Kiersten Hudson

About Kiersten Hudson

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The Digital Revolution into Public History!

This picture represents holographic in a museum that gives people the opportunity to see history being explained in real time by people who lived through it!

What is the role of Technology?

Just as history has changed over time technology has done just the same! With those benefits, technology has been a huge part of making public history what is today. Technology has allowed historians to reach a bigger audience that will get their work out through museums, and cultural institutions. The advancement of technology has also allowed historians to restore historical projects that historians has worked on, while also creating spaces that allows history to be more engaging and accessible to people around the world. Public historians embrace of digital media has compelled them to keep pace with a rapidly moving technological frontier. (Hurley,69) Certain things like digital archives allows creates spaces for public history to be long lasting and accessible for anyone that is interested. Public historians, we need to meet our audience where it is, and not where we would like to be. Digitial technologies can work well when Intergrated with more traditional public history outreach efforts (Hochfelder, 2016).

Engaging use of technology!

The most engaging use of technology in public history is things like holographic storytelling, interactive Ai chats, and the use of VR. Each one of these technological items has allowed history to be interactive. The use of Holographics gives people the opportunity to see and hear history being told by the actual person. this opportunity gives people the sense of hearing the story directly from the person although the person is not literally there. The use of AI has also made history more engaging because it has allowed people to ask questions about parts of history from the comfort of their own home. This opportunity also gives people the chance to ask questions to actual historical figures such as Rosa Parks. The use of Virtual Reality has demonstrated the opportunity to explore historical sites that you may not be able to see in person. Although you are not physically present you are still able to connect with the past of history through virtual reality.

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Politics In Public History!

This picture represents people protesting about something their passionate about with the help of public history.

The role of politics in public history.

Public Historians play a huge role in our society because they engage in all topics by giving historical interpretations that are beneficial to all audiences. Public historians engage with their work by challenging political narratives. Politics plays a deep role in public history because it can influence how a story is told and the ways the story will be remembered. Historians engaging in politics have the responsibility to make sure they critically think and analyze while they navigate the complexities of the political
world.

Engaging in Political Activism

Public Historians can engage in politics but also keep a professional standpoint on their research. Public historians must be able to navigate the balance between professionalism and being optimistic. Activism in political engagement includes historical projects, supporting the community, while also challenging misinformation. However, how much you are engaging in politics depends on the level of context. Some public historians may be working in such places as museums and government institutions that comes with strict rules which does not allow the historians to be as open as they would like. Nevertheless, historians should always use their platform to remain grounded in their research.

Appropriate level of engagement

Going about the professional way of handling political engagement is by being transparent while also still having respect for other opinions. Being transparent allows others to see how vulnerable you are about your topic. Engaging in politics also means that you have to have your research done correctly so that your statements are backed up by facts. Overall engaging in politics can be a difficult thing to balance as a historian without getting personal feelings involved but it all comes with balance of transparency and fact-based information.

A landscape image of the main house at Mt. Vernon, VA.
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Histroic Preservation

Mount vernon also known as the shrine highlights George Washington’s work.

Language shaping:

George Washington unwittingly wrote the biography of Mount Vernon’s enslaved community in the records and correspondence he left behind. We can use his words, combined with archaeology and oral history with descendants, to piece together the stories of Mount Vernon’s enslaved community (Researching Slavery, N.D). Language shape has influenced and reinforced. The term shrine was used to help interpret George Washington’s legacy which means it suggests a high place of reverence and suggests hero. Which was centered around George Washington as a figure rather than what he actually was which was an enslaver. Mount Vernon is still used as a national symbol that highlights the work George Washington has done.

Values on Historic Preservation:

Historic preservation has evolved over the years. In the early years, people have seen Mount Vernon as a monument that was surrounded strictly by politics. As history has evolved it now focuses on archival research archaeological findings and also descendants that are now able to vocalize the experiences that enslaved people had to endure. That steps into why oral history is so important, it provides different outlooks that certain parts of history might skip over. Such as written archives that were based on plantations. Many of those archives were created by people who were in power such as the slave masters which makes it seem like what they did was justified. Oral history should be cherished and valued because it opens a door for the emotional truth of others to be heard. Oral history provides the struggles of what people had to endure while also highlighting the beauty they made from the struggle. Such as traditions that are carried on in our culture and family ties.

A woman reaches out her hand in an archives towards a stack of books
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Archivist Performing, perserving, and producing history!

This picture represents an archivist placing history in libraries that will be accessible to students. (University of Warwick, Melissa Prior)

What is an archivist?

