VITA
WILLIAM S. BRYANS
1123 Pecan Hill Street Department of History Stillwater, OK 74074 Oklahoma State University (405) 533-1150 Stillwater, OK 74078-3054 (405) 744-8179 E-mail: [email protected]
CURRENT POSITION
Associate Professor, Director of Public History Program, Department of History, Oklahoma State University.
EDUCATION
B.A. with High Distinction, Colorado State University, March 1975.
M.A. in History, Colorado State University, May 1979.
Ph.D. in History, Department of History, University of Wyoming, May 1987.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
General: Public History; History of the American West; American History.
Specialized: Historic Preservation; State and Local History; Museum Studies; Twentieth Century American West.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
National Council on Public History; American Association for State and Local History; Organization of American Historians; Western History Association; National Trust for Historic Preservation; American Alliance of Museums; Oklahoma Historical Society; Mountain-Plains Museum Association; Oklahoma Museum Association; Preservation Oklahoma; Stillwater Museum Association; Payne County Historical Society.
WORK HISTORY
Academic
Associate Professor and Director of Public History program, 1996- present.
Associate Professor and Head, Department of History, Oklahoma State University, 1996-2005.
Associate Professor and Director of Oklahoma Historic Preservation Survey, Department of History, Oklahoma State University, 1993-1996.
Assistant Professor and Director of Oklahoma Historic Preservation Survey, Department of History, Oklahoma State University, 1988-1993.
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of History, Oklahoma State University, 1987-1988.
Undergraduate Teaching
Have taught Survey of U.S. History, Oklahoma History, and Historic Preservation, In January 2011 co-taught a short course “Memory, Place, and the Past: Remembering Who We Are and Our History” for the Oklahoma Scholar- Leadership Enrichment Program (OSLEP).
Graduate Teaching Have taught Introduction to Public History, Historic Preservation, Museums Studies, and Teaching History at the Collegiate Level. Have also mentored over 50 students to completion of MA degrees and served over 20 doctoral advisory committees.
Public History Projects
Contract Historian, National Park Service and Organization of American Historians. Prepared an administrative history for the Oklahoma City National Memorial, 2009-2015.
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Lead Scholar, Confronting Complex Legacies: Alfalfa Bill, OSU, and Murray Hall. Interpretative exhibit located in lower level of Murray Hall, Oklahoma State University Campus, 2009.
Consultant for Pawnee Nation and White Eagle & Associates for National Park Service grants to nominate 11 buildings of the former Pawnee Agency and Boarding School to the National Register of Historic Places and study the feasibility of rehabilitating them, 1998-2000.
Consultant for Armory Restorers, Inc., a division of the Lincoln County Historical Society, in preparing a TEA-21 grant for the rehabilitation of the WPA National Guard Armory in Chandler, Oklahoma, 1999.
Archives Assistant, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming, 1985-1986. Catalogued manuscript collections.
Contract Historian, Glenrock Historical Commission, Glenrock, Wyoming, 1985-1986. Under a grant from the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, researched historic sites and authored an area history.
Contract Historian, Geological Survey of Wyoming, 1983. Researched and authored an agency history.
Assistant, Wyoming Historical Survey, Department of History, University of Wyoming, 1983. Recorded historic sites for a state inventory and determined their eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.
Cultural Resource Consultant/Historian, Mariah Associates, Laramie, Wyoming, 1982. Authored historic overviews of study area, researched site-specific histories, and determined site eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.
Program Coordinator and Historian, 1981-1982. Prepared two one-hour long radio programs on Wyoming history for Visions of the Past, a Wyoming Council for the Humanities project.
Research Assistant, Wright Project, Department of History, University of Wyoming, 1980-1981. Assisted Dr. Robert W. Righter in researching a history of Wright, Wyoming under a contract with the Atlantic Richfield Company.
Cultural Resource Consultant/Historian, Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company, Casper, Wyoming, 1979. Authored historic overview of study area, researched site-specific histories and determined their eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.
Intern, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming, 1980. Inventoried and processed a manuscript collection pertaining to a prominent dude rancher.
Cultural Resource Consultant/Historian, Laboratory of Public Archeology, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado, 1978. Authored historic overview of study area, researched site-specific histories, and determined site eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.
