PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS Volume 39 | Number 3 | June 2019

ANNUAL MEETING WRAP-UP MEGHAN HILLMAN / [email protected] the message was clear: we came to Hartford to reckoning for NCPH’s small full-time staff, all From March 27-30, 2019, NCPH joined over push ourselves. We came to work. three of whom are women: how do we meet 950 public historians in Hartford, Connecticut the needs of nearly a thousand conference for our annual meeting. This was our biggest attendees while also taking care of ourselves? stand-alone conference to date. We attribute the high attendance to the East Coast location, but also to the particularly strong theme of “Repair Work,” the growing prominence of the public history field, and the robust promotion and support of the conference locally by the Local Arrangements Committee.

This theme, “Repair Work,” called on public Elon Cook presents to a packed house for session 36, You Can’t Handle historians to consider the work we have done the Truth! at the 2019 conference. and the work we have yet to accomplish NCPH President Marla Miller thanks 2019 Local Arrangements Committee Chairs Elizabeth Shapiro and Leah Glaser and 2019 Program to repair ourselves, our networks, and our NCPH’s own necessary work is not Committee Chairs Seth Bruggeman and Cathy Stanton. Photo by Melody communities. As it was explicitly designed to comfortable, seamless, or anywhere near Hunter-Pillion. do, the theme prompted conversations about finished. As you can read about in the piece 2019 brought a few organizational changes to inclusion and intersectionality, accessibility, written by members of the NCPH Board on the conference which grew out of a 2018 On activism, and self-care, yielding a great many page 4, the Hartford conference made it clear the Fly session hosted by NCPH’s Diversity and sessions on these topics. My sense is that most that NCPH as an organization must do more Inclusion Task Force. That session, “Sexual of us who organize conferences feel ambivalent to provide support, training, and guidance to Harassment and Gender Discrimination about the nature of “the theme” (see, for those at risk for sexual harassment or gender in Public History,” yielded a series of example, the American Historical Association’s discrimination in the workplace. There remain recommended first steps for making our decision not to have a theme for its 2020 ongoing organizational challenges about annual meeting more inclusive and welcoming. annual meeting). However, I emerged from managing the growth of the annual meeting We put three of these recommendations into this conference cycle with a renewed belief while ensuring it retains the character of an practice in Hartford: all attendees were invited that a timely theme, passionately and clearly NCPH conference and remains accessible to share their pronouns with a sticker affixed to articulated, can play a powerful role in sharing to those who are so often excluded from their badge or person (NCPH provided stickers a program committee’s priorities and result in professional development opportunities. And to facilitate); two of the four sets of restrooms sessions that tackle those priorities. This year, on a personal level, it was also a moment of on our floor of the Connecticut Convention CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS: ARTISANAL PUBLIC HISTORY? MARLA MILLER / beautiful jewelry; and Julie Davis, Ashley “Craftsmanship is about telling a story with your [email protected] Bouknight, Cathy Stanton, Shirley Wajda, and hands,” as Alain Hayes explains in the digital pages Some of you know that I’m many others share my love of fiber arts. There of The Craftsmanship Initiative.1 Sometimes a fairly avid knitter. I feel are many more “makers” across the NCPH craftwork is part of public history practice itself: most relaxed when I have community. the meticulously researched faux food that Ashley needles in hand, and never Bouknight creates with papier mâché, plaster, seem to tire of looking at new I am also a historian of craft in the early American clay, and acrylic paint is as artful as it is powerful patterns, new yarns—all promises past. When I’m not engaged in my practice as a as an interpretive device. Other times this affinity of creativity, public historian and public history educator, I finds expression as public historians explore productivity, and research and write about gender and artisanal skill historical meanings of craft. In Massachusetts, th quiet contemplation in 18 -century New England (and, increasingly, Old Sturbridge Village is an iconic example of yet to come. And as a how that work is remembered in museums and that work; interpreters there, as they demonstrate crafter in the NCPH historic sites). And so I find myself thinking more 19th-century craftwork, help visitors understand community, I am and more lately about intersections across those longstanding local, regional, and global exchanges in good company. seemingly disparate arenas—about makers as of goods and skills. Meanwhile, Michigan State Seth Bruggeman is a public historians, and public historians as makers. University’s summer 2017 exhibit on craftivism, skilled woodworker; Knitting the Resistance: Crafting Political Protest from There is an easy affinity between public silversmith Joan the 2017 Women’s Marches, curated by Michigan Marla Miller is NCPH president and an historians and the maker movement. After all, avid knitter. Photo courtesy of author. Zenzen makes CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 PATRONS & PARTNERS The support of the following, each a leader in the field and committed to membership at the Patron or Partner level, makes the work of the National Council on Public History possible.

PATRONS PARTNERS History™ Kristin Ahlberg North Carolina State University, Dept. of History IUPUI, Dept. of History Arthur A. Wishart Library, Algoma University of California, Santa Barbara, Dept. of History University Oklahoma State University, Dept. of History Rutgers University – Camden, Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities Baldwin Wallace University, Dept. of History Rincon Tribal Museum American Association for State and Local History California State University at Chico, Riverside Church Archives American University, Dept. of History Dept. of History The American West Center, University of Utah Rutgers University – Newark, Canadian Museum of Immigration Graduate Program in American Arizona State University at Pier 21 Studies Bill Bryans Carleton University, Dept. of History Shippensburg University, Dept. of History California State University, San Bernardino, Dept. of History The CHAPS Program at The Central Connecticut State University, Dept. of History University of Texas – Rio Grande St. John’s University, Dept. of History Valley Chicago History Museum Stephen F. Austin State University, Historical Research Associates, Inc. The Civil War Institute at Gettysburg Dept. of History College John Nicholas Brown Center, Brown University University at Albany, SUNY, Dept. of Florida State University, Dept. of History Know History History University of California at Riverside, Loyola University, Dept. of History Frontier Culture Museum Dept. of History Middle Tennessee State University, Dept. of History Georgia State University, Heritage University of Massachusetts Boston, New Mexico State University, Dept. of History Preservation Program Dept. of History New York University, Dept. of History Girl Scouts of the USA University of North Carolina at Nicodemus NHS and Brown v. Board of Education NHS, National Park Service Charlotte, Dept. of History The Hermitage Omeka University of North Carolina at IEEE History Center at Stevens Greensboro, Dept. of History Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Institute of Technology University of Northern Iowa, Dept. The Rockefeller Archive Center Indiana University of Pennsylvania, of History Texas State University – San Marcos, Dept. of History Dept. of History University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, University of Central Florida, Dept. of History Kentucky Historical Society Dept. of History University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Dept. of History Sharon Leon University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dept. of History Meijer Heritage Center Dept. of History University of Nevada Las Vegas, Dept. of History Minnesota Historical Society West Virginia University, Dept. of University of North Alabama History Dept. & Muscle Shoals National Heritage Missouri Historical Society History Area National Library of Medicine of the Western Michigan University, Dept. University of Richmond, School of Professional & Continuing Studies National Institutes of Health of History University of South Carolina, Dept. of History The National Parks of Boston Gerald Zahavi University of West Georgia, Dept. of History Naval Undersea Museum Wells Fargo, History Dept. Robert Weyeneth THANK YOU!

HISTORY supports the NCPH for promoting the value and signifi cance of history every day. ©2010 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. 1292. All rights reserved. LLC. Networks, ©2010 A&E Television

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10-1292_HIST_Corp_ad_FIN.indd 1 11/4/10 4:49 PM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL MANY THANKS TO OUR 2019 NCPH ANNUAL ON PUBLIC HISTORY MEETING SPONSORS!

NCPH inspires public engagement with the past and serves the needs of practitioners in putting history to work GUARANTORS OF THE CONFERENCE Greenhouse Studios, University of Connecticut in the world by building community among historians, expanding professional skills and tools, fostering critical Central Connecticut State University IUPUI reflection on historical practice, and publicly advocating for history and historians. Public History News is published in March, June, September, and December. NCPH John Nicholas Brown Center for Public reserves the right to reject material that is not consistent Humanities, Brown University with the goals and purposes of the organization. Individual membership orders, changes of address, and business Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public and editorial correspondence should be addressed to Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office NCPH, 127 Cavanaugh Hall – IUPUI, 425 University Blvd., History at California State University, Fullerton Indianapolis, IN 46202-5140. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 317-274-2716. Join online or renew at www.ncph.org. Stevens Historical Research Associates Headquartered on the campus of IUPUI, NCPH is grateful for the generous support of the IU School of Liberal Arts Temple University and the Department of History. Know History University of California Press Images from Flickr are used under Creative Commons license as described at http://creativecommons.org/ University of Central Florida licenses/by/2.0/deed.en.

