An American Association for State and Local History Guide to Making Public History

Reviews / Votes

[The book] presents America's (public) history organizations as more lively and relevant than ever, pressing challenges notwithstanding. Bob's Guide to Making Public History is a wide-ranging book, bringing together essays by important thinkers from between 2008-2017 on topics such as entrepreneurship, change management, relevance, partnerships, etc. Key themes in the book include financial and institutional stability, change and transformation, collections, diversity and inclusion, and the relevance of the history field as a whole. Each essay is introduced by Bob, who adds invaluable context and additional sources.... Fortunately, the book is full of promising case studies of public history organizations that have tried to become relevant and sustainable again.... Some chapters transcend the level of a guidebook and give directions on another level, most notably Edward T. Linenthal's reflections on commemoration and David A. Janssen's story about the rebirth of Detroit.... Instead, the image of the sector Bob's book paints is one of a sector that feels a strong need to play an important, relevant role in society, and one that feels empowered and enabled to do so. This confidence is rooted in research and best practice. For me, this is the great strength of the book. It covers a formative period for many history (and other cultural heritage) organizations and by looking at many case studies at the same time, manages to give a convincing roadmap of possible futures for all of us. * The Museum of the Future * The honest self-reflection of the editor and contributors in regards to their successes and failures in public history is enlightening. This book creates a positive, supportive and empathetic dialogue with its audience, which will resonate with practicing public historians. It will help those practicing public history to understand that failure is a natural part of the process of doing public history, turning issues and challenges into opportunities and catalysts for change. AASHL Guide to Making Public History encourages public historians to be honest and to trust each other; to collaborate, to be less competitive, and to strive through shared passion and experiences to be more inclusive and relevant. * The Public Historian * Beatty repurposes for fresh use ten sweeping essays written by wise colleagues. What emerges is a handy guide to what public history institutions have been doing over the past decade and a map to where the field is headed. His supporting chapters re-angle, poke, highlight, and elaborate upon the core essays producing a new work of distilled insight. -- John Dichtl, president and CEO, American Association for State and Local History A must for every public historian's library. Under Bob Beatty's masterful guidance, leading scholars and practitioners tackle key issues faced by the 21st century public historian: community engagement, reciprocal partnerships, inclusive approaches and narratives, and keeping history at the forefront of contemporary debates and dialogues. Here is a useful volume with common-sense, tested solutions plus new questions about the practice and sustainability of the public history field. -- Carroll Van West, director, Middle Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation