely home ety. This event demonstrated cooperation at its best and serves as exemplifies the journey we hope for us all, a journey where we are an inspiration on what can be achieved on a completely different carried safely through the pandemic. model than what we are used to. —Burchenal Green, NMHS President 8
SEA HISTORY 172, AUTUMN 2020