Honoring the late executive director of the Historical Society of Princeton
By: Ross Kenneth Urken
Historical insight is as important to the understanding of the future as it is to that of the past. This truth struck an immediate note when the Historical Society of Princeton (HSP) was seeking a way to honor the memory of Gail Stern (1950-2006), who served as HSP’s executive director until her untimely death.
The question for the HSP was how to build upon Ms. Stern’s dedication to ethnic history and ensure its continuation. The answer comes with the establishment of the Gail F. Stern Internship for Ethnic History, which was announced Jan. 18 during the HSP’s annual meeting.
Ms. Stern’s commitment to ethnic history stands at the heart of her legacy, said Dee Patberg, an HSP board member. "Something she promoted was moving beyond just the study of ‘dead white men,’ as they say," Mrs. Patberg said.
Because the stories of Princeton’ ethnic communities have been overlooked in the historical narrative, the internship will fund and support scholars with an interest in the town’s historic or contemporary ethnic communities.
Beginning this year, one intern will be selected every other year to receive a $2,000 stipend and privileged access to the HSP’s archives. Interns will be expected to devise a project which can be presented to the public in the form of a lecture, family workshop, walking tour, scholarly article, exhibition or Web site.
According to HSP curator Eileen Morales, the idea for the internship first arose from a suggestion by board member Elric Endersby. A small committee formed in the fall sought to define the exact premise of the internship, she said. The committee consisted of board members Shirley Satterfield, Mrs. Patberg and Mr. Endersby, plus former HSP president Jeff Clarke and Ms. Morales.
"We thought, ‘Why don’t we promote the field (of ethnography) to young people and formalize it in the form of an internship?’" Ms. Morales said. "(Gail) was also very interested in young people on all levels in leading walking tours and running exhibitions. She was not interested just in abstract history, but in getting people involved."
Ms. Stern’s exhibitions include "A Community Remembers: African American Life in Princeton" in 1996 and "Old Traditions, New Beginnings, 250 Years of Princeton Jewish History" in 2000. She also fostered in-depth studies of Princeton’ s Italian and Irish communities.
"A lot of people think history is about dates and facts, but Gail showed us it’s actually about people and cultures," said John Dumont, HSP president. "We have tried to focus on that more."
The funding for the memorial internship comes from Ms. Stern’s family. Her friends and HSP supporters also contributed. The HSP will soon begin to advertise in scholarly journals and at colleges in New Jersey to attract interested scholars, Mrs. Patberg said.
"First of all, we were surprised and pleased with the internship," said Herb Stern, Gail Stern’s father. "There was a wonderful outpouring of support and lots of money received in Gail’s memory from friends … It’s very gratifying."
In one of her final projects, Ms. Stern explored Princeton’s South Asian community, some of the area’s newest arrivals. Continuing her commitment to ethnicity-based initiatives, the New Jersey Council for the Humanities is sponsoring a panel discussion and dance performance on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the auditorium of the John Witherspoon Middle School, 217 Walnut Lane, Princeton.
For more information about the Historical Society of Princeton, visit www.princetonhistory.org or call (609) 921-6748. Readers interested in honoring Gail Stern’s memory by supporting the Internship for Ethnic History should contact Eileen Morales at the HSP.