WWW Resources
Applied history and Public history sites - 2009
American Association for State and Local History
The AASLH was organized in 1904 as a "department" of the American Historical Association. In 1940 it became an autonomous entity, mainly because the AHA did not seem interested in applied history at the regional or community level. The AASLH is a one of the principal umbrella organizations for public history in North America. From its base in Nashville, Tennessee, it endeavours to "preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all Americans." The AASLH actively supports local history in Canada.
American Cultural Resources Centre
Based in Stone Mountain, Georgia, the American Cultural Resources Association claims to represent the "cultural resources industry" in the United States. According to this website, the industry is made up of over 500 firms employing over 10,000 people working in a wide variety of fields, including historic preservation, history, archaeology, architectural history, historical architecture, and landscape architecture.
American Historical Association History Cooperative
This site provides access to the Journal of American History [JAH] and the innovative "Teaching the JAH" from Indiana University. This site is also a portal to the The History Teacher (published by the Society for History Education) and the Law and History Review (published by the University of Illinois). These journals routinely publish articles about applied history.
Canada's National History Society
"...bringing you Canada's story since 1994." The Society aims to make Canadians "more aware and appreciative of their heritage." The Society publishes The Beaver magazine and sponsors the Pierre Berton Award for "individuals or organizations that have helped popularize Canadian history, through such means as publications, film, radio and television, theatre or volunteer service."
Canadian Archival Information Network
The Canadian Archival Information Network declares that it is "the gateway to the evidence of Canada's collective memory." Despite its unfortunate acronym, CAIN is an important organization for applied historians, since it provides access to more than 30, 000 descriptions of archival holdings in all provinces and territories, including British Columbia. The CAIN website is hosted by the Canadian Council of Archives. This is the main site for information about the archival profession and archival records in Canada.
Canadian Association of Professional Heritage Consultants
The CAPHC was founded in 1987 to represent the interests of professional practitioners in many related fields of heritage conservation. Specifically, the Association seeks to represent and further the professional interests of heritage consultants active in both public and private sectors; establish and maintain principles and standards of practice for heritage consultants; enhance awareness and appreciation of heritage resources, and the contribution of heritage consultants; andfoster communication among private practitioners, public agencies, and the public at large in matters related to heritage conservation. The CAPHC web site includes a newsletter with up-to-date information about practioners, projects and policies in Canada and around the world. Aspiring applied historians should join this organization. Student membership is only $25 a year.
Canadian Heritage
The government of Canada's Department of Canadian Heritage website. "Canadian Heritage is responsible for national policies and programs that promote Canadian content, foster cultural participation, active citizenship and participation in Canada's civic life, and strengthen connections among Canadians." The website includes policy documents on national heritage initiatives, reports on the economic benefits of heritage conservation and cultural tourism, and information about funding opportunties. A good place to look for information about public history on the national stage.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
A comprehensive site where "heritage professionals can pool their resources and ideas and keep up to date on professional development." This is the place to look for job postings, to read regional newsletters, and to access resources on a wide range of topics relating to archives, libraries, museums, heritage conservation, collections management, and marketing, to name but a few topics featured here. Students and practitioners will find this a very useful site.
Centre for Public History
The Public History movement is widespread in Australia, as this website attests. The Centre for Public History is located at the University of Technology in Sydney. The Centre's website contains a wealth of information about public history programs and activities Down Under, plus links to academic applied history programs world-wide.
City of Nanaimo Heritage Information Pages
The City of Nanaimo web site provides extensive information on heritage programs and serves as a good example of how public history is practiced at the municipal level in Canada. The Nanaimo site includes information on the city's heritage policies, an inventory of heritage sites and historic places, and a Virtual Heritage Walk of the community. It also features links to many local heritage-related associations.
The Dominion Institute
Founded in 1997 "by a group of young people concerned about the decline of history as a core subject in schools and by the public perception of the country's past as academic and boring." The Dominion Institute is based in Toronto. It "provides educators and interested Canadians with a variety of educational programmes, events and resources that help engage youth and all Canadians in learning about Canada's military, political and cultural history." The motto of the institute is: "Memory. Democracy. Identity."
Heritage Branch. British Columbia.
The Heritage Branch of the Ministry of Tourism, Sport & the Arts of the government of British Columbia. The branch provides "advice and information...on legislation and heritage conservation policy and practices" to the provincial government, local governments and other agencies; regulates the "protection and alteration of designated heritage sites and the management of the BC Register of Historic Places" under authority of the Heritage Conservation Act. This website offers valuable information on policies and practices relating to all facets of heritage conservation in British Columbia.
