The AHA has been busy marking significant anniversaries lately. Last year marked the centennial year of the AHA’s existence. We are already planning for our one-hundredth Annual Meeting, December 27-30, which will be held in New York City. This June marks the tenth anniversary for Carlton Thomas, the membership clerk of the AHA’s Washington office. We are pleased to add this achievement to our list of celebrations.
Carlton moved from a part-time building maintenance position to full-time status in September 1975 after being hired in June. He also assumed the responsibilities of processing and updating membership at this time, which according to Sammetta Banks, administrative assistant, is the “very back-bone of the association.” Carlton concerns himself with making sure all members receive the appropriate publications and that addresses are up to date.
During his ten years of employment with the AHA, Carlton has seen many changes pass through the offices, most notably two directors and five assistant directors. Also, among major revisions was the American Historical Review staff transfer to Indiana and the automation of the membership department with the purchase, in 1981, of a computer exclusively for membership correspondence. This addition has helped Carlton to make departmental correspondence and billing more accurate and efficient. Working the computer is Carlton’s favorite on-the-job duty, which prevents things from “piling up” on him as they did in pre-computer years.
Along with his lengthy sojourn in the membership office, Carlton boasts of his attendance at Annual Meetings, which numbers eight including the upcoming one. His chores at the meetings are no less important than those in the office. He oversees the pre-registration process and at the meetings can be found at the membership desk. Carlton also makes sure all the materials needed for the event get to the meeting location and back again.
“I love going to the meetings and meeting the members,” he says. “You finally meet the people you speak with on the phone all the time. They’re interesting people and it helps for them to meet us too.”
When he’s not attending to membership needs, Carlton enjoys gourmet cooking and plays a variety of sports. He also does volunteer work at Saint Elizabeths hospital in Washington, DC and enjoys working with children. In September, Carlton hopes to begin accounting courses, which he expects will provide him with skills that may lead him to other departments in the AHA.
For a closing reflection on his time with the AHA, Carlton offers, “I really like working here. Everyone around here is nice to work with and it’s a lot of fun—most of the time! It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years!”