PUBLICATIONS
Contributor, “Imagining the Digital Future of The Public Historian “. The Public Historian 35 (February 2013): 8- 27
Co-editor, Visions of America’s Past: Readings in United States History. 2nd ed. Plymouth, MI: Hayden McNeil, 2013.
Co-editor, Visions of America’s Past: Readings in United States History. Plymouth, MI: Hayden McNeil, 2010.
Co-author, Tenure, Promotion, and the Publicly Engaged Academic Historian. (Report and White Paper). Jointly published by National Council on Public History, Organization of American Historians, American Historical Association, 2010. Available on each organization’s web site.
“A Tale of Two Bills: Racism, Anti-Semitism, and the Sensibilities of a Public Historian.” The Public Historian 30 (Summer 2008): 11-25.
Co-editor, Visions of America Heritage: Readings in United States History. New York: Forbes Custom Publishing, 1999. Revised Second Edition, 2002. Third Edition, 2007.
Co-editor. American Passages: A U. S. History Reader. 2nd edition. Dubuque: Kendall-Hunt Publishing, 1997.
Deer Creek: Frontiers Crossroad in Pre-Territorial Wyoming. Glenrock, WY: Glenrock Historical Commission, 1990.
A History of the Geological Survey of Wyoming. Bulletin 65. Laramie: Geological Survey of Wyoming, 1986.
"Time Capsules: Preserving the Present for the Future." Oklahoma Field Advisory Service: Technical Bulletin 5.
2 Muse News 20 (July 1990): 5-6.
"The Mining Frontier of the American West." [Organization of American Historians Magazine of History for Junior and Senior High School Teachers 3 (Spring 1988): 11-14.
"Coal Mining in Twentieth Century Wyoming: A Brief History." Journal of the West 21 (October 1982): 24-35.
"Wyoming Forests." In The Encyclopedia of Forest and Conservation History. New York: The Free Press, 1983. Pp. 733-734.
Historic preservation survey reports and historic context documents in conjunction with grant projects listed below.
GRANT AWARDS
Lead Scholar, “Soul of a People,” American Library Association grant to Edmon Low Library, Oklahoma State University, 2009. Award: $5000.
U.S. Department of Education, Teaching American History Grant, Moore Public Schools, 2007-20084. Award: $4,500
U.S. Department of Education, Teaching American History Grant, El Reno Public Schools, 2004. Award: $10,000.
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education/College of Arts and Sciences, Oklahoma State University, “Connecting Learning to Career”, January 1, 1998-May 31, 1999. Award: $13,617. Project Budget: $13,617.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. "Reconnaissance Level Survey of a Portion of Woodward.” September 1, 1995-August 31, 1996. Award: $28,299. Project Budget: $47,192.
Oklahoma State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Summer Research Grant. Start-up for assessing Native American cultural preservation in Oklahoma and avenues for cooperation between Native groups and the Applied History Program. Award: $3720.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. "Intensive Level Survey of the Old Town North Historic District of Lawton." September 1, 1994-June 30, 1995. Award: $22,051.Project Budget: $36,787.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. "Reconnaissance Level Survey of Five Southwestern Oklahoma Towns". September 1, 1994-August 31, 1995. Award: $27,074. Project Budget: $45,200.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. "Multiple Property Nomination for Energy-Related Projects in Northeastern Oklahoma." September 1, 1993-August 31, 1994. Award: $12,331. Project Budget: $20,601.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. "Architectural/Historic Reconnaissance Level Survey of a Portion of Ardmore." September 1, 1993-August 31, 1994. Award: $35,388. Project Budget: $59,194.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. "Multiple Property National Register Nomination for WPA Resources in Lincoln County." September 1, 1992-August 31, 1993. Award: $16,643. Project Budget: $33,312.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. "Architectural/Historic Reconnaissance Level Survey of Certain Parts of the City of Altus." September 1, 1991-August 31, 1992. Award: $28,257. Project Budget: $40,577.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. "Survey of Portions of Lawton." September 1, 1991-August 31, 1992. Award: $40,000. Project Budget: $57,143.