Printed on 50% recycled paper University of Massachusetts Amherst (25% post-consumer waste) University of Massachusetts Boston Marla Miller SUPPORTERS OF THE CONFERENCE President William Willingham Connecticut Humanities Gregory Smoak Vice President Historical Research Associates, Inc. IN-KIND SPONSORS Alexandra Lord Connecticut Historical Society Immediate Past President FRIENDS OF THE CONFERENCE Harriet Beecher Stowe Center Sharon Leon The American West Center, University of Utah Secretary-Treasurer Mark Twain House and Museum Stephanie Rowe Arizona State University Executive Director National Trust for Historic Preservation Canada’s History New England Air Museum

Marley Abbott Emily Cecil Erik Flesch Margaret Holmes Quenton Lyles Maddux Pearson Allie Todd Gallatin, TN San Antonio, TX Platteville, WI Chester, NY Newberry, SC Brooklyn, NY JB MDL, NJ Charles Allard Valerie Chase Michael Forino Rachel Hong Laura Macaluso Oscar Perez Wendy Trakes Nantucket, MA Coventry, CT East Haddam, CT Washington, DC Lynchburg, VA El Paso, TX Peoria, AZ Kaitlynn Anderson Richard Cheu Anna Fossi Julie Hulten Alison Mann Simon Perlsweig Anastasia Utke Fargo, ND New York, NY New Milford, CT North Haven, CT Washington, DC West Hartford, CT London, United Kingdom Robin Axelrod Karen Christianson Gail Friedman Geoffrey Hunt Karlyn Marcantonio Marissa Petrou Kaitlyn Wiley Farmington Hills, MI Chicago, IL Yardley, PA Denver, CO Meriden, CT Lafayette, LA Modesto, CA Carol Bacak-Egbo Lori Clark Eve Galanis Bridget Hurley Steve Mark Walter Powell Abigail Wilson Ortonville, MI West Chester Township, Bristol, CT Gaithersburg, MD Crater Lake, OR Plymouth, MA Edison, NJ OH Reginald Bacon Amy Glowacki Tiffany Isselhardt Penni Martorell Brooke Privette Gregory Wittkopp Newburyport, MA Noah Clark Springfield, MA Bowling Green, KY Holyoke, MA San Marcos, TX Bloomfield Hills, MI Sacramento, CA Gabriel Benjamin Susan Goganian Ramon Jackson Kassandra McAllister Heather Rasch Karen Wizevich Collinsville, CT William Clifton Beverly, MA Columbia, SC Leesville, LA Sanger, TX West Hartford, CT Schertz, TX Christine Blackerby Francis Joseph Goldkamp Christine Jankowski Allison McClure Nicole Rehnberg Johanna Yaun Washington, DC Kenneth Cohen Saint Louis, MO Bellevue, KY Bremen, GA Goleta, CA Goshen, NY Washington, DC Andrea Blackman Rebecca Goldman Lucy Jones Dylan McDonald Alec Rentas Kara Zelasko Nashville, TN Mitchell Cohen Framingham, MA Riverview, FL Las Cruces, NM Meriden, CT Washington, DC Henderson, NV Lori Bloch Irving Gomez Todd Jones Talyn McFarlane Shannon Rowe Stroudsburg, PA Kathleen Conti Bristol, CT Washington, DC Eau Claire, WI Lebanon, TN Austin, TX NCPH would like to Sean Blocher McTigue Rose Gorrell Jordan Kearschner Laurie Medford Alexander Sciranka extend a special thanks Amherst, MA Ashley Cornwell Fort Collins, CO Fort Collins, CO Chapel Hill, NC Bowling Green, OH to our new Patron and Beech Grove, IN Jason Boan Joann Griffin Amy Kellett Jen Myronuk Preston Shackelford Partner members San Marcos, TX Maia Council Brooklyn, NY Marblehead, MA Arlington, MA Selmer, TN Nicodemus NHS and Signal Mountain, TN Jacob Boucher Sarah Griswold Carla Kennedy Amirah Neely Dennis Shaffer Brown v. Board of Ashburn, MA Rachel Craft Washington Depot, CT Parkville, MD Richfield, WI Irvine, CA Education NHS, National Mullica Hill, NJ Park Service (Patron) Kaley Brown Grant Haas Amanda King Kerri Neuman Lori Shemanski Topeka, KS Columbia, SC Megan Crutcher Greeley, CO New Britain, CT Arlington, VA Forty Fort, PA Pittsburgh, PA Minnesota Historical Molly Brown Kara Haeseker Elizabeth Klopp Patrick Nunnally Oliver Sime Society (Partner) HISTORY supports the NCPH for New Members! Welcome Boston, MA Christine Delucia Raleigh, NC Terryville, CT St. Paul, MN Fargo, ND St. Paul, MN Chicago, IL Brigid Burke Donald Hall Georgina Laragy Cheryl O’Connell Eve Snyder The Riverside Church New Britain, CT Connor Diaz Silver Spring, MD Dublin, Ireland Holyoke, MA Binghamton, NY Archives (Partner) Shelton, CT promoting the value and signifi cance Heidi Butler Ashley Hamrick Robert Larson Patricia Oldham Kenneth Souders New York, NY Lansing, MI Zachary Distel Sacramento, CA Columbus, OH Brooklyn, NY Riegelsville, PA For a complete list of Louisville, KY Hannah Byrne Elizabeth Hanson Megan Letrick Amanda Orihuela Charles Stiles NCPH Patrons and of history every day. Washington, DC Derek Duquette Nyack, NY Sewickley, PA Parker, CO Boonsboro, MD Partners, visit Reading, PA ncph.org/about/ Noel Cain John Harris Rachel Lima Nicholas Palomba Lydia Strickling patronspartners/ Guilford, CT Jina DuVernay Rego Park, NY Wilton, CT Oakville, CT Bethel Park, PA Decatur, GA Lauren Canty Alex Herlihy Caleb Lincoln Samantha Parker Matthew Talley Brooklyn, NY Justin Edwards Rye, NH Chester, CT Towson, MD Plainville, CT Ellington, CT Matthew Cassady Rhonda Hinther Kira Lyle Zoraida Payne Sarah Thorncroft ©2010 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. 1292. All rights reserved. LLC. Networks, ©2010 A&E Television Saint Paul, MN Winnipeg, Canada Columbia, SC San Diego, CA Winter Springs, FL

