New Mexico Genealogical Society
| Home   | Programs     | Books by NMGS    | Membership   | Contact Us Today   | NMGS BLOG*

History Day

2009: The theme for the next National History Day will be “The Individual in History: Actions and  Legacies.” Watch this page for more information in September 2008.

---

2008: The New Mexico state finals of National History Day were held Friday, April 25th at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. (See comment from K. Daniel)

Regional finalists from all parts of the state attended the day-long event. The topic for 2008 around which students in grades 6-12 had to develop their exhibits, papers, documentaries, or dramatic performances was “Conflict and Compromise.” The New Mexico Genealogical Society participated in this event for the fifth year, offering four $100 awards. Two new awards were offered thanks to the special generosity of member Dr. Thomas G. Munyon of San Francisco, California.

Congratulations to all the winners!

NMGS’s $100 winner for the Best Senior Individual Exhibit displaying the best documented use of primary source material in a genealogical, family history, or community history topic was Nathaniel Jim of Kirtland Central High School in Kirtland, New Mexico. Nathaniel’s exhibit was titled “Conflict & Compromise of Uranium Mining in the Four Corners” and was inspired by the death of his own grandfather, a uranium miner, who died from cancer there. He wanted to find out how the uranium mines had altered the lives of workers, as well as their health and that of their families. Nathaniel made use of the life stories of surviving uranium miners, as well as personal interviews. He also used newspaper articles and letters.

NMGS’s $100 winner for the Best Junior Individual Exhibit displaying the best documented use of primary source material in a genealogical, family history, or community history topic was Jonah Townsley of Albuquerque Christian School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jonah’s exhibit was entitled “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy: The Conflict and Compromise of Pearl Harbor” and was also inspired by and dedicated to his grandfather, Arthur Douglas Townsley, who was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, on December 7th, 1941. Jonah began his project this past summer when he visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Hawaii, gathering information there and interviewing participants. His exhibit was a visual delight for those interested in military history, and his primary and secondary source bibliography was outstanding.

NMGS’s $100 winner for the Dr. Thomas G. Munyon Award displaying the best documented use of primary sources, including oral history sources, in Native American history was Ashkii Hatathlie of Kirtland Central High School in Kirtland, New Mexico. Ashkii’s exhibit was entitled “The Navajo-Hopi Land Disputes: An Unfair Compromise,” and addressed a conflict involving forced relocation that has not even today been effectively resolved. This event was important in that it was such a large forced relocation of American Indians. Ashkii used primary documents such as public laws, agreements, legal cases, and treaties to interpret and understand this event. Ashkii’s primary and secondary source bibliography was outstanding, as was his exhibit board. This is Ashkii’s second award from NMGS. In 2007, Ashkii won the NMGS award for Best Senior Individual Exhibit and placed 13th in the nation at the national finals in Maryland for that exhibit.

NMGS’s $100 winner for the Dr. Thomas G. Munyon Award displaying the best documented use of primary sources in medical history was Lacy Walters of Tibbetts Middle School in Farmington, New Mexico. Lacy’s exhibit was entitled “Gruesome Experiments at Auschwitz.” Although an especially difficult topic, Lacy’s focus was that while experiments performed during the Holocaust should never have been performed on any living organism, these experiments did later assist scientists in learning much about the human body and how it works. Lacy’s revealing exhibit caused viewers to stop and reflect on this especially sad chapter in history. Her bibliography was outstanding and made use of presidential papers, letters, and diaries.

NMGS’s $100 winner for the Best Junior Individual Exhibit displaying the best documented use of primary source material in a genealogical, family history, or community history topic was Jonah Townsley of Albuquerque Christian School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jonah’s exhibit was entitled “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy: The Conflict and Compromise of Pearl Harbor” and was also inspired by and dedicated to his grandfather, Arthur Douglas Townsley, who was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, on December 7th, 1941. Jonah began his project this past summer when he visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Hawaii, gathering information there and interviewing participants. His exhibit was a visual delight for those interested in military history, and his primary and secondary source bibliography was outstanding.

NMGS’s $100 winner for the Dr. Thomas G. Munyon Award displaying the best documented use of primary sources, including oral history sources, in Native American history was Ashkii Hatathlie of Kirtland Central High School in Kirtland, New Mexico. Ashkii’s exhibit was entitled “The Navajo-Hopi Land Disputes: An Unfair Compromise,” and addressed a conflict involving forced relocation that has not even today been effectively resolved. This event was important in that it was such a large forced relocation of American Indians. Ashkii used primary documents such as public laws, agreements, legal cases, and treaties to interpret and understand this event. Ashkii’s primary and secondary source bibliography was outstanding, as was his exhibit board. This is Ashkii’s second award from NMGS. In 2007, Ashkii won the NMGS award for Best Senior Individual Exhibit and placed 13th in the nation at the national finals in Maryland for that exhibit.

