History is a verbal treasure chest of time. When you unlock the chest, you receive written and photographic treasures from the past, that are priceless. But it is up to you the auxiliary members to unlock the chest, door, or cabinet. Then read it and share it with your unit members, for all to enjoy.

 

Please be mindful of where your unit is storing your unit history. Make sure it is safe from disaster. Maybe you should scan in keepsake photos and documents to save them digitally. Keep old valuable photo books in a fireproof safe to preserve history. But make sure you take them out for special occasions.

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What is a Historian?

As a historian you need to develop a system to organize important communications: like newsletters, notebooks, checkbook registers, secretary minutes, newspaper clippings, blogs, brochures and programs that will help with writing history. As a historian: you could keep a dated log, some might call it a diary of events

 

• As a historian: when attending an event ask for members to share their photos

• As a historian: Collect information from other members, we can’t be at everything that is happening. So, don’t be shy, ask for help from people that are in attendance.

• As historian: please help advise your junior historian to write their history and participate in the patch program. It just might give them the self-esteem boost they need.

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Awards: Each district has its own awards, please follow their guidelines and procedures for them.

Department Awards will be listed on the award sheet with directions on how to apply.

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District Historians

You are to read all the histories that the units send you from your district and write a report on this information. Most of the historians that I have worked with do a fantastic job here. But…. Don’t forget to add what your district is doing.

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• Did your District have an officer’s installation? Write about it!

• Did your District host Midwinter? Write about it!

• Did your District have a membership turn in? Write about it!

• Did your District do something fun? Write about it!

• Did the Past Presidents meet? Write about it!

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My personal Writing challenge to all units in the Department of MN, will be: In 2026 our wonderful United States will turn 250 years old. I thought it would be fun for our units to unluck their treasure chest and find out who has the oldest minutes, documents, photos, what kind of memorabilia was kept, and is it stored where members can see. etc.

 

I am also looking for units or districts to honor a member by sending in a photo and a brief description of what this member has done. To leave a remarkable impact on the American Legion Auxiliary organization. These will be published on Facebook in the month of March. To commemorate women’s history month.