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10-1292_HIST_Corp_ad_FIN.indd 1 11/4/10 4:49 PM FROM #METOO TO PREVENTION KRISTEN BALDWIN DEATHRIDGE / and gender discrimination; and preventing This subcommittee will also explore hosting [email protected] MODUPE LABODE / [email protected] sexual harassment. During and immediately virtual listening sessions for members and SHARON LEON / [email protected] following the conference, members of NCPH’s providing additional virtual and in-person MARLA MILLER / [email protected] executive committee fielded and followed up harassment and intervention training for STEPHANIE ROWE /[email protected] GREGORY SMOAK / [email protected] on a number of Code of Conduct violation organizational leadership (board, committee reports to find resolutions. Diversity and chairs, and staff) as well as the membership at One year ago this month, in this space, NCPH Inclusion Task Force members Modupe large. board, staff, and Diversity and Inclusion Labode and GVGK Tang led a productive Task Force members wrote about NCPH’s conversation during the Public History We’re working now to appoint members to commitment to combatting issues of sexual Educator’s Forum about the roles and this subcommittee. We’re pleased to announce harassment and gender discrimination in the responsibilities of public history program that board members Kristen Baldwin field of public history. We shared some of faculty in responding to reports of sexual Deathridge, Modupe Labode, and Joan Zenzen the issues and opportunities coming out of harassment and discrimination. Participants have volunteered to serve. Baldwin Deathridge an “On the Fly” session held during our 2018 left that Forum with a stronger sense of will co-chair the group along with Mary Rizzo, annual meeting in Las Vegas—organized by specific steps they can take to improve a former board member who currently serves the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force in the ways they address this topic inside the on the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and response to emerging conversations both classroom and out. authored the Task Force’s report on sexual nationwide and within NCPH—and described harassment and gender discrimination in the how we anticipated framing that work moving We’re grateful to NCPH member Chelsea field last year. This subcommittee will work forward. Miller from the New York State Coalition collaboratively with other standing committees Against Sexual Assault and their colleague charged with addressing pieces of this work, Michelle Carroll from End Rape on Campus like the new Governance Committee, the for proposing and facilitating bystander Curriculum and Training Committee, and intervention training in Hartford. We’re also the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. indebted to the many brave members and The subcommittee will coordinate with the attendees who—on social media, in sessions, new Governance Committee to review and and in committee meetings—shared their revise our codes and policies. These include stories about sexual harassment and trauma working on updates to our new Events Code in the field. Knowing that no one should have of Conduct in light of its first deployment at to endure these experiences, NCPH will work the Hartford meeting and revisiting our Code in a variety of ways so that in the future our of Ethics and Professional Conduct, which was members will not be expected to require such last updated in 2007. professional courage. We are committed to confronting these issues in the public history We recognize that the steps we’ve taken are community, and we pledge to continue imperfect and preliminary, and that much working to make NCPH a safe and responsive work lies ahead. Patriarchal power operates Pop-Up - From #MeToo to Prevention - Bystander Intervention Training environment in problematic ways across our organization for Public History and Museum Professionals facilitated by Chelsea Miller and our fields of practice. As public history (left) and Michelle Carroll (on screen). Photo courtesy of Kelly Schmidt. for all. professionals, we have a responsibility to After receiving the official report from the In April 2019, NCPH’s board of directors look at the power structures that NCPH as an Diversity and Inclusion Task Force on their convened virtual meetings to discuss next steps organization both benefits from and helps to short- and long-term recommendations, in this work, voting unanimously to establish uphold through our board structure, awards NCPH staff and board began working in a board-led subcommittee to enact more of programs, networking events, and other earnest to implement some of them in time the recommendations outlined in the report programs, and we are deeply committed to for the 2019 Hartford conference. In August coming out of the 2018 “On the Fly” session. these urgent conversations. 2018, on History@Work, Program Manager These recommendations include: Meghan Hillman reported on the planning In the meantime, if survivors of sexual assault, and implementation of several short-term • a survey collecting data on sexual abuse, or harassment in the public history recommendations that would be put in place harassment and gender discrimination in community would like free, confidential in Hartford (including options to indicate public history; support regarding past or ongoing experiences: pronouns on conference badges and access to • the development of readings and all-gender restrooms—read more about this on materials on these issues to help students Chelsea Miller, a public historian currently the first page of this issue). In November, the understand our professional norms and working at the New York State Coalition board voted to adopt a Code of Conduct for identify problematic or illegal behavior if Against Sexual Assault (NYSCASA), can NCPH sponsored events developed by a board they encounter it in the workplace; assist you with locating advocates and subcommittee. The new code can be found at resources in your community. Contact • training for faculty in public history http://bit.ly/NCPHEventsCodeofConduct. Chelsea by email at [email protected] or programs so they are able to better by phone at 518-482-4222 ext. 300. The work continued at the 2019 meeting, support their students and alumni; exploring how the field can adopt an • and collaboration with other professional The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National intersectional approach toward protecting organizations to coordinate efforts for Network (RAINN), organizes the National public historians; confronting racial, ethnic, greater efficacy and impact. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 4 PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS: ARTISANAL PUBLIC HISTORY? // CONT’D. FROM PAGE 1 State University exhibits, documentaries, or other products historians as makers. In many ways, it is the ideal Museum often reach large numbers of people. But much conversation to follow our 2019 contemplation curators Shirley of public history does seem to fit definitions of “Repair Work.” The 2020 Call for Proposals— Wajda, Mary of artisanry that aligns with 18th-century illustrated with Atlanta quilter Aisha Lumumba’s Worrall, Lynne understandings of the term, as “bespoke” work powerful “A Quilter’s Dream”—proposes quilts as Swanson, and in which producers and consumers collaborate a metaphor for public history practice, in the ways Molly McBride, to create something, a product, that will have a that these objects represent the active arrangement took up more fairly limited circulation. of materials that, in reconstellation, find new Knitting the Resistance, Michigan State University Museum. Image courtesy of Pearl contemporary meanings. The threads that secure these materials Yee Wong. craftwork, In the past, artisans collaborated with clients to join layers of fabric: some (the presentation side) documenting and exploring the hows and whys create the resulting product. Customers brought are visible to all, who then observe and appreciate of the “pussyhat” phenomenon and thus joining a ideas to the table about what they had seen and the choices made as the pieces are assembled; long tradition of museum exhibitions exploring what they needed, which craftspeople absorbed some (the backing) are visible only to the most the political implications of handwork in the past in the context of their own knowledge and skills. intimate observers, who can appreciate the work and in the present. The garments, tables, and buildings that emerged of, say, the weavers whose work provides essential from those conversations reflected both sets of foundation; and still more (the batting) are visible In other collaborations, craft offers a means needs, abilities, and priorities: those of the user only to the makers, who recognize the work of of historical inquiry and expression. The and of the maker. hands unseen in the final product. Many hands extraordinary Witness Tree Project, for surround the frame. instance—now in its tenth year—“arranges for Likewise, most public historians work somehow fallen witness trees” (that is, trees that shaded in collaboration with the audiences and/or Those choices resonate for me as a public and sheltered historical events) to be shipped recipients of their efforts. When consultants historian, as we recognize the complexity of the from National Park Service sites to the Rhode prepare an administrative history or ethnographic work we do and the many makers, obvious and Island School of Design, “where, in a joint history report for the National Park Service, or a non- hidden, direct and indirect, who are all present in seminar and furniture studio, students interpret profit group commissions an oral history project, the final result. Threads have other purposes too. the history of a given tree’s site and make we might see that work as artisanal. When public For instance, when building in other materials, relevant objects from the tree’s wood.” (https:// historians produce environmental, land, and particularly wood, it is the helical ridge running www.witnesstreeproject.org/). The many water use histories that are used by the courts, or down the cylinder of a screw or a bolt—the extraordinary examples of creative expression they consult with municipalities to help arrange threads—that fasten materials together, their that have emerged from this project engage records, we might see that as akin to the “small power depending in part on how closely they powerful and often painful moments of the batch” work of artisans. And public history, are gathered. Threading, Seth Bruggeman has American past. like artisanry, also involves specialized training taught me, also “requires attentiveness to pitch in which aspiring practitioners often learn by and the qualities of the materials that the threads Such initiatives have particular public appeal in watching more experienced workers, taking on will bind (broad pitch in softwood, narrow in a moment that is celebrating the handmade, and gradually-more-complex projects as they advance hard).” That is, achieving strength also requires the “makers” whose skill and knowledge create in their own abilities. an awareness of difference. beauty, functionality, and innovation. Libraries and museums have created “makerspaces” in Public historians, then, might also be seen as Our power depends on how closely we are which users develop and practice hands-on skills, “makers.” The Maker Movement, as its many gathered, and our ability to understand and and college campuses are exploring the concept observers have explained, is about invention and appreciate difference. Collect your tools, makers: as part of a larger engagement in collaborative, creativity; functionality and resourcefulness; skill I’ll see you in Atlanta. participatory, and project-based learning, and sustainability. So too is public history. We and embrace of pedagogical demeanors that “create” community, “build” trust, and “make” -Marla Miller is the President of NCPH and is emphasize experimentation and play. change. professor and director of the public history program in the history department at the University of As a historian of early American labor, I tend to The theme of our 2020 gathering in Atlanta, Massachusetts Amherst. “Threads of Change,” developed by program notice references to things “artisanal” (this—the 1 https://craftsmanship.net/blog/finding-your-ikigai-in- rise of everything from artisanal bread and beers co-chairs Ashley Bouknight and Brian Joyner craftsmanship/. My thanks to Shirley Wajda and Seth Bruggeman to artisanal head-hunting firms—is a whole other and their committee members, nods to public for their invaluable help thinking through these ideas. topic for another day). Suffice it to say that today, the term “artisanal” intends to signal high-quality 2020 ANNUAL MEETING CALL FOR PROPOSALS “THREADS OF CHANGE” or distinctive products made by hand in small Atlanta, Georgia As NCPH celebrates its 40th year, it is March 18-21, 2020 an ideal time to recognize the totality quantities, but when we think about it in the The Westin Peachtree Plaza of practitioners across the field. Public th 18 century, we tend to emphasize people who history work lives in museums, archives, were “skilled in an applied art.” (The Oxford The raw materials of public history lay publications, and historic places—but English Dictionary, by the way, cites Johnson’s in communities, among people and it’s also history as activism, history as their stories. As public historians, we storytelling, and history as healing. 1751 Rambler No. 145, which read “The meanest encourage people to remember aloud, Our challenge is to return to our local, artisan…contributes more to the accommodation giving presence to the intangibles of activist roots, to forge new and stronger of life, than the profound scholar”). cultural memory not always captured or partnerships, and to incorporate new fabric contextualized in formal spaces. From into our collective endeavor, one thread at threads, fragments, and disparate materials, a time. That phrase—“skilled in an applied art”—will public historians create multilayered quilts The online proposal system is open at sound familiar to public historians. So, could of historical meaning that reflect, frame, http://bit.ly/ncph2020. Proposals are due “A Quilter’s Dream” Quilt by deconstruct, reassemble, and repurpose public history be considered artisanal? In some Aisha Lumumba of Atlanta, July 15, 2019. ways, I think yes. To be sure, there are many Georgia. Image used courtesy narratives. No matter the participants or of the artist. www.obaquilts.com. where they learn their craft, the constant in forms of public history, and some quite scalable; this work is change. PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS 5 2017 END OF YEAR FINANCIAL REPORT The 2018 fiscal year ended well, with a hiring freeze. These increased expenses slight surplus. Membership numbers and related to fiscal independence from Indiana subscriptions to The Public Historian leveled off University are a motivator for our Endowment from previous years of significant growth. The fundraising campaign. 2018 conference fell just shy of income goals and expenses were high in Las Vegas. The During the Fall 2018 Board Meeting, the board was also successful in meeting its modest board voted to move $16,191 of the 2017 fundraising goal for the 2018 Annual Fund, surplus into the Endowment and to use the bringing in just over $5,000 (this goal was set remaining $32,000 to establish an operational lower than past years to allow the organization reserve fund with the goal of eventually to focus on our 2020 Vision Endowment- growing that fund to one-third of the annual building campaign). operating budget. Maintaining such a fund is a recommended best practice for non-profit Administrative costs for the organization organizations. During the Spring 2019 Board came slightly over-budget. Staff line expenses Meeting, the board approved moving the have shifted due to changes with how IUPUI modest 2018 surplus into the organization’s bills salaries and benefits and because NCPH Endowment. Moving into 2019, the board has Secretary/Treasurer Sharon Leon, Executive Director Stephanie Rowe, President Marla Miller, and The Public Historian Editor James Brooks now covers all of the Program Manager’s already begun to commit funds raised towards addressed the membership Thursday afternoon of the Hartford salary and benefits. The organization took on the Endowment campaign to increase budget conference. Photo by Jess Lamar Reece Holler. this cost from the IU School of Liberal Arts lines for Diversity and Inclusion support at in June 2018 in an effort to fill the partially the annual meeting and to establish a new vacated position during a school-wide staff “accessibility” line item for NCPH events.

