ALHFAM President’s Fall 2025 Message

“From the President’s Pen”

An unexpected weather change brought gloriously cooler temperatures to the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States in late August. Like flipping a switch, the air became crisper, the shadows cast by a sun lower in sky become longer, and the sky a richer blue.  Miraculously, fall seems to have arrived early in August…we hope to stay.  This summer has been hot and stressful for everyone in the living history world. We spent much of our time bringing history to life in outdoor or un-air-conditioned spaces. We also witnessed the misery from the impacts of climate change through devastating floods, forest fires and record heat in parts of our member countries.  In addition, each day brought the dread of the newsfeed announcing funding cuts and censorship of programs in federally owned/managed history institutions and programs in the United States. All of these negatively impact the history and art professions and directly or indirectly the lives of our members and member institutions.  

Despite these challenges, the summer of 2025 was memorable for 164 ALHFAMily souls who gathered for some, or all, of the 5 days in Little Rock, Arkansas June 20 – 25 for an incredible Annual Meeting and Conference hosted by the Old State House Museum, Historic Arkansas Museum, Historic Washington State Park and the Arkansas Living History Association. We are deeply grateful to the 11 members of the conference planning committee, with special kudos to Daniel Cockrell, Joleen Linson, Ian Beard, Josh Williams and Leita Spears.  The conference theme of “Strength of Diamonds:  Preserving History’s Facets, Skills, and Occupations for the Modern Era” offered a cornucopia of learning experiences including 18 field trip/site visit opportunities, 20 skills workshops, 29 classroom sessions, and two passionate and provocative keynote speakers. An option to virtually participate in the keynote presentations, classroom sessions, and business meeting was also made available. HUZZAH to the ALHFAM 2025 Annual Conference Committee for a job more than well done!

It is my privilege to greet ALHFAM for the first time in my role as its President. This has been an opportunity 40+ years in the making. For those I have not yet met or do not know, here’s a little bit of my background. I’ve been a member of ALHFAM since 1986. I spent my college summers as a seasonal historical interpreter at the Rock Ledge Ranch Historic site in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After graduating with American History and American Music degrees from CU Boulder, I began my career full time in 1988 at the George Ranch Historical Park. I spent a brief year in Colorado in 1998 working at the Littleton Historical Museum before life took me to Morristown, New Jersey as Director of Historic Sites for the Morris County Park Commission. Living history was always prominent in my work at all these sites. My career moved in a different direction in 2012 when I became the Director of the New Jersey State Park Service. I was delighted when the opportunity arose 3 years ago to fill the role of Administrator of New Jersey’s State Historic Sites Office. This allowed me to come back to my living history and ALHFAM roots in 2023 when I was elected to serve a two-year term as its Vice-President, followed by a two-year term and President, which will be followed by two years as Past President.   

ALHFAM has nine incredibly talented members of its Board of Directors, five officers, and two communications professionals nurturing and fulfilling its Mission.  Along with members at large, each ALHFAM Director serves on at least two ALHFAM standing and/or ad hoc committees. ALHFAM members at large chair and guide the work of eleven different professional interest groups (PIGS). We are also grateful for the work of regional representatives who coordinate the activities within ALHFAM’s nine different regions. If you are a new member and unfamiliar with the work of these committees, PIGS and regional representatives, please take a few minutes to check out our ALHFAM website. All members are welcome to become actively involved with them. 

The ALHFAM Board of Directors, Officers and communications team will meet November 5-7, 2025, in Dearborn, Michigan for our fall board meeting. During this gathering, we will craft our goals and budget for the coming year and also update our 3-year strategic plan. We’re also very excited that our fall meeting includes a full training session with Nicole Moore and Joe McGill of the Slave Dwelling Project. This will help ALHFAM increase diversity in the field through the recruitment of underrepresented populations, work through the challenges to truth telling in history, and provide support for its members who endeavor in this work. I will share an update from our fall board meeting later this year.  

I’m thrilled and eager to be engaged fully again in preserving and interpreting the past for new generations and audiences than I was when I began my career. I’m humbled to serve as your President to steer the good ship ALHFAM during the uncharted waters we are all navigating. I’m excited and inspired to continue growing and diversifying our audience.  It’s attributed to George Washington that he said upon leaving the office of the American presidency “I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.”  May all of you continue in that enlightened spirit in whatever “farm” literal or metaphorical your work finds you engaged in bringing the past to life. Wishing everyone bountiful fall harvests, happiness from the sounds of laughter and the joyous patter of school age youth returning to your venues, and much success in your work. 

by Mark Texel
ALHFAM President