History of Reading News. Vol.XX No.2 (1997:Spring)

The International Reading Association has committed itself to the inclusion and encouragement of history as part of its ongoing activities.

At a meeting at IRA headquarters last October in Newark, Delaware, chaired by Jack Pikulski (now IRA president), IRA officials and several members of the History of Reading SIG agreed on a series of moves linking history to the work of the organization.

Among the projects to be pursued is the IRA's publication of "Occasional Papers" on the history of reading and literacy. Proposed topics include a paper on how to conduct research in the history of literacy and another on undertaking oral history. Other topics suggested were the identification of resources for conducting historical research, the preparation of an annotated bibliography of historical dissertations, biographical sketches of IRA leaders, and the history of reading in international perspective.

To provide continuity and focus for the occasional papers, an overall editor will be appointed. (Dick Robinson of University of Missouri, Columbia, a past editor of the News, has volunteered to explore this possibility.) Consideration will also be given to creating an ad hoc committee on the history of reading/literacy and the IRA, or making such a group a subcommittee of the Studies and Research Committee.

The executive committee of the History of Reading SIG was encouraged to prepare letters to the editors of IRA journals urging them to actively seek out articles dealing with the history of literacy.

The meeting also focused on the question of the IRA's acquisition, preservation and retention of historical materials. Terry Salinger, IRA's Director of the Research Division, and Alison Lewis, the IRA librarian, will prepare a statement of purpose for the IRA's own library, as well a for updating and systematizing it.

It was also suggested that IRA members interested in history communicate with the Teacher as Research Committee, urging teacher researchers to undertake projects dealing with history.

Terry Salinger also agreed to prepare an article listing awards and grants available to scholars engaged in historical research, to be published in the History of Reading News.

When reached by telephone for comment, Janet A. Miller, former president of the History of Reading SIG, said, "We are most grateful to Jack Pikulski for his efforts on behalf of history." Attendees were Alan Farstrup, Joan Irwin, Alison Lewis, E. Jennifer Monaghan, Luther B. Clegg, H. Alan Robinson, Terry Salinger, Ralph Staiger, and Jack Pikulski, chair.