Heritage Canada Foundation
The Heritage Canada Foundation was established in 1973. It is a national, membership-based organization, "dedicated to promoting the conservation, understanding, and appreciation of Canada's built heritage, historic places, and cultural landscapes and their importance in the life of our communities. The foundation is the national voice for heritage conservation." The Foundation's attractive and well-designed website includes articles on heritage resources, activities and inititatives from across Canada.
Heritage Vancouver
The Heritage Vancouver Society was founded in the early 1990s and is one of the most active and important heritage groups on the lower Mainland. The society is devoted to "encouraging the study and understanding of heritage preservation with a local and regional perspective." The society organizes workshops, walking tours and public lectures and publishes a first-rate newsletter. Heritage Vancouver is an excellent example of a community-based heritage association.
Heritage Studies as Applied History
The Heritage Studies as Applied History Project was established at the University of York in England in 1996. "The overall strategy of the project has been to raise awareness amongst professional academic historians of the potential offered by heritage studies (by which is meant study of the ways in which the past has been preserved, presented and consumed in present and previous societies) [and] for the development of students' personal transferable skills within a rigorous academic context." This site provides a good perspective on, and an excellent portal to, the field of applied history in the UK and continental Europe.
Hallmark Society
Located in Victoria, B. C., the Hallmark Society was formed in 1973 to encourage the preservation of heritage buildings in the Capital Regional District. Its mandate has been extended to include natural, cultural, and horticultural landmarks. The society advocates "the preservation, restoration and conservation of heritage and works towards a public awareness and understanding of heritage." The society publishes a newsletter, organizes walking tours, and recognizes achievements with its annual Heritage Awards presentations.
History News Network
"Because the past is the present and the future, too." That's the motto of this edgy website. Founded and edited by Richard Shenkman, a Seattle-based journalist and broadcaster, History News Network features articles by historians on current events. This is a good example of history being "applied" in the interests of the public. Among other things, the Network seeks "To expose politicians who misrepresent history. To point out bogus analogies. To deflate beguiling myths. To remind Americans of the irony of history. To put events in context. To remind us all of the complexity of history." Not surprisingly, the site currently features many articles about terrorism. It also features some provocative articles about history and patriotism.
Public History Resource Center
The Public History Resource Center was established in 1999. Its terrestrial home is Maryland, but it's primarily an on-line enterprise. It exists "to support, promote, and disseminate the scholarly and professional work of public historians. The Resource Center provides a forum for research, scholarship, networking, and education in public history and seeks to broaden and deepen the general public's awareness of the field of public history in all its diversity and complexity." It includes on-line bibliographies, guides to post-secondary programs, and interviews with public history practitioners. All in all, a very useful site.
Public History Resource Guide
Compiled by Dr. Edwin A. Lyon for Public History 2001 at Tulane University. This is a very impressive collection of resources, possibly the most comprehensive collection anywhere on the Net. Although the focus is mainly on the United States, the resources listed here relate to broad, international themes in public history. The Guide consists of bibliographic references and hyperlinks to on-line resources. The first place to look for material on the practice of applied history.
National Council on Public History
Incorporated in 1980 "to promote the utility of history in society through professional practice, NCPH works both to enhance public awareness of the value, uses and pleasures of history, and to support the community of public historians." The NCPH publishes the quarterly journal The Public Historian in cooperation with the History Department of the University of California at Santa Barbara. The Indianapolis-based Council includes museum professionals, government historians, historical consultants and employees in consulting, archivists, professors and students with public history interests. The NCPH is the main umbrella organization for the public history movement in the United States. Its website contains many useful links to applied history organizations and to recreated historical sites, such as Colonial Williamsburg.
National Historic Sites (Canada)
A portal to the many historic sites maintained by Parks Canada. Some of the sites - notably Louisbourg and Fort Chambly - have elaborate explanatory notes and offer "virtual tours." All of the sites provide, er, concrete examples of applied or public history in Canada.
Perspectives Online
The electronic newsmagazine of the American Historical Association's newsletter. Many articles deal with public or applied history. The articles can be accessed via the Keyword Search window on this website.
The Land Conservancy
Founded in 1997, TLC is modeled after the National Trust of Britain. It is a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout British Columbia. TLC protects important habitat for plants, animals and natural communities as well as properties with historical and cultural value. In recent years, the TLC has become increasingly active in preserving historic buildings, gardens, artifacts, archaeological sites and landmarks -- such as the Abkhazi Garden, Craigflower School and Craigflower Farm House in Victoria.
Virtual Museum Canada
An informative, well-organized directory of Canadian museums, galleries, and "cultural attractions." The Virtual Museum Canada directory is part of the Canadian Heritage Information Network.