An American Association for State and Local History Guide to Making Public History
Edited by Bob Beatty
Publication date:
27 October 2017Length of book:
260 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersISBN-13: 9781442264137
Gain insight into history organizations of all shapes and sizes in this book, which addresses the opportunities and challenges of public historians’ work through the prism of the past, present, and future of our communities and institutions, as well as the public history field itself. Featuring essays from some of the leading thinkers in the profession, this book not only looks at major themes as they relate to historians’ work but also inspires creativity in how they approach their work in an institutional and personal sense.
The themes themselves are important, but even more important are the articles (presented here as chapters) that amplify the overarching themes. Chapters discuss in-depth and through real-world examples, the work of history organizations. They specifically focus on the challenges and opportunities that are important to any nonprofit (or small business)—entrepreneurship, change, transformation, possibility/opportunity, partnerships—but also those unique to history organizations, leverage the asset of history to: explore place, commemorate the past (and therefore better understand the present), demonstrate how it is people who make history, and discern how to use the past to chart the future.
Together, An American Association for State and Local History Guide to Making Public History provides a roadmap of the national discussions the field of history museums and organizations is having regarding its present and the future.
The themes themselves are important, but even more important are the articles (presented here as chapters) that amplify the overarching themes. Chapters discuss in-depth and through real-world examples, the work of history organizations. They specifically focus on the challenges and opportunities that are important to any nonprofit (or small business)—entrepreneurship, change, transformation, possibility/opportunity, partnerships—but also those unique to history organizations, leverage the asset of history to: explore place, commemorate the past (and therefore better understand the present), demonstrate how it is people who make history, and discern how to use the past to chart the future.
Together, An American Association for State and Local History Guide to Making Public History provides a roadmap of the national discussions the field of history museums and organizations is having regarding its present and the future.
[The book] presents America’s (public) history organizations as more lively and relevant than ever, pressing challenges notwithstanding. Bob’s Guide to Making Public History is a wide-ranging book, bringing together essays by important thinkers from between 2008-2017 on topics such as entrepreneurship, change management, relevance, partnerships, etc. Key themes in the book include financial and institutional stability, change and transformation, collections, diversity and inclusion, and the relevance of the history field as a whole. Each essay is introduced by Bob, who adds invaluable context and additional sources…. Fortunately, the book is full of promising case studies of public history organizations that have tried to become relevant and sustainable again…. Some chapters transcend the level of a guidebook and give directions on another level, most notably Edward T. Linenthal’s reflections on commemoration and David A. Janssen’s story about the rebirth of Detroit…. Instead, the image of the sector Bob’s book paints is one of a sector that feels a strong need to play an important, relevant role in society, and one that feels empowered and enabled to do so. This confidence is rooted in research and best practice. For me, this is the great strength of the book. It covers a formative period for many history (and other cultural heritage) organizations and by looking at many case studies at the same time, manages to give a convincing roadmap of possible futures for all of us.