NCPH 2018 Operating Budget January-December 2017 Budget 2017 Actual 2018 Budget 2018 Actual Income Memberships & Partners/Patrons $118,300 $125,989 $121,000 $124,476 TPH Institutional Subscriptions $16,500 $22,396 $19,500 $20,827 Annual Meetings & Mini Cons $146,000 $150,774 $158,000 $156,987 IUPUI Projects & O’Brien Lecture $9,500 $0 $9,500 $19,000 Interfund Transfer from DIF & Endowment Earnings $38,100 $34,578 $37,450 $33,995 Miscellaneous $1,050 $1,821 $2,450 $3,299 Grant Projects $0 $0 $0 $12,500 Contributions to Annual Fund $7,000 $9,229 $5,000 $5,068 Encumbered 2017 Surplus $0 $0 $7,500 $7,500 Total Operating Budget Income $336,450 $344,787 $360,400 $383,652

Expenses Membership $21,700 $17,368 $21,654 $21,381 Annual Meeting $99,625 $78,557 $124,764 $126,908 Publications $27,750 $26,074 $28,250 $29,509 Awards $8,100 $8,289 $7,850 $6,892 Administration $152,224 $147,246 $163,431 $168,845 Board & Committees $5,250 $6,532 $4,800 $6,261 Biennial Audit/Review $4,000 $4,000 $0 $0 Advocacy & Participation in Other Associations $7,855 $8,530 $8,530 $8,530 Grant Projects $0 $0 $0 $12,500 Total Operating Budget Expenses $326,504 $296,596 $359,279 $380,826

Net Operating (Deficit)/Surplus $9,946 $48,191 $1,121 $2,826

6 PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS ACTIONS OF THE NCPH BOARD OF DIRECTORS After the October 26 and 27, 2018 meeting of the • Voted (with one abstention) to endorse a • Voted to move the 2018 surplus into the NCPH Board of Directors in Atlanta, Georgia, statement in opposition to Article 6 of the Endowment. and prior to the spring meeting in Hartford, European Parliament’s proposed Revised • Approved the Finance Committee’s Connecticut, the board convened electronically and Copyright Directive. recommendation to invest the portion by telephone and took the following actions: • Voted to work with leadership of the of the 2017 surplus dedicated to seeding Society for United States Intellectual a new Operational Reserve Fund into a History, Inc. to enter into a fiscal Vanguard Money Market account. sponsorship agreement to support their • Voted to pursue hosting the 2022 Annual work. Meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. • Voted (with one abstention) to endorse • Reviewed reports from NCPH committees a letter from 30+ scholarly societies to and task forces. government officials in Alaska regarding proposed budget cuts for higher education. • Heard a report from Development Committee co-chairs Bill Bryans and Dee • Voted to extend the terms of four Harris on the 2020 Vision campaign to international consulting editors for The raise funds for the Endowment. NCPH Board members hard at work during the Spring meeting. Photo Public Historian. by Emma Falcon. • Approved the minutes of the Fall 2018 • Voted to endorse (with 97 additional Board Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia; signers) a letter from the National Trust the November 2018 Virtual Board for Historic Preservation to the chairs and Meeting, the December 2018 Virtual ranking members of the Senate Energy Board Meeting; a December 2018 virtual and Natural Resources Commission and meeting of the executive committee; and the House Natural Resources Commission the February 2019 Virtual Board Meeting. supporting expanded use of leasing • Voted to adopt a Best Practices in Public historic buildings in our national parks. History document for Job Postings. • Voted to approve a social media plan and On Thursday, March 28, the NCPH Board of Development Committee Co-Chairs Bill Bryans and Dee Harris update guidelines for the organization. the Board and membership on the status of NCPH’s 2020 Vision Directors convened at the 2019 Annual Meeting Endowment Campaign. Photo by Melody Hunter-Pillion. • Voted to adopt a Code of Conduct for in Hartford, Connecticut and took the following the Annual Meeting and other NCPH actions: • Heard reports from The Public Historian programs. (TPH) Editor James Brooks and Managing • Recognized departing board members Editor Sarah Case, as well as a report from • Decided on reporting procedures for Code Vanessa Macias Camacho and Valerie TPH co-editor and NCPH Digital Media of Conduct violations for the 2019 NCPH Paley and welcomed incoming board Editor Nicole Belolan. Annual Meeting in Hartford. members Caridad de la Vega and Nicole • Voted to adopt a recommended change • Voted to write a letter of support Moore along with renewing board to the bylaws to create a new Governance for involvement in an American member Modupe Labode. Committee for the organization. Association for State and Local History • Elected board member Joan Zenzen to grant applications to work with the the executive committee to succeed board • Heard a report from a partnerships FrameWorks Institute. member Modupe Labode, whose term on subcommittee of the board and adopted their recommended guidelines for NCPH • Voted to issue a statement on the the executive committee was ending. partnerships 2017-2022. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill • Reviewed 2018 FY financials and Board of Trustees’ Recommendation for discussed the potential use of the the Disposition and Preservation of the 2018 surplus. Confederate Monument.

