What is Public History?

Tour guide Malcom Walls explains to visitors why the Old Camberbatch Historic District is not really so boring. [Photograph © 2023 unidentified]

Exploring Public History

Lucy Salmon is a pioneer in American education. Her exploration of her life helped answer fundamental questions about the nature of education. She pushed boundaries for women’s rights and even minorities. Her influence on public history has shifted the focus on how she goes about her work. Salmon has studied under many highly regarded historians, and one of her notable works that I loved reading was “History in a Backyard.” Lucy starts the article by expressing deep frustration because she and her family couldn’t visit Europe that summer. She wanted to see all of Europe’s museums and artifacts, but as the story continued, she had a significant shift of perspective. As Lucy steps into her backyard, she questions and observes how she can study history in her backyard. Salmon describes her backyard as a treasure with architectural opportunities in the story.¹ Examining and breaking down her fence, trees, flowers, and hedges, and correlating all the symbolic meanings to them. On page 80, one of the symbolic meanings she breaks down is the cherry tree, which means lacking the motion connection the author might feel.² And that brings me to public history and how it is used. I believe public history fosters a deep understanding of how historians shape or present the future, making the past relevant in everyday life. I think that’s what Lucy is trying to show us through the stories. No matter where you go or what you see, it all could be a part of the historical background.

Lucy Maynard Salmon, History in a Backyard (1912), 76.
Ibid., 80.

How does Lucy Maynard Salmon align with Public History?

Lucy Maynard Salmon

A headshot of American Historian Lucy Maynard Salmon from her 1912 article “History in a Backyard,”

This Cherry tree is what Lucy Maynard discusses in her story ” History in a Back Yard.” I wanted to give a visual of what a cherry tree looks like and how the tree grasped her attention.

Cherry Tree

Intern, Ocean Dunbar standing next to Ninety Six National Park, in South Carolina. 2023

26 Jan 2025 Ocean Dunbar

Intro to Public History (Spring 2025) Digital PV Panther Project, Lucy Salmon, national parks, Ocean Dunbar, public history

The Power of Public History

PVAMU student and National Park Service intern Ocean Dunbar stands next to the official sign of Ninety Six National Park in South Carolina

What is Public history? Sub Heading

Public History could be defined as the practice of historical research teaching, and interpretation, concentrated outside of academia. Unlike traditional academic history, which often focuses on research and teaching within classrooms, public history brings history to life in museums, monuments, archives, and media. Public history makes complex narratives understandable and relatable. It ensures that history isn’t just confined to textbooks but exists in the spaces where individuals live, work, and learn.

Influence of Public History

Public history plays a vital role in uncovering and preserving the stories that exist right in our own backyards. Local landmarks, community traditions, and even the streets we walk on every day. Early 20th century historian, Lucy Salmon, highlights the value of studying the ordinary—household items, local landscapes, and community practices—as a way to uncover the experiences of everyday people. Salmon’s approach calls for a democratization of history, encouraging historians to connect broader historical themes to the lived realities of individuals and communities.

Public history also fosters a sense of community. Monuments and memorials, for example, serve as gathering spaces for reflection and remembrance. Community-based projects, such as oral history interviews or local historical exhibits, allow people to connect with their roots and understand how their stories fit into the larger historical tapestry.

Perhaps the greatest strength of public history is its ability to inspire action. By engaging with history, people are better equipped to make informed decisions about the future. Understanding how events unfolded in the past helps us recognize patterns, avoid repeating mistakes, and celebrate the progress we’ve made.

In a world that often feels fast-paced and disconnected, public history reminds us of the enduring power of our shared humanity. It connects us to those who came before and challenges us to leave a meaningful legacy for those who will come after.

Robert Kelley, “Public History: Its Origins, Nature, and Prospects,” The Public Historian 1, no. 1 (1978): 16

Salmon, Lucy Maynard. “History in the Backyard.” In The Study of History, edited by Herman Ausubel, 45-56. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1966.