NMGS’s $100 winner for the Dr. Thomas G. Munyon Award displaying the best documented use of primary sources in medical history was Lacy Walters of Tibbetts Middle School in Farmington, New Mexico. Lacy’s exhibit was entitled “Gruesome Experiments at Auschwitz.” Although an especially difficult topic, Lacy’s focus was that while experiments performed during the Holocaust should never have been performed on any living organism, these experiments did later assist scientists in learning much about the human body and how it works. Lacy’s revealing exhibit caused viewers to stop and reflect on this especially sad chapter in history. Her bibliography was outstanding and made use of presidential papers, letters, and diaries.

Comment from K

2007: The following were the winners of the 2007 NMGS awards for the state finals of New Mexico History Day:

Ashkii Hatathlie, a student at Kirtland Central High School in Kirtland, New Mexico, was awarded the prize for best senior individual exhibit. Ashkii's exhibit and process paper was entitled "The Triumph of the Native American Church."  According to Ashkii's research, the Native American Church, the largest indigenous religion in North America, underwent a phase that changed the way people viewed indigenous religions generally.  The Native American Church, founded by Native Americans for Native Americans, is based on traditional cultural beliefs.  Through a legal process extending to the Supreme Court, the Native American Church won its battle to exist, thereby furthering the tenet of freedom of religion.  Ashkii's excellent bibliography revealed his wide use of primary materials including records of the National Archives.  His exhibit also won several other awards.

Jesse Velasco, a student at Mesa View Middle School in Farmington, New Mexico, was awarded the prize for best junior individual exhibit.  Jesse's exhibit and process paper was entitled "Navajo Long Walk:  Tragedy among Navajos."  Jesse chose his topic because he had heard many "stories from my grandfather and other relatives about this event," and being Navajo himself, was "deeply affected" to learn about what happened to his people.  Jesse's exhibit also included a timeline and photographs, and his bibliography and process paper were excellent.  He was especially knowledgeable about Navajo oral history concerning this event, and he was able to interview a living descendent of Barboncito, a Navajo leader during the time of the Long Walk, to learn more for this project.

---

2006: Taking a Stand in History: People, Ideas, Events.

NMGS presented $100 prizes on April 28 2006 for History Day papers to the writers below. There were no exhibits this year that dealt specifically within the topic in a genealogical or family history way.  The winners, therefore, were based on what would fall into broadly-defined community history topics. The winners were:

Senior Individual - Rosa Reyes, West Mesa High School, Albuquerque. Rosa's exhibit was entitled "The Tuskegee Airmen:  Between Two Wars."  Rosa's excellent exhibit used primary source materials including photos, Supreme Court cases, a diary kept while serving in Europe, and newspapers.

Junior Individual - Micah Montiel, Dugan Tarango Middle School, Lordsburg. Micah's exhibit was entitled 'Resistance From Within:  The White Rose.'  Micah's excellent exhibit used primary source materials including photos, copies of German leaflets published at the time and which had also been translated, and copies of translated letters which the imprisoned students sent to their parents. For those who aren't familiar with the White Rose episode in history, it involved a group of college students who took a stand against the moral injustices of Nazi Germany and were executed. 

---

2005: The topic was: "Communication in History: The Key to Understanding."
Winners of the NMGS awards:

Best Junior Exhibit: Erin Thompson, Heights Middle School, Farmington, NM. Exhibit titled "Letters From Home."

Best Senior Exhibit: Lauryl DeJong, Rio Rancho High School, NM. Exhibit titled "V-Mail" (Victory Mail). Lauryl's project also won first place in state in her category.

Congratulations to all the winners!

For more information on National History Day, see http://www.nationalhistoryday.org

Comment from Karen Daniel at conclusion of 2008 History Day.
"As always, this day was a personally rewarding experience for me as both judge and spectator. NMGS's participation to encourage not only family history research, but scholarly historical research, can only help to create a positive experience for New Mexico students.  I hope the board sees fit to continue our participation in this way on a yearly basis.  I also have noticed over the last three years that more and more groups are coming onboard to offer prizes.  This year's prizes came also from the American Civil Liberties Union of NM, the Roger Baldwin Award for best projects on Civil Rights, The Albuquerque Association for Gifted and Talented Students, the Arab World and Islamic Resources, the Charles Reed Center of Western Studies at BYU, the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, the Historical Society of NM, the NM Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society, the Office of the State Historian, and the Southwest Oral History Association.  We are, indeed, in good company."         Karen S. Daniel

---