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Whose Public? Whose History? What Is the Goal of a Public Historian?

Author(s): Ronald J. Grele


Source: The Public Historian, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Winter, 1981), pp. 40-48
Published by: University of California Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3377160
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I s s u e s a n d A n a l y s i s
W h o s e P u b l i c ? W h o s e
Hi s to ry ? W h a t i s th e G o a l
o f a P u b l i c Hi s to ri a n ? *
RONA LD J. G RELE
r
1HE USE OF th e po s s e s s i ve c a s e m th i s ti tl e i s n o t a n a c c i d e n t.
Ne i th e r i s th e pa rti c u l a r u s e o f th e te rms "pu b l i c " a n d 'Ei s to ry ."
Th e s e wo rd s a re h e re b e c a u s e I h a ve th e u n c o mf o rta b l e f e e l i n g
th a t ma n y pe o pl e wh o u s e th e m th e s e d a y s h a ve n o t qu i te th o u gh t
o u t wh a t th e y me a n . A n d I a m qu i te s u re th a t th o s e wh o u s e th e m
a re n o t a t a l l c o mf o rta b l e wi th th e i r u s e i n th e po s s e s s i ve . Th e
pre s e n t ti tl e , I th i n k, a l l o ws u s to ra i s e th e i s s u e o f tu rf b u t a l s o to
mo ve b e y o n d tu rf to th e c o mpl e n ty o f th e qu e s ti o n s ra i s e d b y th e
pu b l i c h i s to ry mo ve me n t-qu e s ti o n s th a t go to th e h e a rt o f th e
u s e s o f h i s to ry i n th e c u l tu re a n d f f i e pro c e s s e s b y wh i c h h i s to ri c a l
c o n s c i o u s n e s s i s f o rme d a n d e xpre s s e d .
Th e pro po n e n ts o f pu b l i c h i s to ry h a ve mo u n te d a s u s ta i n e d a n d
i mpo rta n t c ri ti qu e o f th e wa y s i n wh i c h A me n c a n h i s to n a n s h a ve
Se c ti o n s o f th i s pa pe r re s u l te d f ro m c o n ve rs a ti o n s wi th Ho wa rd G re e n o f th e
Ne w Je rs e y Hi s to ri c a l Co mmi s s i o n . I a l s o b e n e f i te d f ro m th e c o mme n ta ry o f Ro b e rt
Ke l l e y wh e n th e pa pe r wa s d e l i ve re d a t th e a n n u a l me e ti n g o f th e Orga n i 7.a ti o n o f
A me A c a n Hi s to ri a n s . Mi c h a e l Fri s c h , Jo h n Bo , W e s l e y Jo b n s o n , Ja c qu e l y n
Ha l l , a n d Da l e Tre l e ve n a l s o pro vi d e d ma n y i n s i gl i tS i n to i e o o mpl e x n a tu re o f
pu b l i c h i s to ry b y i e i r c l o s e re a d i n g o f th e o ri gi n a l te 2rt.
