Essays from the Field:
These reading assignments were very enlightening because it dealt with a large variety of skills and positions that a public historian can have. On the first day of class, Dr. Cebula gave a presentation on these various jobs, but Gardner and LaPaglia, through other people's essays, showed public history in action.
First, the essay about administrators was rather funny because the writer, Michael Devine, discovered his calling to be a historical administrator through a fortuitous accident (46). That accident being that a friend offered him a job that would pay more than a teacher's salary. Devine also had nothing but negative things to say about business administrators in museums, exhibits, and any historical site. The next essay about archivists and records managers was timely, seeing as how we had just entered one of the regional state archives in the last class, but it seemed as though the archivists we met on Thursday played the role of both the archivists and the records managers; however, the writer of this essay, makes a clear distinction between the two. The role of the historical contractor, as explained by Jannelle Warren-Findley, was one that required a specific type of personality and psychological makeup. A makeup that I for one do not have. The final essay was an examination of how history helps with editing and publishing, but the story and essay prior to that about the Emma Goldman Papers showed the type of time, effort, and dedication that is required for a documentary editor. Overall, this continued to reinforce in our minds how a history degree opens doors in both the public history world and other business opportunities.
Online Readings Etc.
Ellis Island Website:
This website could use some more creativity and clarity. It feels like they are putting a lot of information into their tabs and need to spread it out through more links so that you can fall deeper into the rabbit hole. They did have a fun little listing about the famous people who have passed through there. Also, couldn't help but notice that on the front page there was a plea for a 45$ a year membership to keep the website running. One of the things that they talk about in "Essays" is that constant struggle to find money.
Video:
For some reason my computer wasn't able to access the video.
Web Stuff:
Boston 1775 had an informative blog that shared some things that I didn't know about Boston in 1775. Like the Battle of Golden Hill or the weaponry that Washington had at the time. It was a blog that I have never seen or heard of and thought that it was enlightening.
My favorite part of any of the readings this week was the interesting article about the Disney History Site. I had no idea that this was a possibility at one point. Having been to the Manassas Junction area for awhile, the fields and wilderness surrounding the battlefield would have been a great spot for a site like this. Granted, Disney would have, inevitably, figured out a way to mess history up.
Unfortunately, the common, underlying theme of the readings for this week is that it is extremely difficult to get funding for historical things, unless it has Nicolas Cage involved.
Ellis Island Website:
This website could use some more creativity and clarity. It feels like they are putting a lot of information into their tabs and need to spread it out through more links so that you can fall deeper into the rabbit hole. They did have a fun little listing about the famous people who have passed through there. Also, couldn't help but notice that on the front page there was a plea for a 45$ a year membership to keep the website running. One of the things that they talk about in "Essays" is that constant struggle to find money.
Video:
For some reason my computer wasn't able to access the video.
Web Stuff:
Boston 1775 had an informative blog that shared some things that I didn't know about Boston in 1775. Like the Battle of Golden Hill or the weaponry that Washington had at the time. It was a blog that I have never seen or heard of and thought that it was enlightening.
 |
| Disney's America. Courtesy of Disney |
My favorite part of any of the readings this week was the interesting article about the Disney History Site. I had no idea that this was a possibility at one point. Having been to the Manassas Junction area for awhile, the fields and wilderness surrounding the battlefield would have been a great spot for a site like this. Granted, Disney would have, inevitably, figured out a way to mess history up.
 |
| Nic Cage, National Treasure. Jif courtesy of tumblr |
No comments:
Post a Comment