Public History News
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PUBLIC HISTORY NEWS Volume 11, Number 1 Fall 1990 historical organizations can be so tied Making An Academic Connection down with administrative tasks or with raising funds that there is no time left to by J.D. Britton keep up with the latest developments in historical thought. Because local historical organizations Editor's Note: the following artic/e, wiJiciJ people regardless of age, race, gender, or are busy with the day to day affairs of originally appeared in The Local Historian, occupation. Their interpretations of the developing and operating their programs, covers the need for collaboration between lives of ordinary people in community it makes sense for them to call upon the amateur and academic historians. The settings has made significant contributions expertise of an academic historian who arguments presented are equally persuasive for to general historical thought. Public spends much of his or her time doing the collaboration of the broader range of historians have also been concerned with professional history. College and universi professional public historians and amateurs. local history studies and have made ty professors have spent years in graduate This republication is a slightly edited version of tremendous strides in the presentation of school and in the teaching profession the original.- E.B.M. history to a large popular audience. The perfecting their skills in historical method inclusion of common people in the ology and in staying up-to-date in their Twenty years ago, cooperation interpretation of American history and the areas of specialization. In order to remain between local historical organizations and appeal of the work for greater circulation effective in the class room and to meet academic historians was practically has been described as the "democratiza their requirements to publish, they stay on nonexistent. To a large degree, professors tion of history." top of recent literature. Furthermore, as viewed the work of historical organiza A result of this trend in historical humanities scholars, they can stimulate tions as antiquarian, while amateur thought and curriculum has been the members of historical organizations to historians perceived academicians as beginning of a reciprocal relationship become involved in professional programs being insensitive to local history efforts. between local historical organizations and and publications. These can showcase the These views were a carry-over from the academic historians, a relationship that historical organization as a valuable 1890s when the rise of scientific profes enables both groups to see that each has educational component of the community. sionalism among college and university something to offer the other. Historical historians created tensions between organizations are realizing that profession Strengths and Weaknesses academicians and local historians. The al historians can assist them in under of an Academic Connection latter generally researched and wrote standing historical methodology and Ohio is served by ninety-two colleges historical studies more as a hobby than as interpretation, essential components of and universities. That means that there is a an analytic treatment of the past. effective educational programs. Academi potential academic connection near almost Today, advances in the social history cians have generally begun to view local every one of the five hundred or so and public history fields have brought historical agencies and organizations as historical organizations in the state. A academicians and local historians closer material culture repositories and number of historical groups and academic together. The work of social historians has archival research centers that are of institutions already have good working shown that history is comprised of all direct value to their research interests relationships. For instance, the Clark and the research interests of their County Historical Society in Springfield is students. They also see them as potential currently located on the campus of places of employment for their students Wittenberg University. A Wilmington and as forums where they can contact Volume 11, Number 1 College history professor and the Clinton large enthusiastic audiences. Fall 1990 County Historical Society teamed up during the summer of 1988 to write a A Quarterly Publication of the National Why Make an Academic successful American Association for Council on Public History in cooperation Connection State and Local History grant-in-aid with the Department of History and POLIS, For a local historical organization, application. History and education Indiana University at Indianapolis. making an academic connection can be a professors from The University of Significant undertaking. Most local Toledo and Defiance College are David Kyvig, President historical groups are small. They are members of the board of trustees of the Brit Allan Storey, Vice-president usually organized and operated by a Maumee Valley Historical Society. Theodore J. Karamanski, Past-chair volunteer staff lacking the expertise to do Despite some successes in establishing Diane F. Britton, Secretary-treasurer well-researched, interpretative educational connections between academicians and Elizabeth B. Monroe, Executive Secretary programs. Even full time directors of large local historical organizations in recent See pg. 2 years, there still exist distrust, misunder designed an exhibit on the electric Akron professor David Kyvig discussed standing, and lack of cooperation. For both interurban railway system of Northwest "Exploring the Past Around You" at the sides, the challenge to find meaningful Ohio for the Maumee Valley Historical Nearby History Symposium in South common ground is not easily met. An Society and Toledo Edison Club, and Bend, Indiana, in June, 1990. examination of some of the successful synthesized oral history transcriptions Besides workshops, history professors relationships between academicians and for a publication for the Birmingham might be asked to speak at a historical local historical organizations can provide Center in the nearby satellite community organization's monthly or annual meet ideas on how best to connect with a of Oregon. ings. Topics can range from local, regional, nearby college or university and to Academic historians and historical or state history to specific areas such as the develop a productive, mutually beneficial organizations can also place students in history of women, Afro-Americans, labor connection. These relationships can be internship programs with both the groups, or frontier communities. The grouped in two broad categories, direct students and their professors interacting lectures can be both informative and academic involvement and indirect directly with the historical organizations. entertaining, and they can be a good way academic involvement. History professors are especially interest to attract new membership. For possible ed in finding positions in which their speakers in your area consult the Ohio Direct Academic students will gain firsthand experience in Academy of History's Roster of Profes developing historical methodology and sional Historians in Ohio or the Ohio Involvement administrative skills they need to be Humanities Council's Roster of Humani One of the most common forms of competitive in the job market. Many ties Scholars in Ohio. direct academic involvement is that of public history programs at the college For their contributions to workshops professional historians who serve on level require their students to complete or speaking engagements, professors boards of trustees of historical organiza three to six months internships. The Ohio should be compensated with traveling tions. In this capacity, they are directly Historical SOCiety Local History Office expenses and honoraria. A professor's involved in helping to plan and imple internship program connects college and ability to impart skills or relate historical ment programs to meet a historical university students with historical information is his or her stock in trade, the organization's mission to collect, preserve, organizations in Ohio - the students same as with any other professionally and present local heritage. Most profes working with committees doing research, skilled person. Unless they are volunteers, sors, however, lead busy lives teaching, preparing exhibits, creating interpretative one would not expect professional writing, and serving on a number of programs, organizing collections, and carpenters or electricians to provide academic and nonacademic committees. developing promotional packages. services at no charge. Similarly, academic With teaching loads of several hundred Internships can be either on a paid or professionals should not be asked to students and "publish or perish" require volunteer basis. The joint program of the provide services gratis. ments, to ask them to make the necessary Local History Office and OAHSM, for strong commitments involved with example, offers paid positions because the Indirect Academic serving on a board may be too taxing. - students usually have to relocate and Possibly a better way to get a history devote a substantial amount of time - Involvement professor involved in a historical organiza usually forty hours a week - to their Whereas direct academic involvement tion is through education-related commit intern positions. There are many historical requires a commitment between history tee assignments such as exhibit and public