40
e 1981 b y th e Re ge n b o f i e Un i ve ra ty o f Ca l i f o rn i a
0272 3433/s l /010040+0s t0o .s o
W HOSE P UBLI C? W HOSE HI STORY? * 41
d e f i n e d th e ms e l ve s a s pro f e s s i o n a l s , o f th e wo rk th e y d o n o f th e
wa y s i n wh i c h th e y o rga n i ze pro f e s s i o n a l l y , a n d o f th e u s e s to
wh i c h th e y h a ve pu t th e i r pro f e s s i o n a l o rga n i za ti o n s . De s pi te th e
f a c t th a t th e o ri ps o f th e mo ve me n t ma y h a ve b e e n qu i te h u mb l e
-th e th o u gh t th a t "ma y b e " h i s tc f i ri a n s c o u l d b e u s e f u l i n po l i c y
f o rmu l a ti o n - pu b l i c h i s to ry a n d th o s e wh o s pe a k f o r i t h a ve b e gu n
to a rti c u l a te a mu c h b ro a d e r a tta c k u po n c u rre n t mo d e s o f h i s -
to ri c a l wo rk. Th e y h a ve re b e l l e d a t th e n o ti o n th a t h i s to ri c a l tra i n -
i n g a n d h i s to ri c a l wo rk s h o u l d b e l i mi te d to th e te a c h i n g o f h i s to ry
a t th e u n i ve rs i ty l e ve l th e tra i n i n g o f f u tu re h i s to ri a n s , o r th e pu b -
l i c a ti o n o f re s e a rc h re s u l ts d i re c te d s o l e l y to o th e r a c a d e mi c h i s -
to n a n s . Us i n g th e jo b c ri s i s a s a s ta rti g po i n t, th e y h a ve a c c u s e d
th e pro f e s s i o n o f i gn o ri n g th e po s s i b i l i ty o f o ppo rtu n i ti e s o u ts i d e
-o f th e a c a d e my a n d o f mo n o po l i zi n g th e i d e o l o gxc a l f o rmu l a ti o n
o f th e ro l e o f th e h i s to ri a n b y a c c e n ti n g a n a rro w vi s i o n o f th e
h i s to ri a n a s re s e a rc h e r o r l l n i ve rs i ty pro f e s s o r.
Th e s e a re i mpo rta n t i s s u e s b u t th e d e b a te s o ve r pu b l i c h i s to ry
h a ve n o t b e e n ta ke n s e ri o u s l y e n o u gh o r h a ve b e e n d e f i n e d i n
mu c h to o n a rro w a f ra me wo rk, s o th a t th e s e i s s u e s h a ve n o t re -
c e i ve d th e a tte n ti o n th e y d e s e l ve . Th i s i s th e c a s e f o r two re a s o n s .
Fi rs t, th o s e o f u s wh o c u rre n tl y wo rk i n th e f i e l d h a ve n o t c l e a rl y
d e f i n e d wh a t i t i s we d o , wh y we d o i t a n d wh y i t i s a n a l te rn a ti ve
to o th e r f o n n s o f h i s to ri c a l e f f o rt Se c o n d , th e d e b a te s h a ve ta ke n
pl a c e i n a h i s to ri c a l va c u u m. To l i n k a n d th e n f ra me th e s e i s s u e s ,
we mu s t d e f i n e wh a t we me a n b y <pu b l i c " a n d h o w we a s h i s to r-
i a n s h a ve re l a te d to a n d c o n ti n u e to re l a te to th a t pu b l i c . I f we d o
s o we c a n b e gi n to ga i n th e n e e d e d pe rs pe c ti ve o n pu b l i c h i s to ry
a n d to a s s e s s i ts e l e me n ts a n d i ts c o n s e qu e n c e s .
I t i s pro b a b l y o b +7i o u s to po i n t o u t th a t h i s to rs a xl s h a ve a l wa y s
h a d a pu b l i c . Fro m i ts e a rl i e s t ti me s , th e s tu d y o f h i s to ry h a s b e e n
a pu b l i c a c t, a l th o u gh d i f f e re n t h i s to ri a n s a t d i f f e re n t ti me s h a ve
h a d d i f f e re n t pu b l i c s . Th i s i s i mpo rta n t to re me mb e r, f o r b o th th e
pro mo te rs o f pu b l i c h i s to ry a n d th e i r c ri ti c s o f te n a s s u me th a t th e
a tta c l i u po n th e n a rro w d e f i n i ti o n o f s Cpu b l i c '> pro mo te d i n th e po s t-
W o rl d W a r I I y e a rs b y a c a d e mi c h i s to ri a n s i s s o me th i n g n e w
wh i c h s pe a ks to a n e w re a l i ty .