College of Arts and Sciences, Oklahoma State University. Dean's Incentive Grant. "Oklahoma Historic Preservation Survey II." July 1, 1991-June 30, 1992. Award: $3,000.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. “Development of a Historic Context for the Energy Theme in Management Region #6." September 1, 1990-August 31, 1991. Award: $21,431. Project Budget: $30,615.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. "Reconnaissance Level Survey of Oklahoma County, Industrial Resources." September 1, 1990-August 31, 1991. Award: $32,573. Project Budget: $46,532.
College of Arts and Sciences, Oklahoma State University. Dean's Incentive Grant. "Oklahoma Historic Preservation Survey." July 1, 1990-June 30, 1991. Award: $3,000.
3 Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. "National Register Nominations for the Bartlesville Downtown Historic District." September 1, 1989 - August 31, 1990. Award: $9,792. Project Budget: $19,584.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. “Phase Two of Coal Mining Related Resources in Region Four Survey." September 1, 1989 - August 31, 1990. Award: $36,571. Project Budget: $52,244.
College of Arts and Sciences, Oklahoma State University. Dean's Incentive Grant. "Transcontinental Railroads and the Development of Coal Mining on the Northern Plains: The Union Pacific." July 1, 1989-June 30, 1990. Award: $3,000.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. “Architectural/Historic Intensive Level Survey of Certain Portions of El Reno, Canadian County Oklahoma." September 1, 1988 - August 1, 1989. Award: $15,558. Project Budget: $22,226.
Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. “Architectural/Historic Intensive Level Survey of Coal Mining Related Resources of Pittsburg County and Development of a Historic Context and Predictive Model for the Coal Mining Industry in Region #4." September 1, 1988 - August 1, 1989. Award: $40,876. Project Budget: $58,395.
The Robert S. and Grayce B. Kerr Foundation. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Grant to establish museum internships for Applied History students in cooperation with the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center in Oklahoma City. June 20, 1988 - August 31, 1989. Award: $1,815. Project Budget: $6,354.
SELECTED PAPERS AND PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Presenter, “Conflict, Controversy and Historic Preservation Practice Today,” National Association of Preservation Commissions Forum, July 31, 2016.
Working Group Member, “Campus History as Public History,” National Council on Public History Annual Conference, March 18, 2016.
Workshop Facilitator, “Tenure and Promotion for the Publicly Engaged Historian,” National Council on Public History Annual Conference, April 19, 2012.
Roundtable Moderator, “Public History Programs in the West: Training the Next Generation of Public Historians.” Western History Association Annual Meeting, October 15, 2011.
Commentor, “Memorable Memorials.” Western History Association Annual Meeting, October 16, 2011.
Panelist, “Evaluating Public History Scholarship.” National Council on Public History Annual Conference, April 12, 2008.
Presidential Address, “A Tale of Two Bills: Racism, Anti-Semitism, and the Sensibilities of a Public Historian.” National Council on Public History Annual Conference, April 11, 2008.
Panelist, “Tenure and the Public Historian.” Organization of American Historians Annual Meeting, March 29, 2008
“The Future of Public History.” Keynote at the Future of Public History Symposium at the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming, March 10, 2008.
Chair and Commentor, “Teaching Western History through Public History.” Western History Association Annual Meeting, October 14, 2005.
Facilitator, “Curriculum Retreat for Public History Educators.” National Council on Public History Annual Conference, April 2, 2000.
“Connecting Learning to Career: A Postsecondary Perspective.” Oklahoma School-to-Work: Success Connection IV, October 28, 1998
“Growing the New Ivy: Higher Education Institutions Adopting New and Innovative Curricula and Assessments” (Panelist). Jobs for the Future National Leadership Forum on School-to-Career Transition, July 28, 1998
“Changing the Professional Culture on Campus” Panelist. Sixth American Association for Higher Education Conference on Faculty Roles and Rewards, January 30, 1998.
Commentor, “Newspapers: The History of the Common Man.” National Council on Public History Annual Conference, May 2, 1996.
Commentor, “Historic Resources in Five Southwestern Oklahoma Towns.” Eighth Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference, May 17, 1996.