An archivist is a qualified professional who is responsible for managing and organizing records and materials based on historical, cultural, and institutional values.(Ashikuzzaman, 2024). They ensure that historical information is stored properly so they are accessible to generations to come. Information includes artifacts arranging and cataloging collections and ensuring each item is documented properly. With the help of archivists, historians are able to properly receive information that will be able to benefit their research. Normally a bachelor of science degree in history library science and archival studies can start a career of being an archivist,

Preserving History

Archivists preserve history by maintaining documents, photos oral history, and digital materials. The way archivists preserve history is by ensuring these materials are properly documented by holding conversations and making sure they have proper storage conditions to keep materials for future generations. Archivists communicate with institutions, organizations, and different individuals. The decision process that determines what should be archived is very crucial and tedious because it will determine the legacy and the history that will be preserved for future generations to come. They began observing the item’s cultural, historical research, and administrative value. Then they began observing whether or not the it has a historical significance or cultural significance.

Performing History

Performing history allows these historical sites to be displayed. Archivists host public programs, and exhibits, and help guide researchers’ narratives as they continue to discover history. With the help of performing history, allows history to come to life with the help of the things that have been archived. Things like museums and documentaries allow history to be publicized in multiple different ways.

Producing History.

Although archivists do not write history they continue to further the growth of history for historians and researchers. Archivists play a major role in the production process because they have to go through what should be kept. They also have to make sure to categorize the materials to make sure they will be available for research by historians. All of their background work helps further the research and knowledge so public historians can help execute their plans for their research that will continue to benefit the world of history.

A group of students working on an assignment in front of an Egyptian monument
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Benefits Shared Authority!

This picture shows students sitting in a museum learning about history that was able to get out by shared authority.

What is shared authority?

The process of shared authority is often used throughout public history. The process of shared authority allows historians to collaborate and share their facts to make public history the best it can be. Shared authority not only allows historians to connect with one another but it also allows historians to connect just with the community. This helps both the historian and the citizen because it allows the historian to share history while also getting opinions from the community or maybe even more facts that can benefit the historian’s research.

Why is shared authority important?

Over the years historians have realized that not many institutions have the funds to do history projects fully. So historian Orsello has come to the realization that most museums and historical sites are all collaborative projects that have flourished into spreading communities on different topics of history. A lack of collaboration across sectors hampers every institution’s efforts at effecting social change (Orsello, 121). The shared authority also plays an important role in public history because it gives all historians the opportunity to help better one another. Instead of having someone who is head in charge, it can become a collaborative event that acknowledges everyone’s ideas.

How is the shared authority used?

In today’s world shared authority is used more commonly used than what we probably realize. One example is museums. Museums play a huge part in history but in order for them to get the correct information out to the public you’re going to have to collaborate with other people. As far as an African American museum in order for certain parts of history to be broken down you will have to speak to descendants of ancestors who actually lived through that particular time period. This is also beneficial because it allows people the opportunity to use their voice on topics that people usually brush over.

Men and women examining museum exhibits
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The Importance of Public History

Kiersten Hudson

People examining exhibits at an unidentified museum [Photographer Unknown, 2021?] Who is McCarthy?
People examining exhibits at an unidentified museum [Photographer Unknown, 2021?] Who is McCarthy?

What is Public History?

History is used in all parts of the world and it is essential in every aspect of life but as the world evolved historians began to share the history that they have learned as well. Lots of people tend to confuse academic history with public history. In academic history historians minister to humans generilized need to comprehend its past and to diffuse that comprehsion by means of formal schooling, within each generation. (Kelly,18). Public history refers to the employment of historians and historical methods outside of academia in government, private corporations, the media historical societies, and museums even in private practices. (Kelly, 16) Public history is publicized in places such as museums, historical sites, libraries, and social media platforms.

Why is public history Important?

Public history is important because it allows history to be accesible to people all around the world beyond an academic setting. This gives historians the opprtunity to share their history with people all over the world because public history is so accesible. By historians doing that it alllows communties to be engaged with one another. Since public history is all over it influence the world in a postive way because it gives so many opprtunites on how history can be reached. Such as a podcast that educates people on diversity or even a muesum that shows actual artifacts that were used during a particular period of time.

Public History Today!

Public History has come along way since it has first took off! With the help of the historian Robert Kelly he trained students to have a breakthrough with achieving their goal of public history. Imbuing them with the idea of a public rather than an academic career and sending them out oene by one to demonstarte their value by their work (Kelly, 19). Furthermore as he continued to work with his students his skills began to get passed down from generation to genration that has brought public history to where it is now. Such as being accesible in documentaries, podcast, articles, and historical sites.