DECK LOG
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Our eyes on the horizon, not on the wake….
photo courtesy deirdre o’regan
ven in these unprecedented times, the National Maritime Historical Society is flourishing. Sea History continues to be the pre-eminent journal in the maritime heritage field; our website at www.seahistory.org continues to provide a plethora of information and resources, while highlighting news and events at maritime heritage sites and institutions across the country and around the world. NMHS supports a range of educational opportunities for students, and is producing an unparalleled documentary on the life of the historic schooner Ernestina-Morrissey—a Grand Banks fishing vessel, Arctic explorer, packet ship to the Cape Verde Islands, and sail training ship. We are in the process of setting up and digitizing the records of our library in the Society’s new headquarters in Peekskill, New York, and we will soon be adding collections that have been recently donated to us, including the personal library belonging to the late marine artist Oswald Brett. We acquired two important photo collections this year, one of New York Harbor in World War II and one of the restoration of the Falls of Clyde; both will be restored and digitized. These are just a few highlights of our work. Our staff is strong and talented, our board is committed and influential; our friends are numerous and dedicated. We are indeed the national voice of the maritime heritage community. With the Society in a strong position and in capable hands, I have announced my plans to retire in the new year. It is timely and important to pass on leadership of the Society to those who will bring fresh perspective and energy to advancing its mission and strategy. That is the path forward as NMHS approaches its sixth decade of operations. I have had the distinct honor of leading the Society for more than a quarter of a century (as NMHS president since 2006), and our chair, Ronald Oswald, has served on our board of trustees for two decades (as chairman since 2008). We both truly love the Society, its work, its members, and its mission. As they say with any leadership role—you must provide both roots and wings. We are proud to have secured strong roots for the Society, and now we look to growing those wings. NMHS trustee CAPT Jim Noone, USN (Ret.), has been elected our new board NMHS has benefitted from dedicated and strong leaders. chair and will start in 2022; (l–r) Board chairman Ronald Oswald; the late Howard Ron will stay on as trustee, Slotnick, who served both as treasurer and chairman continuing his work with Na- emeritus; and Burchenal Green, NMHS President. tional History Day and other programs to engage and support students of maritime history. I will retire once a replacement has been selected. The Society has announced a national search to fill my position as NMHS executive director/president. Please spread the word that we are looking for an individual who has a passion for maritime history and an aptitude for non-profit management. Candidates must have strong organizational, management, and financial skills, as well as experience in a nonprofit leadership position. The ideal candidate will have a strong maritime connection (can be by profession, vocation, academic study, or affiliation). Interested individuals should review the job posting at www.seahistory.org/careers and submit their resume and cover letter via email to nmhs@seahistory.org. The successful candidate will be taking over from a president who loves the job and who believes her successor will also. I will not be a stranger and I anticipate ever greater times ahead. —Burchenal Green, NMHS President
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NATIONAL MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUBLISHER’S CIRCLE: Peter Aron, Guy E. C. Maitland, Ronald L. Oswald OFFICERS & TRUSTEES: Chairman, Ronald L. Oswald; Vice Chairman, Richardo R. Lopes; President, Burchenal Green; Vice Presidents: Jessica MacFarlane, Deirdre O’Regan, Wendy Paggiotta; Treasurer, William H. White; Secretary, Jean Wort; Trustees: Charles B. Anderson; Walter R. Brown; CAPT Patrick Burns, USN (Ret.); CAPT Sally McElwreath Callo, USN (Ret.); Christopher J. Culver; William S. Dudley; David Fowler; William J. Green; Karen Helmerson; K. Denise Rucker Krepp; Guy E. C. Maitland; Capt. Jeffrey McAllister; Salvatore Mercogliano; Michael Morrow; CAPT James A. Noone, USN (Ret.); Richard Patrick O’Leary; ADM Robert J. Papp Jr., USCG (Ret.); Timothy J. Runyan; Richard Scarano; Philip J. Shapiro; Capt. Cesare Sorio; Chairmen Emeriti: Walter R. Brown, Alan G. Choate, Guy E. C. Maitland, Howard Slotnick (1930–2020) FOUNDER: Karl Kortum (1917–1996) PRESIDENT EMERITUS: Peter Stanford (1927–2016) OVERSEERS: Chairman, RADM David C. Brown, USMS (Ret.); RADM Joseph F. Callo, USN (Ret.); George W. Carmany III; Richard du Moulin; Alan D. Hutchison; Gary Jobson; Sir Robin Knox-Johnston; John Lehman; Capt. Brian McAllister; Capt. James J. McNamara; H. C. Bowen Smith; John Stobart; Philip J. Webster; Roberta Weisbrod NMHS ADVISORS: Francis Duffy, John Ewald, Timothy Foote, Steven A. Hyman, J. Russell Jinishian, Gunnar Lundeberg, Conrad Milster, William G. Muller, Nancy H. Richardson SEA HISTORY EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Chairman, Timothy Runyan; Norman Brouwer, Robert Browning, William Dudley, Lisa Egeli, Daniel Finamore, Kevin Foster, Cathy Green, John Jensen, Frederick Leiner, Joseph Meany, Salvatore Mercogliano, Carla Rahn Phillips, Walter Rybka, Quentin Snediker, William H. White NMHS STAFF: Executive Director, Burchenal Green; Director of Development, Jessica MacFarlane; Accounting/Membership Associate, Andrea Ryan; Senior Staff Writer, Shelley Reid; Executive Assistant, Heather Purvis; Membership Coordinator, Marianne Pagliaro SEA HISTORY: Editor, Deirdre E. O’Regan; Advertising Director, Wendy Paggiotta Sea History is printed by The Lane Press, South Burlington, Vermont, USA.
SEA HISTORY 177, WINTER 2021–22