FROM #METOO TO PREVENTION // CONT’D. FROM PAGE 4 Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline. The urgent issues. If you have feedback, areas of is Associate Professor of History and Museum Hotline is a referral service that can put concern, ideas for how we can move forward, Studies at IUPUI. Sharon Leon is the Secretary/ you in contact with your local rape crisis/ or experience and/or training with rapid Treasurer of NCPH and an Associate Professor of sexual violence program, which has responses to reports of sexual harassment, History at Michigan State University. Marla Miller trained advocates on staff who can provide please reach out via [email protected]. is President of NCPH and Professor and Director free, confidential support. You can call of the Public History Program at the University the Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, or access -Kristen Baldwin Deathridge is a member of the of Massachusetts Amherst. Stephanie Rowe is RAINN’s online chat service: NCPH Board of Directors and the NCPH Digital Executive Director of NCPH. Gregory Smoak is the www.rainn.org/get-help. Media Group and an Assistant Professor of History Vice-President of NCPH and an Associate Professor at Appalachian State University. Modupe Labode is of History at the University of Utah as well as We look forward to working with our a member of the NCPH Board of Directors, NCPH the Director of the American West Center at the members as we all strive to address these Digital Media Group, and @NCPHInclusion and University of Utah. PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS 7 2019 NEW PROFESSIONAL AWARD WINNER HIGHLIGHTS NCPH’s New Professional Travel Awards are Conservation Experience (ACE) Fellow at institution comprised completely of emerging for individuals new to the field and practice the National Park Service, and the award I professionals, it is easy to let doubt creep of public history. These two grants assist new received from NCPH, was gratifying. in. Listening to other public historians at professionals in attending the conference, all career stages, hearing their struggles and helping them become more connected with I also had the chance to present my work at victories, and learning new ways of seeing and other members of the profession early in their the awards showcase. My primary project at solving challenges is part of what makes NCPH careers. NCPH acknowledges the generous the Park Service is the implementation of the so valuable. support of Historical Research Associates, Inc. African American Civil Rights Network. The (HRA) for underwriting one of these awards Network was signed into law in January 2018 I found several sessions in particular and award committee members Lara Kelland and recognizes both National Park Service fascinating, though it’s always impossible (chair), Cecelia Moore, James H. Williams, (NPS) and non-NPS units with significant ties to only pick one at a time. “Home Repair and Deirdre Clemente for their work selecting to the black freedom struggle in the United (S17)” pushed attendees to reimagine historic th this year’s winners: Porsha Dossie and Sonya States during the 20 century. So many people, house museums and find a social justice lens Laney. NCPH asked our winners to share my fellow awardees included, had such kind in which to view the stories that are told. their experiences at the 2019 NCPH and encouraging words for me after the At the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, Annual Meeting. presentation and I think that speaks to the we continue to repair the idea that Canary kind of conference environment NCPH has Cottage, the home of an African American developed. I also enjoyed hearing about the educator who started one of the first elite fascinating work the other awardees created. It Black preparatory schools in the nation in the was exciting to see the diversity of the public early 20th century, is more than just a house. history field and many of the projects, panels, The session filled me with inspiration and and presentations spoke to the promise of its ideas on how to approach our site in a more future. I left Hartford energized and feeling creative way for visitors. “Complicating the part of a community. #NCPH2020 can’t come Narrative/Repairing Relationships (S29)” fast enough. provided insight on tackling institutional challenges like difficult interpretive decisions -Porsha Dossie is an emerging public historian and problematic programs. As a small state specializing in African-American history, digital government site with a limited budget, our humanities and historic preservation, currently museum is constantly working to provide on a fellowship with the National Park Service in the best interpretation and programming Washington, DC. possible and session participants gave hopeful advice. Finally, “You Can’t Handle the Truth!: Reconciling Painful Histories (S36)” discussed some examples of difficult topics and ways that Porsha Dossie accepts her award from NCPH President Marla Miller at the Awards Breakfast. Photo by Emma Falcon. public historians can approach them to engage with their community. It was empowering to PORSHA DOSSIE / hear about their successes as I work to frame a [email protected] complicated narrative of segregation in the Jim When I found out that I had received Crow South. the Historical Research Associates’ New Professional Award from NCPH, I was ecstatic. NCPH’s annual meeting has consistently I would be able to attend NCPH’s annual proved one of the greatest resources I’ve meeting for the first time. Admittedly I was encountered as an emerging museum nervous. Would I be able to meet people and professional. As one of the recipients of make connections? Would people be interested the New Professional Travel Award, I was in my work? Would I be self-conscious asking humbled and excited to meet and learn from so questions in sessions? By the end of the first many public historians in Hartford. I returned day these feelings had all but dissipated, home with a rekindled fire to provide a better because I quickly learned how welcoming of an Sonya Laney accepts her award from NCPH President Marla Miller at the visitor experience and find new ways to engage environment NCPH is. Awards Breakfast. Photo by Emma Falcon. our community.

My three days in Hartford felt like I was part SONYA LANEY / -Sonya Laney is the Education Coordinator at the [email protected] of a community that was just as excited and Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum and holds a passionate about history, social justice, and Although this was not my first time attending Masters of Art in History/Museum Studies from cultural institutions as I am. Meeting other NCPH’s annual meeting, it was one of the the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. new professionals was a highlight, as was more impactful professional experiences I’ve running into familiar faces from my time as a had. The “Repair Work” theme provided graduate student at the University of Central meaningful, thought-provoking sessions Florida. Being able to fill my former professors that changed the way I approach my own in on my current work as an American repair work at the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum. As a staff member at a small