Commentor, "Reaching Audiences: History for Students and the Public". Western History Association Annual
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"Architectural/Historic Survey of Lawton". Sixth Statewide Historic Preservation Conference, Oklahoma Historical Society. May 12, 1994.
"Training Future Public Historians: Curriculum Standards and Guidelines of Affiliated Organizations" (Panelist). National Council on Public History Annual Meeting. March 19, 1994.
"Museum Internships: Challenges and Opportunities" (Panelist). Oklahoma Museum Association Annual Conference. September 23, 1993.
"Darker Than A Dungeon: Evaluating Oklahoma's Coal Mining Related Resources." Third Statewide Historic Preservation Conference, Oklahoma Historical Society. May 18, 1991.
"The Future of Public History in the Academy." Panel Participant. National Council on Public History Annual Meeting. May 5, 1991.
"Railroads and the Development of Northern Plains Coal: The Case of the Northern Pacific." Western History Association Annual Conference. October 19, 1990.
"Putting the Public in Public History: The Professional Historian and the Stillwater, Oklahoma 1989 Centennial." National Council on Public History Annual Conference. March 9, 1990.
"Not Just Buildings: Coal Mining Related Resources." First Statewide Historic Preservation Conference, Oklahoma Historical Society. May 13, 1989.
"Developing Effective Museum Internship Programs." Oklahoma Museums Association Annual Conference. October 22, 1988.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Bass/McCaslin Award for Excellence in Teaching Oklahoma History at the College/University Level , Oklahoma Heritage Association, 2009.
T.A. Larson Graduate Fellowship, Department of History, University of Wyoming, 1983.
Gale McGee Graduate Fellowship, Department of History, University of Wyoming, 1983.
James Jerome Hill Reference Library Fellowship, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1984.
Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Officer's Citation of Merit. 1990, 1992, 1996.
Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society; Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi; Phi Alpha Theta, International History Honorary.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Committees
Oklahoma State University: Old Central Committee, 1990- 2005; Arts and Sciences Representative to Honors Council, 2004-2012.
Department of History, Oklahoma State University: Personnel Committee, 1988-1991,1994-1996, 2005-2007, 2012-2014, chair 1995-1996; Advisory Committee, chair 2014-2015; Graduate Studies Committee, 1988-1996, 2006-2011, 2015-present; Phi Alpha Theta Advisor, 1991-1995, Scholarship Committee, 2005-2006; Interim Director of Graduate Studies, 2006-2007; Departmental representative to Arts and Sciences Faculty Council, 2007-2010.
College of Arts and Sciences, Oklahoma State University: General Committee, Angie Debo Memorial Project, 1988; South Murray Hall Renovation Committee, 1996-1997; Reynolds Foundation Grant Proposal Team (unsuccessful attempt to fund building renovations), 1997. Career Services Advisory Board, 1998-2005; American Studies Program Advisory Committee, 1999- 2004; Tulsa Arts Advisory Board, 1999- 2002; Head of Search Committee for Political Science Department Head, 2005-2006; Norris Committee, 2005-2011; Sabbatical Leave Committee (chair), 2005-2007.
Western History Association: Selection Committee for Autry Public History Award, 2014-present.
Oklahoma Historical Society: Steering Committee, Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference, 1989 and 1990; Program Committee for Annual Meeting of Oklahoma Historical Society, 1995-1996.
Stillwater Main Street, Design Committee, 1991- 1996.
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Boards, Directorships, and Officer Positions
National Council on Public History, Executive Director Search Committee Chair, 2015-present; Long Range Planning Committee, 2008-2012; Development Committee, 2008-2012; Past President, 2008-2010, 2012- 2014; President, 2006-2008; Vice-president/President-elect, 2005-2006; Self-study Team, 2005; Electronic Bulletin Board Task Force, 1995-1998; Program Committee, 1995-1996; Member Curriculum and Training Committee, 1990- 1997 (Chair, 1992- 1996).
Joint Working Group on Evaluating Public History Scholarship (National Council on Public History, Organization of American Historians, and American Historical Association study on the work of publicly engaged historians in the reappointment, promotion, and tenure process), Member, 2007-2010.
