Exhibits

Men and women examining museum exhibits
, , ,
0

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.

 

, , , ,
1

Whose Public? Whose History? Exploring the Goals of Public Historians

What is Public History?

 

Educating the people about history and encouraging them to understand and interpret the past is known as public history. Grele, Ronald J., in his seminal work “Whose Public? Whose records? Examining the intricacies and objectives of public history, “What is the Goal of a Public Historian?” According to Grele, public history is about creating a conversation between historians and the general public in addition to conveying historical facts, making history relevant and approachable for a range of audiences.

Connecting Theory to Practice 

 

Numerous places, including museums, archives, historic sites, and neighborhood associations, employ public historians. By using historical interpretations to guide present and future choices, they hope to make history relevant to the general population. Grele highlights the value of cooperation and group research in the practice of public history. According to him, communities and public historians should collaborate closely to co-create historical narratives that represent the wide range of public experiences and viewpoints.

The “Stumbling Stones” project in Europe, for instance, honors Holocaust victims by burying tiny brass plaques in the pavement outside of their last known homes. This initiative is a perfect example of Grele’s idea of public history as a cooperative endeavor that encourages everyone to consider the past and its consequences for

Numerous places, including museums, archives, historic sites, and neighborhood associations, employ public historians. By using historical interpretations to guide present and future choices, they hope to make history relevant to the general population. Grele highlights the value of cooperation and group research in the practice of public history. According to him, communities and public historians should collaborate closely to co-create historical narratives that represent the wide range of public experiences and viewpoints.

The “Stumbling Stones” project in Europe, for instance, honors Holocaust victims by burying tiny brass plaques in the pavement outside of their last known homes. This initiative is a perfect example of Grele’s idea of public history as a cooperative endeavor that encourages everyone to consider the past and its consequences for

Numerous places, including museums, archives, historic sites, and neighborhood associations, employ public historians. By using historical interpretations to guide present and future choices, they hope to make history relevant to the general population. Grele highlights the value of cooperation and group research in the practice of public history. According to him, communities and public historians should collaborate closely to co-create historical narratives that represent the wide range of public experiences and viewpoints.

The “Stumbling Stones” project in Europe, for instance, honors Holocaust victims by burying tiny brass plaques in the pavement outside of their last known homes. This initiative is a perfect example of Grele’s idea of public history as a cooperative endeavor that encourages everyone to consider the past and its consequences for

Numerous places, including museums, archives, historic sites, and neighborhood associations, employ public historians. By using historical interpretations to guide present and future choices, they hope to make history relevant to the general population. Grele highlights the value of cooperation and group research in the practice of public history. According to him, communities and public historians should collaborate closely to co-create historical narratives that represent the wide range of public experiences and viewpoints.

The “Stumbling Stones” project in Europe, for instance, honors Holocaust victims by burying tiny brass plaques in the pavement outside of their last known homes. This initiative is a perfect example of Grele’s idea of public history as a cooperative endeavor that encourages everyone to consider the past and its consequences for  the present and future.

Curated Media

 

![Black Lives Matter Mural](https://example.com/blm-mural.jpg)

*Alt Text: A large Black Lives Matter mural painted on a street in Washington D.C.*

*Caption: The Black Lives Matter mural in Washington D.C., created to honor the movement for racial justice. (Photo by John Smith, June 2020, Washington D.C.)*


 

Conclusion

 

Public history bridges the gap between past and present, making history a dynamic and essential part of public life. By engaging diverse audiences and addressing contemporary issues, public historians ensure that history remains relevant and impactful. Whether through exhibitions, community projects, or digital media, public historians play a vital role in shaping our understanding of the past and its influence on the present and future.

 

Curated Media –

The Black Lives Matter mural can be seen at https://example.com/blm-mural.jpg.

A big mural depicting Black Lives Matter is painted on a street in Washington, D.C.

 

Grele, Ronald J. “Whose Public? Whose History? What is the Goal of a Public Historian?” *The Public Historian* 3, no. 1 (Winter 1981): 40-48.