Kim Burdick

Photo by Jim Smigie.

About:

Fondly known as “Mrs. History,” Kim Burdick is one of Delaware’s best-known communicators. In 2008, she was named Chevalier l’Ordre des Palmes académiques by the French government for her work commemorating French assistance in the American Revolution. In demand as a speaker and consultant on history and historic preservation issues, Kim’s recent book, Revolutionary Delaware, received first place in the Delaware Press Association competition. Several of her articles on the American Revolution can be found online at https://allthingsliberty.com/author/kim-burdick/ .

 

      In March 2017, she assisted museum staff with the opening of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, and coordinated the Delaware-based symposium, “Voices of the Past: Black Patriots of the American Revolution.” Advisor Emerita of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and past chairman of the Delaware Humanities Council, Kim was honored in 2016 by the State of Delaware for her work on the 50th Anniversary of the Nation’s Historic Preservation laws.

 

Contact:

kimrburdick@aol.com

Resumé:

Skills

Known non-profit leader
Ability to make decisions and solve problems
Ability to communicate verbally with people inside and outside an organization
Ability to obtain and process information
Advocacy and lobbying
Coordination of meetings and programs
Former ELI tutor. Homestay family since early 1990s.
Grant-writing
Strategic planning

Education

  • MPA, Public Policy and Agency Management. School of Public Policy & Administration, College of Urban Affairs, University of Delaware. 1989-1990. *
  • MA, American Folk Culture and Museum Studies. Cooperstown Graduate Programs, SUNY Oneonta, New York.
  • Certificate, DALF. French. L’Université de Neuchatel, Switzerland.
  • BA, Art History. SUNY Cortland, New York.

* MPA Thesis cited in: Rosenthal, Alan. The Third House: Lobbyists. Eagleton Institute. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 1993 and  in: Boyer, William W and Edward C. Ratledge. Delaware Politics and Government. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2009.

Awards

2017   Delaware Press Association Communicator of Achievement
2016   Preservation 50-State of Delaware
2011   NEH- SHEAR Summer Scholar
2010   Good Citizen Medal. DESSAR
2008   Les Palmes Academiques – French Government.
2004   French Advocate of the Year. French Faculty, University of Delaware
2000-2001 Hagley-Winterthur Research Fellow.
1994   CSG Toll Fellow

Career

  • Burdick Associates: Building History specializes in strategic planning, grant-writing, National Register Nominations, and short-term project management opportunities. Currently, Burdick Associates is providing contract managerial services to People to People Delaware. 2017-2018 programs have included grant-writing, JFC application work, bringing Mary Eisenhower, International Chairman of PtPI, to Delaware to speak at DelState University and at Widener Law School, and working on “Meet & Greet Buffets” for international scholars from U.S. Department of State SUSI programs in cooperation with U. D’s Institute for Global Studies.https://www.facebook.com/People-To-People-Delaware-Chapter-174564359244967/

 

Note: Kim’s students were assigned three papers, a book report, facilitated group discussions, worksheets, and weekly homework in lieu of standardized exams.

 

  • Delaware General Assembly. (1987-1998). House-Senate Liaison. Legislative analyst and speech writer. Kim was the official liaison between House, Senate, and State Agencies with an assigned focus on agriculture, environment, education, and international trade. 1990s. Worked with Senator Andrew G. Knox and the Council of State Governments to establish an eastern regional trading block with Canada. Served as staff to Governor’s International Trade Council. 1992. National Conference of State Legislatures’ 18th Annual Meeting: Committee on Agriculture and International Trade. Kim was guest panelist on Regional Cooperation, along with the Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs, Alberta, Canada, and the Director of Tennessee’s Export Office. Moderated by Representative Tom Moyer of Alaska. 1994+ Coordinated a 9-state and DC effort to encourage the development of the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail. https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/110th-congress/house-report/736/1.

Boards and Volunteer Activities

National Trust for Historic Preservation (1991–2000). Delaware representative to National Trust’s Board Advisors, with Eldon Homsey.

Hale Byrnes House (Jun 2008 – Present). Resident “Eyes and Ears on the Land.” House belongs to State Division of Historical Affairs, is managed by a 501c-3. Kim & Ralph rent the house from the 501 c-3, pay all utility bills, heat, light, water, etc., and provide public programs. Along with the Board, the Burdicks have increased visitation from 70 people pre-2008 to over 1,000 visitors in 2017. Kim wrote grants for structural repairs and received $48,000 from Longwood Foundation which has helped enormously to stabilize this important 1750 house.

Coordinator of American Revolution Round Table of Northern Delaware. (See above: www.Halebyrnes.org)

George Washington Society (May 2012 – Present). Board President. George Washington Society of Delaware’s mission is good scholarship and good fellowship. GWS is a non-partisan, apolitical, 35-year-old non-profit dedicated to public programs and research related to study of George Washington. The Delaware society is a long-term supporter of Mount Vernon and has contributed a large collection of books related to Washington to the Wesley College library. Public outreach efforts include: 2017 “Voices of the Past: Black Patriots of the American Revolution” symposium at Delaware Historical Society and 2014 “George Washington: Man & Myth” Symposium at Old Courthouse Museum, New Castle. Kim Burdick, Project Coordinator. Please visit the George Washington Society on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/George-Washington-Society-140896772630326/

Delaware Press Association. At -Large- Board Member. 2017 Communicator of Achievement.                       The purpose of Delaware Press Association is to promote and uphold the highest ideals and standards of journalism and communications, to encourage the exchange of ideas and experiences, to offer professional development opportunities, to recognize outstanding work and to coordinate the efforts of the DPA affiliate and the National Federation of Press Women.

Publications. Kim’s writing career began when she was in 10th grade when she wrote two public television scripts based on the Golden Age of Homespun for STETA TV, Binghamton, New York’s then brand-new Public Television Station. Kim’s most recent publications may be read online at: https://allthingsliberty.com/author/kim-burdick/. Her book, Revolutionary Delaware: Independence in the First State, published by History Press in 2016, won first place in the Delaware Press Association’s writers’ contest in the non-fiction category, and second place in the same category at the 2017 competition held by the National Federation of Press Women.

See also: https://dlc.lib.de.us/client/default/search/results?qu=burdick%2C+kim&te=

Delaware Humanities Forum. Speakers Bureau. Former Council Member. Former Council Chairman. Kim has been affiliated with the Delaware Humanities Forum since the early 1980s when long-ago staff person, Judy Just, discovered Kim had been trained as a professional folklorist and encouraged her to lobby for the creation of a Delaware State Folklorist position. Please see: http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/findaids/burdick.htm for more information.

Suggested Reference Contacts:

Sussex:            Hazel Brittingham, former DHF Council Member
Kent:                 Craig Lukezic, State Archaeologist
New Castle:    Senator Margaret Rose Henry