History is never over and done with—never complete, never static. Visit a local history museum today, and what you see there has been collected, preserved, interpreted, and presented to us–today (no matter how dusty, musty, and time-worn the exhibit behind glass). We are not time travelers, so the only history we know is happening right …
Preservationist Craig Potts says, “Historic preservation clearly does much more than preserve bricks and mortar. It recognizes that our built history connects us in tangible ways with our past and provides context for the places we occupy and the world we live in.” We agree, but we have to challenge ourselves to think beyond abstractions, …
Memorials encourage us to quietly honor lost souls and to respectfully commemorate solemn occasions. Designed to evoke calming reverence, tranquility, and decorum, memorials insist on a certain code of behavior: quite please, respect the dead, proper attire requested at this sacred site. But memorials also pacify us, reminding us to hold our tongues. Shhh, this …
Most public historians assume their displays, exhibits, explications, and events will be received and reviewed intelligently by visitors to their museums and historical sites. In fact, it is ethical standard practice for public historians to seek critical feedback and commentary on their work; the input helps them improve quality, accuracy, and professionalism. Exhibits, artifact displays, …
History crimes are real. Let’s begin at the end of the story. The moral is what District Attorney Cyrus Vance warns: “Stewards of the world’s most important artifacts have a duty to hold their acquisitions to the highest level of scrutiny.” Vance is referring to a recent object-lesson at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but …
Dorthea Lange, who photographed some of the most stunning portraits of The Great Depression, once said, “Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” And for public historians, these representational “instances” help us preserve, document, and better understand the world. In short, photographs reveal who we are. In the age …
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”― Mark Twain Travelogues, from Homer’s Odyssey to Aunt Janet’s overly long …
It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. ~Aristotle The recent high-profile arrest of New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft for soliciting prostitution raises awareness of an issue resonating in cities and towns across America—human trafficking. “This is not about lonely old men and victimless crimes,” said Florida State …
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