8 PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS DOCUMENTING THE IMPACT AND REACH OF THE NEH CECILY HILL / [email protected] processes by which scholarly works become have taken place. And they can zoom in on part of our national discourse. their hometown to find newspapers that have been digitized by the Chronicling America We are also partnering with current NEH initiative, which is digitizing the nation’s grantees to survey participants, collecting data historical newspapers in partnership with the about the impact of humanities programs and Library of Congress. These data effectively why people value them. And by gathering demonstrate that NEH funding extends far geographic data on the NEH’s regranting beyond big cities or college towns—it reaches programs and professional development even the most rural areas of the country. programs, we are mapping the agency’s national impact. And while the impetus behind the project is to showcase how the NEH has an impact, in In 2017, in response to the Trump Many NEH-funded programs have impacts practice we are also developing methods for administration’s threat to cut funding to the that extend far beyond the geographic highlighting the humanities’ contributions to National Endowment for the Humanities location of the initial grantee. NEH on the Road our communities more broadly. We encourage (NEH), the National Humanities Alliance exhibitions travel the country; the American you to visit NEHforAll.org, to avail yourself launched the NEH for All initiative. With Library Association’s Great Stories Club of its resources when communicating with generous support from the Andrew W. Mellon provides reading and discussion programs policymakers and stakeholders—as well as Foundation, NEH for All is documenting the for at-risk youth in every state; educators to stay tuned to new developments. Over impact of NEH funding and telling the story of and conservators alike travel to participate the next year, we will be releasing still more the NEH’s impact in ways that are compelling in professional development programs. Over information about the humanities’ impact as to policymakers and other stakeholders. the last year, NHA has compiled data and well as models for evaluating and presenting created interactive maps that document this How do we explain the impact of a discussion your own impact. impact. Now visitors to the site can see that program for veterans, a research project, participants in NEH professional development -Cecily Erin Hill leads NEH for All, an initiative a preservation workshop, or an archival programs for K-12 educators come from every that documents the impact of NEH funding and collection? What effect does NEH funding region of the country. They can learn where builds the capacity of humanities organizations to have on communities, organizations, and preservation education programs, public communicate that impact. individuals? Our first goal was to convey dialogues, and NEH on the Road exhibitions the impact of NEH funding through short, to-the-point narratives that explored both the direct and indirect benefits of humanities THANK YOU #NCPH2019 work. On NEHforAll.org, more than 160 VOLUNTEERS! profiles covering individual projects and NCPH would like to specifically acknowledge our organizations in every state showcase just student volunteers and volunteer photographers. how this work is being accomplished. They The NCPH conference is planned and implemented also showcase a broad range of humanities by just three full-time and two part-time paid staff members, and without a fantastic group of institutions and types of work. The site passionate and motivated volunteers it would features public humanities initiatives, research be quite literally impossible. Thanks to NCPH’s projects, historical sites, digitization projects, graduate assistant Sam Opsahl and conference exhibitions, community conversations, and assistant Emma Falcon, both IUPUI graduate students, for their help during and in the lead-up to A big thank you to our volunteers who helped greet and check-in preservation and conservation programs. It attendees throughout the conference. Photo by Jess Lamar Reece the conference. Holler. highlights the work of universities, libraries, state and local historical societies, humanities Special thanks to: Mollie Marlow, University of West Georgia centers, museums, and living history Jenna Auber, IUPUI Morgan Miller, University of Maryland, Baltimore organizations. Craig Banks, Central Connecticut State University County Erika Bentsen, New York University Victoria Peck, Coastal Carolina University Importantly, we are also working to Michael Bleddynn, Michigan Technological Jessica Petty, IUPUI demonstrate the broad impact of humanities University Tracy Phelps, University of West Georgia research by tracing its rippling effects on Anna Claspy, Loyola University Chicago Kate Philipson, New York University policy, school classrooms, museum exhibitions, Stefon Danczuk, Central Connecticut State Nathalie Picard, Carleton University and film and television—in short, on University Kayla Piechowiak, University of Maryland, Baltimore public conversations and ways of knowing. Theresa DeCicco, New York University County NEHforAll.org already includes many examples Georgia Exner, Central Connecticut State University Krista Pollett, Texas State University of humanities research that has had an impact Elizabeth Gelvin, The Louisiana Abortion Stories Katie Radspinner, University of Massachusetts Amherst both inside and outside of the academy, from Project, New Orleans Abortion Fund Ari Green, California State University, Sacramento Camilla Sandoval, University of Maryland, Baltimore Robert Baker and Laurence McCullough’s County Cambridge World History of Medical Ethics, to Emily Harrington, University of West Georgia Jess Lamar Reece Holler, Caledonia Northern Folk Christine Savoie, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Patricia Crown’s archaeological discoveries in Studios Kelly Schmidt, Loyola University Chicago Chaco Canyon. Our work over the next year Melody Hunter-Pillion, North Carolina State Jackie Swihart, IUPUI will be to continue demonstrating this impact, University Stasia Tanzer, IUPUI producing new case studies and uncovering the Elizabeth Klopp, Central Connecticut State University Sarah Wilds, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS 9 NCPH COMMITTEE UPDATES These updates give a sampling of what NCPH included a collaboration with the Mass Gun project or panel that uses these issues to link volunteers are doing for the organization and the Violence Hackathon workshop. the conference to the community. field of public history. The committees encourage your input throughout the year; a list of committee LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE chairs and members can be found at: The NCPH Long Range Planning Committee http://ncph.org/about/governance-committees/ has been in a period of transition. The board-of-directors-and-committees/ Committee’s long term chair, Jean-Pierre Morin, who led the development and initial DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE implementation of the Long Range Plan The Development Committee continues (LRP), has recently had to resign from the to keep a laser-like focus on the 2020 Vison: committee. Will Stoutamire, who has been on Endowment Campaign for a Brighter Future. the committee since the drafting of the plan As of May 1, there remains to be raised The Digital Media Group organized a newly named Digital Public History and has served as co-chair since November Lab in Hartford. Image by Emma Falcon. approximately $63,000 in donations and 2018, will serve as chair until another co-chair pledges to realize the goal of the NCPH The Digital Media Group met in Hartford to can be appointed. endowment reaching $1 million by the discuss our work for the year ahead. We will time we next meet in Atlanta. To put that be exploring the creation of a digital public The Committee continues to work on amount into perspective, if each of the 950 history projects directory, implementing a ensuring that the goals and activities from attendees at the annual meeting in Hartford periodic review of digital scholarship and the LRP are met. For the past year, this donated or pledged $66, about $6 a month digital public history practices, and working process involved having individual committee between now and the 2020 conference, with the American Historical Association and members monitor the progress of specific goals our goal would be achieved. We hope, of the Organization of American Historians to and activities, reaching out to the relevant course, that you will give more if you can, revise the 2010 Tenure & Promotion White staff, board members, and/or committee an amount that is meaningful to you and Paper to include support for digital scholarship chairs associated with each objective. Based on one that truly reflects what NCPH means and digital public history. feedback from those involved, we have decided to you. A successful campaign will make to chart a different course going forward, possible increased professional development COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL which we hope will simplify the process. opportunities, additional scholarships and SUSTAINABILITY At the spring 2019 meeting, we elected to grants that promote diversity and inclusivity, The Committee on Environmental create two subcommittees. A worksheet and allow the organization greater financial Sustainability sponsored three sessions subcommittee will develop and disseminate independence. In other words, increasing in Hartford. Each was engaging and well worksheets for NCPH staff, board members, our endowment will help NCPH expand its attended. We wish to thank everyone who and committee chairs, indicating only the capacity to serve members and the entire turned out and chimed in. We also had an relevant goals and activities from the LRP. An public history community—including many energetic and productive meeting there, assessment subcommittee will then review the of the ideas and initiatives raised in sessions, allowing us to move forward on two core completed worksheets prior to each meeting working groups, and various other meetings projects and bring in new members. One is and evaluate the overall progress towards the at Hartford. So, please, consider making a the completion of “Public History Education LRP’s primary objectives. donation or pledge now. You can do so at and Environmental Sustainability: Best We are optimistic that this new process will https://ncph.org/giving/endowment/. Principles and Selected Resources,” a white paper for educators who want to integrate enable us to more efficiently assist with the environmental sustainability into their public implementation of the LRP throughout the DIGITAL MEDIA GROUP work of NCPH. The Digital Media Group’s History@Work history training curricula. The second is (H@W) and social media teams have had a busy a report and bibliography on the growing MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE few months preparing for the annual meeting phenomenon of Green Meetings. This The Membership Committee remains hard in Hartford, recapping 2018 blog highlights, represents a new approach to, and practices at work fostering connections among those pursuing ongoing collaborations with The for, academic and related meetings. There is a in the profession and welcoming new NCPH Public Historian (TPH), and posting H@W and large and growing literature of ways to reduce members to our community. TPH content to Twitter and Facebook. We the carbon footprint of large annual meetings. Our report will make recommendations to continue to have a strong and growing social As in past years, the Membership Committee the NCPH Board, but it will also be a resource media presence; we recently passed 11,500 hosted a series of events tied to the NCPH to the larger public history community. In Twitter followers and posted 1,252 tweets in annual meeting. On March 6, we held our addition, committee members are developing 2018, while on Facebook we have 7,600 “likes” third annual Twitter chat aimed at generating panels for Atlanta in 2020 and identifying and published 202 posts. conversation about the conference and proposals we can support or endorse. We helping new attendees make the most of their The Digital Public History Lab (formerly are also interested in talking with the larger experiences in Hartford. THATCamp) at the 2019 Annual Meeting was membership who have ideas for sessions of a great success. In response to feedback from any type dealing with issues of climate and During the conference, committee members conference-goers and lagging participation, we environmental sustainability. We are going to helped to facilitate the First Time Attendee rebranded the workshop to better articulate be reaching out to Atlanta activists working and Conference Connection Meet-Up on its purpose. This year’s workshop brought in on local environmental issues from climate to Wednesday evening. We also hosted a new more participants compared to last year and urban farming to create some sort of service CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 10 PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS NCPH COMMITTEE UPDATES // CONT’D. FROM PAGE 10 committee-sponsored session, “Shared PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT educations. Co-chair Jessica Knapp led a Wisdom: NCPH from the Pros.” This COMMITTEE Twitter conversation earlier in the year interactive discussion was aimed at helping The Professional Development Committee that was successful, and we hope to build attendees network and become more involved met during the 2019 Annual Meeting to upon this sort of programming over the in the work of our organization. discuss future projects, both short term and next few years. long term. Among the initiatives discussed TH In addition to our work at the annual were the following: NCPH 40 ANNIVERSARY AD HOC meeting, we have been working with the New COMMITTEE Professional and Graduate Student Committee • Workshops: The content and quality of The NCPH 40th Anniversary Ad Hoc to complete our two-year pilot onboarding workshops in Hartford were strong. The Committee met in Hartford to plan for program. We are currently evaluating these committee collaborated with presenters the 2020 celebration in Atlanta. Several results and gathering feedback from committee to help them improve their proposals by anniversary-related conference session volunteers so that we can present NCPH staff catering them to the needs of the NCPH proposals are in the works, hopefully yielding with a set of onboarding recommendations. membership. We will continue to discuss a retrospective and introspective track in the changes to the guidelines for submitting 2020 program as NCPH celebrates its 40th Looking ahead, we will continue working on workshops, but overall are pleased with year. Discussions are also underway with The the goals outlined in the NCPH Long Range the state of workshops. Public Historian to mark NCPH’s 40th with a Plan. We are also in the process of organizing special virtual issue, followed by one or more • NCPH Jobs Page: We participated in a NCPH “After Work” social events aimed at subcommittee to help NCPH develop a articles in print later next year. Consultation building community among public historians Best Practices for Job Postings document. on a range of celebratory plans are ongoing in the same city or region, and hope to pilot Led by committee member Vanessa with Local Arrangements and Program some of these events in the coming year. Camacho, we worked with the New Committees, Development Committee, and Professional and Graduate Student Council of Past Presidents. As always, we welcome feedback and insights. Committee and NCPH staff to craft Please feel free at any time to reach out to th guidelines that call for more transparency In Hartford, 40 committee members and committee co-chairs Krista McCracken and from employers when creating position volunteers staffed a table in the exhibit hall. Andy Mach. listings. The Board of Directors approved The display included a slideshow identifying the document which has been published individuals who participated in the first NEW PROFESSIONAL AND GRADUATE on the NCPH website and is provided to gathering of public historians at an innovative STUDENT COMMITTEE anyone posting a position to the NCPH symposium held in Montecito, CA in The New Professional and Graduate Student Jobs Page. April, 1979. Thanks to Barb Howe for her Committee is working on multiple initiatives diligent work on tracking down photos and to empower and engage NCPH members • Speed Networking: The Speed information on the 100+ Montecito attendees throughout their academic careers and as they Networking event in Hartford was a great acknowledged in the slideshow. On the table enter the professional field. We are working success. The comments we received from were documents relating to that symposium, to promote visibility for our committee at both professionals and students were including Wes Johnson’s proposal to the conferences, including discussing with the overwhelmingly positive, and no major Rockefeller Foundation, which he had labeled 2020 program committee incorporating events changes to the session format are planned “History for Public Benefit.” Thank you to that serve our constituents at the Atlanta at this time. Laura Miller, chair of NCPH’s Digital Media meeting. We are also considering expanding Group, who located the Montecito symposium • External Collaborations: The the scope of our committee, to include not just committee is interested in establishing documents at the Rockefeller Archive graduate students and new professionals, but partnerships with external collaborators Center, and Kathleen Leonard and Michelle also undergraduate students. We continue to such as HBCUs, tribal organizations, Beckerman of that institution for generously be active on Twitter (@NCPHnewgrad), we community colleges, and public history providing copies of these founding documents. seek contributions to the History@Work blog, organizations of all sizes that would and are still working on developing a Public be interested in working with NCPH. Conference attendees who stopped by the th History Navigator for the job market. These external collaborations would help NCPH 40 anniversary table in the exhibit NCPH become more inclusive and to hall were invited to leave birthday messages meet the needs of public historians who for the organization or wishes for the field of are not currently being served by the public history. Some of those messages were: organization. We have just begun this “My wish for public history is that more of the work, but hope to make progress over the younger generation learn about it and continue next year. to build upon its legacy” and “for public history to be seen, heard, and experienced.” And • Online Programming: We are finally: “For your 40th NCPH, my wish is that currently working with the Membership you continue to evolve and transform, and Committee and NCPH staff to promote never become complacent.” online programming that is accessible to the membership. Among the online programs mentioned include Twitter Professional Development Committee Members break for a photo chats and webinars on a range of public during the Speed networking event in Hartford. Photo by Melody Hunter-Pillion. history topics for practitioners and PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS 11 HIGHLIGHTS FROM HARTFORD WORKING GROUPS Seven of the working groups that met during the three pieces for History@Work. We’re looking WG3: LISTENING IS EMOTIONAL 2019 NCPH conference in Hartford have provided forward to helping advance the conversation LABOR: SELF-REPAIR AND summaries of their discussions. NCPH working and make amendments more manageable and COMMUNITY CARE groups are seminar-like conversations that take effective for sponsors, communities, and states The “Listening is Emotional Labor” working place before and during the conference. The groups, as we move toward the National Register’s group became a collaborative session, comprised of eight to fourteen people, explore sixth decade. with working group members acting as in-depth a subject of shared concern and work -JENNIFER BETSWORTH, HEATHER CARPINI, JOANNA respondents to the ideas surfaced by audience toward a common purpose and outcome. If you are DOHERTY, SARAH KAUTZ, AND MICHELLE MCCLELLAN and group members during a breakout interested in creating a working group for the 2020 group and collective brainstorming session. WG2: MAKING RADICAL REPAIRS: HOW NCPH Annual Meeting, proposals are due After engaging in some embodied listening TO TELL AN INCLUSIVE STORY WHEN July 15, 2019. (See the Call for Proposals at and mindfulness exercises (which many YOUR COLLECTIONS ARE STUCK IN http://ncph.org/conference/2020-annual- participants believed ought to be incorporated THE PAST meeting/calls-for-proposals/.) more often into our work environments and This working group explored the ideas of conference spaces), participants considered how public history collections need to be how the field could better describe and value WG1: REPAIRING NATIONAL REGISTER shaped and transformed in order to align with the emotional labor of listening through NOMINATIONS: THE STRUGGLES the increasing focus on new, more inclusive three formal mechanisms: resumes and job AND CHALLENGES OF MAINTAINING and dynamic interpretation and storytelling. descriptions; project descriptions and calls for ACCURATE DOCUMENTATION IN A The group began working together by proposals; and conferences. CHANGING WORLD developing case statements that included

