Welcome to our Support Groups

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Support Groups

Volunteer support organizations are the backbone of American history. No other country in the world has as many non-profit history museums as the United States. The Arizona Historical Society is pleased and proud to have so many dedicated groups and individuals working with us all over the state. We appreciate those who give their time and care.

For many of you, Arizona has become your new home, or at least a place you choose to spend part of your year. We welcome you and encourage you to join one of the groups described below. What better way to learn about our history while lending a helping hand?

Pathfinders - Tucson

The Arizona Pathfinders, Inc. is an organization of dedicated volunteers whose purpose is to support the Arizona Historical Society, Southern Division.

The Pathfinders raise money for special programs and projects. They provide volunteer services for the Library and Archives, Education and Museum Departments, and they assist and host openings of events, receptions and social functions at the Museums of the Southern Division in Tucson.

Membership in Pathfinders is available at the Arizona Historical Society, 949 E. 2nd Street, Tucson, AZ 85719 to AHS members for $10.00/person or $15.00/couple. An Associate Membership is available to non AHS members for $15.00/person or $25.00/couple. Members receive a monthly "Pathfinders Press" newsletter.

"Pathfinders" was formed as a non-profit support group in 1977. The name comes from the sobriquet given to General John C. Fremont, who became the 13th Territorial Governor of Arizona. The Sosa-Carrillo-Fremont House, an AHS historic site museum, is associated with Fremont's time spent in Tucson when he was Territorial Governor.

Newsletter-Pathfinders Press May 2010
.Email- pathfindersAHS@live.com
Historical League - Tempe

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The Historical League is a vibrant, dynamic organization, currently with 170 members, who are dedicated to learning about and preserving the fascinating history of Arizona. The Historical League was organized in 1979 by seven women who had a love of Arizona history and historic preservation. At the beginning they met in members’ homes and supported the work of the Arizona Historical Society Museum, then located in the Ellis-Shackelford House at 1242 North Central Avenue in Phoenix. 

Shackleford House

The League’s mission has been to preserve Arizona’s rich cultural heritage and promote community awareness of the Arizona Historical Society, the state’s oldest cultural institution.

As the museum grew and moved to its new facility at 1300 N. College Avenue in Tempe, the mission of the League remained constant, and it continues to provide funding and volunteer assistance for the museum and its activities.

AHS Tempe Museum

During its 30-year history, the League has contributed more than $1 million to the museum, and its members have volunteered more than 108,000 hours to the League and museum.

The League has made many contributions to the community and museum. Some of the most recent are:

  • Annual Photo Fair
  • Annual grant
  • Sandra Day O’Connor Exhibit
  • Historymakers™
  • Offer interesting speakers
  • Arrange tours
  • Host the Children’s Holiday Party
  • Publish Cookbooks
  • Publish Newsletters
  • Create historicalleague.org
  • Institute the Historymakers Gala and Legacy Project

For more details about our listed contributions click here.

More information about us can be found at historicalleague.org or you may contact Sharron McKinney, League President, at sharrper@cox.net
Northern Arizona Pioneers'
Historical Society - Flagstaff 
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In 1905 some Flagstaff citizens got together to form the Pioneers Society of Northern Arizona.  Their constitution and by-laws were beautifully hand written in an old fashioned record book and signed by 152 pioneers.  Interest apparently faded after a few years, and in 1916 the local paper reported an attempt to “reorganize” the Society.
 
In 1942 history-minded citizens got together again to locate the original site of the flag staff  that gave the town its name. Surviving pioneers disagreed, and a compromise flagpole was placed near the railroad underpass, equidistant from three disputed locations. 
 
In 1953 there was a final reorganization.  William H. Switzer, a 1906 charter member, was elected president of the new Northern Arizona Pioneers’ Historical Society.  They began collecting documents, photographs, and artifacts.  At first the Society used one of the buildings at the Coconino County Fairgrounds, but moved to the former Coconino County Hospital for the Indigent (the Poor Farm) in 1959. 
 
In the mid 1960s negotiations began for the museum to become a chapter of the Arizona [Pioneers] Historical Society.  The merger was called off at the last minute, and did not take place in December, 1984.
 
The Northern Arizona Pioneers’ Historical Society is now a support organization for the Arizona Historical Society-Northern Division with headquarters in the Pioneer Museum.  The Board of NAPHS conducts fundraising and helps with the purchase of artifacts that would not otherwise be available.
 
Docent Council - Tucson

The Docent Council is a volunteer organization providing service to the Arizona Historical Society; provides educational support services to the Education Department of the Tucson museum, including guided tours of the museum facility.

Docent Training Program

If you are interested in Arizona history, enjoy talking to people, and want to meet a great group of like-minded folks, consider becoming a docent at the Arizona Historical Society. There are also opportunities for great trips in the Southwest and Mexico.

The Tucson Docent Training Program investigates Arizona History, exhibits, and techniques for communicating with museum visitors. Training classes begin in October and are every Tuesday and Thursday mornings through early December. Class size is limited, so please apply by the first week in October. Additional training is available for those interested in doing outreach presentations.

If interested, contact:

Arizona Historical Society
Docent Coordinator, Education Department
949 E. 2nd Street, Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 628-5774
esg@azhs.gov
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Yuma County Historical Society


The Yuma County Historical Society (YCHS) was organized in 1963 as a section of the Yuma Fine Arts Association (YFAA). They shared a building, which was then called the Century House Museum (today the Sanguinetti House Museum). The YFAA was to be responsible for collecting and exhibiting local art and the YCHS for collecting and exhibiting local history. That same year the YCHS became an auxiliary of the Arizona Pioneers Historical Society (now AHS).

In 1968 State funds became available to certified historical societies through the Arizona Historical Society. The Century House was too crowded for both organizations so YCHS and YFAA separated. YCHS remained at the Century House Museum and became a certified historical society with AHS.

In 1971 the Century House Museum became the first branch museum of AHS and in 1972 the buildings were donated to AHS, but the collections remained the property of YCHS. By 1981 the collections were also given to the AHS and the Rio Colorado Chapter of the AHS was formed. The YCHS, though no longer running the museum and library, were still active in the collection and interpretation of local history.

The new by-laws for the organization stated that the purpose and goals of the YCHS shall be to aid and support the programs of the Rio Colorado Chapter of the Arizona Historical Society. How is this accomplished? The YCHS publishes monographs, books, etc. which detail local history. The YCHS helps with fundraisers and special events in order to increase the operating funds for the AHS-Yuma museum and library, and the YCHS operates the Adobe Annex Museum Shop for the AHS-Yuma museum. The proceeds from the museum shop help pay for publications and are distributed to the AHS-Yuma museum to help with operating costs and special projects.