National Council for Preservation Education, Trustee of Council, 1990-1994.
Oklahoma Museum Association, Council, 1999-present; Treasurer, 2011-2013, Interim Secretary, 2010; Vice-president, 2013-2014 sent; President, 2015-present
Preservation Oklahoma. Board Member, 2010-present.
Oklahoma Humanities Council. Board Member, 2010-present; Chair, 2012-14.
Payne County Historical Society (Oklahoma), Board of Directors, 1988- present; President, 1989- 1992.
Stillwater Museum Association (Oklahoma), Board of Trustees, 1988- 1996, 1998-present; First Vice-President, 1991-1993; President, 1993-1995.
Stillwater Museum Foundation, Board of Directors, 1994- 2000.
Oklahoma History Day, District Coordinator, 1988- present. .
Harn Homestead Museum (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Board of Directors and Vice President for Programs, 1988- 1992; President of Board, 1992-1993.
Select Public Programs
“Making Sense of the Civil War.” State Scholar for Oklahoma Humanities Council offering of joint NEH/ALA reading and discussion program, 2011-2012.
“Outside the Preservation Box: Resources for Community Development and Revitalization. Potential Partners.” Making the Most of the Mother Road: How to Care for (and Benefit from) Your Route 66 Resources. Workshop sponsored by Preservation Oklahoma and Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office. Chandler, Oklahoma May 14, 2011.
“Reflecting in the Dust Bowl and the Meaning of ‘Okie’.” Journey Stories Exhibit Opening, Chandler, Oklahoma, February 27, 2010. Sponsored by Oklahoma Humanities Council.
“Oklahoma Statehood.” Federal Retired Employees Association, Stillwater, Oklahoma. 2007.
“Public History: A Thirty-year Personal Perspective.” Society of Public Historians, Wichita State University. October 24, 2007.
“History. It’s Everywhere.” Stillwater Academy of Life-long Learners and Scholars. February 14, 2006.
“Oklahoma’s National Historic Landmarks.” Preservation Oklahoma, Guthrie, Oklahoma, August 17, 2000.
"World War II: The Home Front." Cherokee Strip Museum, Perry, Oklahoma. April 10, 1994.
"Cross Timbers: The Influences of Environment on History." Hominy (Oklahoma) Public Library. February 12, 1991.
"Partners in the Past: Historic Preservation and Local History." Oilton (Oklahoma) Homecoming ‘90 Celebration. May 26, 1990.
"Men and Dust: Oklahoma Labor History and the Tri-State Mining District." Stillwater Museum Association. March 29, 1990.
Moderator, "History Alive! Developing Community Partnerships for Discovering Our Heritage." Workshop sponsored by Oklahoma Historical Society and Oklahoma State University, Community Education Centers. March 3, 1990.
"Partners in the Past: Historic Preservation and Local History." Pryor (Oklahoma) Arts and Humanities
6 Council. February 7, 1990.
Discussion leader, "Angie Debo: Her Life and Works." Claremore, Oklahoma. January 16 and 30, 1990. Also, Enid, Oklahoma. October 16 and 30, 1989.
"Appreciating Bartlesville's History Through Its Built Environment." Bartlesville (Oklahoma) Landmark Preservation Council. October 26, 1989.
"Morning on Main Street: The Oklahoma Historic Preservation Survey and Downtown El Reno." El Reno (Oklahoma) Main Street Program. July 6, 1989.
"The Land Run of 1889 and the Founding of Stillwater." Frontier Rotary Club (Stillwater, Oklahoma). April 13, 1989.
Participant, "History Alive! Through Classroom Directed Experiences." Teacher's Workshop sponsored by Oklahoma Historical Society and Oklahoma State University, Community Education Centers. March 25, 1989.
Reviewer
Books reviewed for: The Public Historian, Western Historical Quarterly; Journal of the West; Montana, the Magazine of Western History; Great Plains Quarterly and, Annals of Wyoming.
Book Manuscript reviews done for Alta Mira Press, Colorado Associated University Press.
Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure peer reviewer for Public History faculty at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and West Virginia University.
Grant Evaluator for Preservation Program of National Endowment for the Humanities, West Virginia University Senate Research Grants.
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