While National Register nominations can reflections around questions of resource Many suggestions were brought forward; seem like a dry or technical subject, our allocation, inclusive decision-making and one recurrent theme was time. That in order 13-member working group demonstrated the collections management, communicating with to honor the durational nature of listening, program’s far-reaching impact through their stakeholders, and the benefits of being more the interpersonal process of community diversity of experiences and perspectives, inclusive. After sharing the case statements, building and engagement, and the importance including consulting, education, non- the group had conversations to discuss them, of self-care for listeners, projects should profits, local government, heritage areas, which culminated in our session at NCPH in give serious consideration to what adequate State Historic Preservation Offices, and the Hartford. National Park Service itself. Each participant duration is, both for ethical and intellectual contributed a case statement focusing on The group was joined by a sizeable and (and political) reasons. A second theme was nomination amendments and updates, and the enthusiastic audience who we incorporated listening to the listeners: whether in internal co-facilitators identified four major themes: into the discussion whenever possible. The listening sessions, community-based care, overlooked resources and groups; technical structure of our discussion focused on our or project-funded/mandated/supported concerns and logistics; public history and desired goals and outcomes, identifying our therapy, professional listeners need to have the interpretation; and local decision-making audiences, making a case for the importance opportunity to be listened to, both to prevent and tax credits. These themes guided our of our topic, identifying challenges, and burnout and to ensure that when a listener discussions before the conference and within suggesting solutions, and closed with a is engaged in a community, they have their the working group in Hartford. discussion of next steps for how to continue full attention. A third theme was adequate the discussion within the field. There was compensation, for interns and contingent At the conference, the lively and thoughtful great enthusiasm for following up with blog workers, for long term organizational/project conversation touched on issues related to posts or other communications and holding staff, and for collaborating “community” new nominations, nomination amendments, a second working group session at next year’s scholars, who many participants felt were the impact nominations can have on local conference. under-compensated and essential. Suggestions preservation efforts, and how educators can -CARRIE VILLAR for how to accomplish these goals in a better use the program. Our discussions hinged conference setting were submitted to NCPH on the central theme that all nominations committee members; discussion of the absence should be considered living documents that of these ideas in public history coursework and must change periodically to best reflect the internships also came up. history of a community and serve its needs.

