Time Schedule:
Lorraine C Mcconaghy
HIST 490
Seattle Campus
Examines special topics in history.
Class description
"Public History" is the general term for a wide range of applications of training in history to public settings and public audiences. Our class will consider a variety of perspectives on the risks and opportunities of applied history. The class will not only consider public history in the United States, but worldwide - students will be encouraged to apply their own historical specialty to a real world situation. A good public historian is, first, a good historian. The easiest way to reach me with questions is at the Museum of History & Industry, where I work. lorraine.mcconaghy@mohai.org
Student learning goals
Students will demonstrate a good introductory understanding of the current issues in the field of public history, particularly as regards contested public memory.
Students will demonstrate a good introductory command of the contributions that practicing historians can make to the everyday lives of ordinary people.
Students will be familiar with a broad overview of the different fields of public history.
Students will be familiar with the current professional organizations, blogs, websites, periodicals and conferences of public history.
General method of instruction
Our class is open to upper-division undergraduate students and to graduate students. Each Monday, we will all convene for general instruction on the topic of the week - that may mean a visiting speaker or a lecture by the instructor or an off-site visit. Each Thursday, the graduate students will meet for discussion; each Friday, the undergraduate students will meet for discussion.
Recommended preparation
Students should bring their curiosity about the world of applied history.
Class assignments and grading
Students will build a portfolio of weekly written reviews of assigned readings in the coursepack and on the web. They will also discuss those readings and the ideas they raise in our breakouts. They will be asked to plan a public history project, in their own field of historical interest, that will include research resources, interpretation, interpretative strategies and a budget/schedule/personnel scheme.
Participation - 15% Written reviews - 50% Project - 35%
