Alabama Heritage Magazine - Becoming Alabama

Becoming Alabama
Creek War • Civil War • Civil Rights

The Becoming Alabama Initiative

Pragmatism to Innovative Partnership
By Steve Murray

The concept for Becoming Alabama began with a pragmatic assessment of the financial and logistical challenges posed by a rapid succession of major anniversaries over the next several years. Given the budgetary restraints faced by nearly every historical and cultural organization in today’s economic climate, it made sense to seek efficiency in planning public programs, designing publicity, and developing educational resources.

A funny thing happened on the way to finding efficiency, however. When viewed from a broader perspective, the three periods under consideration offered a unified theme for understanding the political, social, and economic forces that shaped—and continue to shape—Alabama.

The resonance of this theme became clear last spring during discussions of a possible collaboration. In early April, representatives of twenty organizations gathered at the Department of Archives and History in Montgomery and endorsed the concept of a broad, informal partnership that would use a common logo and publicity effort. Participants agreed to begin identifying programs that their respective institutions could sponsor in association with the Becoming Alabama theme and possibly in conjunction with other organizations.

In late June a second meeting in Birmingham advanced the discussion further. The growing network of partners authorized an ad hoc committee to guide the development of a logo, and the group formally adopted the name Becoming Alabama. Announcements from two of the partners gave legs to the effort. The Alabama Tourism Department committed to providing support for the logo design and for a central web site. Alabama Heritage announced its plans to make Becoming Alabama a standing department in the magazine, beginning with the issue you are reading and running through the duration of the commemoration period, thereby introducing the partnership to the general public.

In the weeks since, planning has continued apace. Preliminary concepts for the logo have taken shape, and participating organizations have found promising grounds for partnership. As reported at a September planning meeting in Mobile, for example, three entities are collectively applying for federal grants to support a project that likely would not have developed in the absence of Becoming Alabama. And thanks to the partnership’s innovative approach, other states and national organizations have expressed interest in learning more about Alabama’s plans.

We enter an important period of development in 2010. In the next few months, a logo will become available for any interested organization to begin using in its publications. Shortly thereafter, a Becoming Alabama web site will provide timelines of historical events, information on commemorative activities, and links to relevant educational resources. Discussions are also underway for an inaugural symposium that will explore the larger questions associated with understanding how we became Alabama.

Now is the perfect time for organizations of every size to get involved with Becoming Alabama. To do so, begin discussing with your staff or leadership how your organization can promote a better understanding of Alabama history through commemoration of the Creek War, the Civil War, or the civil rights movement in the upcoming years. Join the Becoming Alabama e-mail list by visiting http://groups.google.com/group/becoming-alabama, and make plans to attend one of our meetings in 2010.

Steve Murray is assistant director for administration at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Prior to joining ADAH in 2006, he was managing editor of the Encyclopedia of Alabama and The Alabama Review: A Quarterly Journal of Alabama History.

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