Posts filed under 'Public History'
Cleveland History Blog (and the “Long Tail”)
I recently ran across an interesting blog by Bill Barrow who is Special Collections Librarian at the Cleveland State University Library. He has written three articles about how Web 2.0 technology can be used to promote local history, such as the MemoryArchive site where people can directly contribute their own stories.
Bill Barrow also talks about Chris Anderson’s new book, The Long Tail, and relates it to public history. In the book, Anderson explains how a “hit driven” commercial environment prevents 80% of products from reaching an audience who might enjoy them. He explains that the Internet, however, can expose that 80% to an audience and be profitable as well. Bill Barrow believes that the same philosophy applies to history - with the “long tail” being historical material tucked away in archives, libraries and so on. Barrow believes there is an audience for all kinds of history and that Web 2.0 emerging media can give new life to forgotten (or rarely used) material.
Read Bill Barrow’s articles - “A new approach to local history” – on the Cleveland History Blog:
“Part one: History 2.0, SDS and Participation“
Add comment October 7, 2006
Do We Need Public History?
Do we need to expand the audience for history beyond the classroom? And explore various media for doing so?
I think so… Listen to this “history short” from The History Channel Magazine, August 2006 issue, page 9.
“Could you name all five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment? How about all five family members from the animated TV series The Simpsons?
According to a survey by the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum, only 28 percent of Americans are able to name more than one of the five First Amendment freedoms guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution, compared with 52 percent of all Americans who could name at least two Simpsons. D’oh!
In case you might have forgotten, the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and petition for redress of grievances.”
Add comment September 30, 2006
What is Public History?
I will start with the definition highlighted on the Public History Resource Center’s Web site (from New York University’s Graduate program in Public History.)
“Public History is history that is seen, heard, read, and interpreted by a popular audience. Public historians … emphasize non-traditional evidence and presentation formats. Public history … belongs to the public.”
However, the site encouraged its readers to send in their definitions of public history. Another definition that I liked came from Chelsea Paige Buffington:
“Public historians, as opposed to academic historians, work with and for the general public. They work in archives, museums, public policy organizations, historical societies, and in media. Public historians are devoted to practicing history outside of the classroom.”
And another statement from Debra DeRuyver:
“Public history is the belief that history … matters in the way people go about their day-to-day lives.”
All the definitions emphasize that public history is targeted to a large, public audience, and that it takes many forms - oral histories, music, photographs, and works of art - that can be easily presented on the Web.
Should be a fun exploration!
Add comment September 10, 2006
About this blog
For this blog, for a class in Emerging Technology at the University of Texas at Dallas, I will be exploring…
- What is public history?
- What role does emerging technology play in it?
- What role can I play in it?
Add comment September 10, 2006
