Our Energy Education Mission
The American Oil & Gas Historical Society (AOGHS) is dedicated to preserving the history of U.S. oil and natural gas exploration and production by providing advocacy for organizations that work to preserve that history through exhibition, material preservation -- and especially educational programming.
AOGHS provides an historical context of the industry's accomplishments to educate the public about modern energy challenges. Through regular publications and public outreach, the society builds partnerships among museums and state and federal energy education organizations.
AOGHS programs are supported by tax-deductible contributions. Support this energy education network -- please mail your donation to:
AOGHS
1201 15th Street, NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
AOGHS accomplishes its mission by providing:
Advocacy for museums, historical societies and other groups that educate the public about the U.S. oil and natural gas industry through public awareness;
- Public education about U.S. oil and gas industry heritage through periodic publications;
- Providing a network of common contact through which museums, historical associations, corporations, and individuals can acquire information about efforts to preserve U.S. oil and gas heritage -- and increase energy education .
Our Vision
This historical society promotes cooperative relationships among energy education programs, public outreach efforts, and community museums – to highlight initiatives and minimize duplication of effort. Three key programs sustain our effort:
Website: The website remains an excellent resource for educators, students and anyone interested in petroleum history. Established in 2004, the site already attracts thousands of unique visitors every month. The updated pages contribute to energy education with articles featuring the industry’s historic technology as well as more than 100 museum links and other resources, by state.
Newsletter: AOGHS has published the Petroleum Age. Four complete volumes are posted on the website, and articles have appeared in many leading industry publications, including Hart’s E&P magazine, the American Gas Association’s American Gas magazine, the Association of Energy Service Contactor’s Well Servicing magazine, and the American Oil & Gas Reporter.
Conference: The society’s conferencee are a gathering of top energy educators, museum directors, and state and national association represenatives. Participation confirms the value of the AOGHS network. Many energy education programs host excellent teacher workshops; the conference brings them together to share and compare approaches. Attendance shows the value of bringing like-minded groups to one table.
The society depends on tax-deductible contributions to maintain its energy education programs. Help us make a difference in energy education. Donate today.
Staff
Executive Director Bruce Wells founded the historical society in 2003. He is responsible for accomplishing the society's energy education mission. He designs and edits a newsletter, the Petroleum Age, maintains the society’s website, speaks at industry and community events, and hosts the society's conferences and field trips.
In October 2005, Wells was the first guest lecturer at the dedication of the Barbara Morgan Harvey Center for the Study of Oil Heritage at Clarion University-Venango Campus in Oil City, Pa. He also served as an honorary co-chair for 2005 events celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the East Texas Oilfield and the 25th Anniversary of the East Texas Oil Museum, Kilgore, Texas.
He currently serves as a co-chair of the Oil 150 Steering Committee, which coordinated sesquicentennial events for the national celebration of the first U.S. oil discovery in 1859. Wells, who in May 2009 received the "Keeper of the Flame Award" from the Petroleum History Institute, Oil City, Pa., in August described the significance of American petroleum's 150-year heritage for Cleanskies.tv.
Wells has been a 2009 keynote speaker at meetings of the National Capital Area Chapter of the Association of Energy Economics (where he also helped arrange a history field trip to Titusville, Pa.) and the annual institute of the National Association of Division Order Analysts.
Prior to establishing AOGHS in 2003, Wells was a senior associate for Technology & Management Services, Washington, DC, a U.S. Department of Energy contractor, where he researched and published two oil and natural gas community history booklets for the DOE Office of Fossil Energy.
In the 1990s, Wells edited the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) official magazine, Petroleum Independent. He also served as the first communications manager for the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC), where he designed the council's logo and published its first newsletter, PTTC Network News. He previously worked for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (Freddie Mac) as an internal communication specialist.
Wells won the 1985 grand prize in recognition of photographic excellence for the American Energy Week "America's Energy Picture" national competition. He began his oil patch career reporting on the industry as a staff writer for The American Oil and Gas Reporter, after receiving Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, Lawrence.
"Too few young people understand the modern oil and natural gas business – how it operates, and why it remains a vital American industry, even as we look to new energy sources. Too few adults recognize the industry’s technological accomplishments since 1859 or the widespread role petroleum products play in our lives."
Volunteers
Kristin L. Wells, Contributing Editor, Naples, Florida
Timothy G. Wells, Membership Director, Huntsville, Alabama
AOGHS is a 501(c)-3 nonprofit organization. Location: 1201 15th Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005 |