The concept of “rewriting history” might We hope that this conversation contributes to feel destabilizing at first, but nomination the ongoing discussion of labor conditions and amendments provide opportunities to address the ethics of our work as public historians. minor technical changes, make a tax credit project possible, or include underrepresented -DIANA LEMPEL AND SADY SULLIVAN histories and groups. They also present WG5: EARLY CAREER PUBLIC HISTORY opportunities for creative thinking, ACADEMICS: QUESTIONS, ISSUES, community outreach, and research, and can RESOURCES be approached incrementally by students and This working group was born out of the educators. recognition that early career faculty face In the coming months, working group unique challenges and issues. These include members will work collaboratively to produce navigating new places, communities, and A member of WG3 participates in a brainstorming activity at the 2019 conference. Photo by Jess Lamar Reece Holler. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 12 PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FROM HARTFORD WORKING GROUPS // CONT’D. FROM PAGE 12 institutions, continuing or reviving ongoing History. Discussants provided feedback on empathy. A fourth group looked to the future projects, and creating and advocating for selected draft entries from the Handbook, such of Tilden’s principles. public history curricula from scratch. In the as “Accessibility,” “Civic Engagement,” “Digital One of the end products this group has created months prior to the conference, we circulated History,” “Diversity and Inclusion,” and is a website, https://interpretingourheritage. case statements naming a number of questions “Historic Preservation.” They also participated com/, which has not only our case and issues reflecting our experiences as in brainstorming regarding future entries and statements but also a landing page for future early-career public history academics. The offered advice on how to connect the Handbook conversations and collections of resources. We topics covered in these statements were to specific communities of practitioners. The also plan on writing at least one blog post for wide-ranging, but also saw resonance across editors, as well as members of the advisory History@Work on our findings. experiences. We ended up with six broad committee, facilitated the conversation. -ALLISON HORROCKS AND NICK SACCO thematic areas that are of particular interest to Several authors also participated in the session. new faculty: Throughout the process of developing the WG8. ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND THE • fighting assumptions about public history Handbook, our team has strived to model open, ETHICS OF PUBLIC HISTORY (PART II) For a second year, #WG8 convened to discuss • asking for resources and support for collaborative, and inclusive practices. This economic justice and ethics in public history. faculty and programs working group enabled us to continue inviting a wide range of practitioners to contribute Over the summer of 2018, working group • understanding and advocating for to the project and to solicit valuable feedback facilitators and discussants broke into three evaluation and promotion that will strengthen the final product. Some cadres to 1) develop resources for public • developing and adapting curriculum of the feedback we received from discussants historians who encounter ethical issues while has already been implemented and the rest doing (or trying to do) their jobs; 2) explore • students and student experience will help to shape aspects that are still in alternative economic models that would make development. The completed Handbook, which room for meaningful and ethical public history will be free and open to all users, will contain practice for all stakeholders; and 3) research approximately 100 entries authored by a range potential models for organizing across public of experienced practitioners. Each entry will history and allied fields. include critical reflections, telling examples, At NCPH 2019, the working group unveiled and links to additional resources. By making the Public History Workers Caucus (PHWC), this a freely available digital resource and with the mission to connect, build solidarity designing an easily navigable website, our goal and increase visibility for public history is to make the Handbook an accessible resource workers (and those in allied fields) by holding for the widest range of users possible. space for discussion and organizing around -SHEILA BRENNAN, BILL BRYANS, MODUPE LABODE, KIMBERLY SPRINGLE, WILL WALKER, AND BOB WEIBLE creating ethical, sustainable, and just labor practices. To these ends, we strive to expand Members of WG5 address the audience in Hartford. Photo by Jess Lamar Reece Holler. WG7: INTERPRETING OUR HERITAGE IN career opportunities, improve working ST At the annual meeting, audience-participants THE 21 CENTURY conditions, and keep the field open to anyone joined breakout sessions on the above It all started with a tweet. In 2018, Nick Sacco interested—so as to make public history an topics, each with working group members (@NickSacco55) asked: was Freeman Tilden’s accessible career path for all practitioners. To as facilitators and note-takers. We found work really even relevant anymore? Were do so, we will meet regularly in community that talking about these issues—exchanging folks still using these principles, or were of practice online chat sessions to discuss anecdotes and resources, asking for advice— professional interpreters merely claiming concerns, share skills, and keep momentum was immensely helpful. In that spirit, we have to hold the text sacred? What grew from moving forward. We have planned sessions decided to create new spaces—both virtual this conversation was a working group on for May, June, and July on topics such as and organizational—to continue these kinds reinterpreting Freeman Tilden’s Interpreting branding, building a cooperative, and contract of conversations. While some working-group Our Heritage, a widely used text (in some public negotiations, respectively. To learn more, members are following up with a social media history circles) that was first published more contact us at [email protected]. group or listserv, others are drafting a white than sixty years ago. While discussing Tilden’s –RACHEL BOYLE, DAN OTT, AND STELLA RESS paper. Early-career academics are a distinct work in the context of repair, it became clear community, and it is our hope that, through that, for some public historians Tilden’s work meetings like this one, we may find spaces to was foundational, but no longer relevant; strengthen it. for others, the longstanding power of the principles were hard to move from the canon -TORREN GATSON, JENNIFER LE ZOTTE, MARY RIZZO, AND M.J. RYMSZA-PAWLOWSKA of interpretive practice. During the actual working group session, sub-groups focused WG6: BUILDING THE INCLUSIVE on the past, present, and future of the work. HISTORIAN’S HANDBOOK Some evaluated Tilden’s work in historical This working group invited discussants to context and considered a historiography of participate in the process of developing The interpretation. Another group discussed Inclusive Historian’s Handbook, an exciting new the relationships between historians and digital resource co-sponsored by NCPH and interpreters and a third focused on the tools the American Association for State and Local of interpretation, including the cultivation of PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS 13 ANNUAL MEETING WRAP-UP // CONT’D. FROM PAGE 1 Center were designated as all-gender; and the out the survey! These attendees reported a We’d like to extend a huge thank you to our Board of Directors implemented an NCPH high degree of overall satisfaction with the Program and Local Arrangements committees, Events Code of Conduct last November to conference’s content and organization. When NCPH committee members, our sponsors, clarify expectations for attendee behavior and asked about participation and satisfaction with exhibitors, presenters, volunteers, and attendees. provide an avenue for reporting violations. special events and tours, attendees pointed The NCPH annual meeting is a massive, The results of our annual meeting survey to this year’s public plenary— “Considering collaborative effort that simply would not be suggest that the pronoun stickers and all- Coltsville: A Revolving Story”—as a standout possible without you. As we undertake ongoing gender restrooms were welcome additions event. The Local Arrangements and Program “Repair Work” of our own, we are deeply that the majority of attendees appreciated (or Committee co-chairs sought to organize grateful to the NCPH community for supporting saw value in even if they themselves did not a plenary that would open up lines of these efforts, for letting us know how best to participate). We’ll be making pronoun stickers communication between local gun violence support you in your work, and for challenging available at NCPH events going forward as a activists, the National Park Service, and the us to be the best possible version of NCPH. matter of course, and doing everything in our city of Hartford surrounding the development power to provide an all-gender restroom, but of the new Coltsville National Historical What’s coming up for the NCPH annual there will be more work to do to make sure Park. We all hoped the event would serve as meeting? Next March we are headed to th attendees know these resources are available a model for dialogue that would pave the way Atlanta to celebrate our 40 anniversary as an and to normalize their use. for productive conversations long after NCPH organization. The Call for Proposals is open left town, and locals report that talks have through July 15 via http://bit.ly/ncph2020. At time of print, 400 attendees (or 43%) have continued. Keep an eye out for a follow-up More changes are on the horizon for the 2020 filled out the 2019 annual meeting evaluation History@Work post about the plenary later this meeting, including the implementation of a to let us know what you liked and where we summer! comprehensive accessibility plan—so stay tuned. can improve. Thank you to those who filled -Meghan Hillman is NCPH’s Program Manager.

We were excited to welcome Maisa L. Tisdale of the Mary and Eliza Freeman Center for History and Culture to deliver the keynote, “Public History: Repair Work Revolution” on Saturday morning. Photo by Melody Hunter-Pillion.

Out to Lunch offered attendees an opportunity to meet new people In Session 1, Performing History and Enlivening Community, attendees got up out of their seats with A Broken Umbrella Theatre members. Photo by over a meal at a local restaurant. Photo by Melody Hunter-Pillion. Melody Hunter-Pillion.

Students and new professionals had the opportunity to network with a Always a popular event, attendees mingled at the Consultant’s In the Exhibit Hall, attendees discussed what NCPH means to them in variety of established professionals during Thursday’s popular Speed Speakeasy on Thursday. Photo by Todd Hoeft. preparation for the organization’s 40th anniversary next year. Photo by Networking event. Photo by Melody Hunter-Pillion. Kelly Schmidt. 14 PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS ANNUAL MEETING WRAP-UP // CONT’D. FROM PAGE 14

Attendees gather at the Opening Reception. Photo by Todd Hoeft.

The pop-up, Becoming Community: The LGBTQ Experience in Connecticut, was displayed in the exhibit hall on Thursday and Friday. Photo by Kelly Schmidt.

One tour discussed The Amistad Trail and lead attendees to the Old State House. Photo by Krista Pollett.

Center Church served as the back drop for attendees and community members to gather for Friday’s public plenary “Considering Coltsville: During Thursday’s poster session, participants discussed their projects with A Revolving Story.” Photo by Krista Pollett. attendees. Photo by Krista Pollett.

Attendees considered the history of soil during the Pop-Up “Repair from Speakers, Reverend Henry Brown, Warren Hardy, Sarah Pharaon, Thea Montanez, Iran Nazario, and Rebecca Stanfield McCown pose with Hartford the Ground Up”. Photo by Jess Lamar Reece Holler. Mayor Luke Bronin (standing) before Friday’s public plenary. Photo by Krista Pollett.

PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS 15 PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS

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