Public Historians
What is a Public History?
The National Council on Public History defines the discipline as the many and diverse ways in which history is put to work in the world. This allows for history to be applied to real-life scenerios. Applied history was a term used synonymously and interchangeably with public history and although public history has gained ascendance in recent years as the preferred name, applied history probably remains the more intuitive and self-defining term. The goal of public history is to make history relevant to the public sphere.
What do Public Historians do?
Public Historians can be historical consultants, museum professionals, government historians, archivists, oral historians, cultural resource managers, curators, film and media producers, historical interpreters, historic preservationists, policy advisers, local historians, and community activists, among many many other job descriptions.
Regardless of offical title, all public historians share an interest and commitment to making history relevant and useful in the public sphere.
Who Are We?
As members of the Duquesne University Community, we are a group of first and second year graduate students in the Public History MA Program. As Public Historians, we are fascinated by museums, their collections, and the people that visit/view them. We aim to make the history of the communities that we encounter to be relevant to the greater Pittsburgh network. The Studies in Material and Visual Culture (Fall 2015) class aims to create an exhibition, through partnering with the Hill House Association, that enables all individuals to show a sense of pride and dignity with the objects they collect and the stories they have to tell, making their histories relevant to all. Museums are evolving, and we wish to show to everyone that they can have a voice within the community and the museums they house.
Studies in Material and Visual Culture (Fall 2015) members:
Matt Bauman, Public History '16
Emily Dahlin, Public History '16
Alyssa Faight, Public History '16
Ariel Hammel, Public History '16
Ryan Henderson, Public History '16
Kelly McMasters, Public History '17
Cerina Oldfield, Public History '16
Cassie Parsons, Public History '16
Amanda Sherry, Public History '16
Heather Williams, Public History '17
Class instructed by Dr. Alima Bucciantini
In Partnership with Terri Baltimore and the Hill House Association
For more information regarding Duquesne University's Public History Program