Bro a d l y d e f i n e d a n d b ri e f l y n o te d , th e re a re a n u mb e r o f ma jo r
pu b l i c s wh i c h th e h i s to ri a n h a s tra d i ti o n a l l y a d d re s s e d . I n th e
mi d -n i n e te e n th c e n tu ry a n d c o n ti n u i n g u n ti l to d a y , ma n y A me r-
i c a n h i s to ri a n s h a ve s o u gh t to a d d re s s wh a t gra n ti n g a ge n c i e s a n d
42 * THE: P UBLI C HI STORI A N
o th e rs h a ve c a l l e d th e 'tro a d ge n e ra l l y e d u c a te d l s y pu b l i c ,'> b y
a n d l a rge th e l i te ra te mi d d l e c l a s s . Th e wo rk o f s u c h h i s to ri a n s ,
ge n e ra l l y n a rra ti ve i n f o I m, h a s u s u a l l y o f f e re d th e b o o k-re a d i n g
a n d -b u y i n g pu b l i c d ra ma s o f wi d e s we e p a n d b ro a d i n te rpre ta -
ti o n , u p-b e a t pa ge a n ts wh i c h tra c e a ma jo r th e me i n A me rl c a n
c u l tu re a n d po i n t to th e i n e vi ta b l e s u c c e s s o f th e Un i te d Sta te s a s
a n a ti o n . Th e gre a t e pi c s o f th e s o -c a l l e d Mi d d l e pe ri o d i n A me r-
i c a n h i s to ry (182s 1880) c o me i mme d i a te l y to mi n d , a s d o e s
Ro o ts .
A s th e h i s to ri c a l pro f e s s i o n e me rge d i n th e l a te n i n e te e n th a n d
e a rl y twe n ti e th c e n tu ri e s , th e d e f i mti o n o f th e h i s to n a n 's pu b l i c
b e c a me s o me wh a t n a rro we r. I n c re a s i n gl y u n ti l to d a y 's c n s i s , th e
d o mi n a n t pro f e s s i o n a l vi s i o n b e c a me th a t o f a pu b l i c o f pe e rs .
P ro d u c i n g mo n o gra ph s o f a n a l y ti c s o ph i s ti c a ti o n a n d me th o d o -
l o gi c a l e l e ga n c e o n e ve r s ma l l e r a n d mo re ma n a ge a b l e to pi c s i n a n
e f f o rt to e mu l a te '<s c i e n c e " th e pro f e s s i o n a l h i s to n a n i n h i s re -
s e a rc h a n d wn ti n g b e ga n to s pe a k to a n e ve r n a rro we r gro u p o f
s c h o l a rs , mo s tl y o th e r a c a d e c h i s to ri a n s a n d gra d u a te s tu d e n ts .
I s o l a te d f ro m th e ma rke tpl a c e , th e s e s c h o La rs b e c a me ( a n d s ti l l
a re ) d e pe n d e n t u po n th e a c a d e my ra th e r th a n ro y a l ti e s f o r th e i r
l i ve l i h o o d . Th u s th e y we re c a l l e d u po n to a d d re s s a s e c o n d pu b l i c :
u n e rgra c b u a te s tu d e n ts I t i s n o t s u rpri s i n g th e re f o re , th a t mu c h
o f th e c o n ti n u i n g d e b a te o ve r th e ro l e o f th e pro f e s s i o n a l h i s to ri a n
i n th e twe n ti e th c e n tu ry a d d re s s e d i ts e l f to th e c o n tra d i c ti o n i n
h o w to re a c h a n d a d d re s s two s u c h d i s pa ra te pu b l i c s a n d th e va ri -
OUS s o l u ti o n s to th a t c o n tra d i c ti o n : th e c re a ti o n o f re s e a rc h pro -
f e s s o rs h i ps , th e b i f u re a ti o n o f th e a c a d e my tn to re s e a rc h a n d
te a c h i n g i n s ti tu ti o n s , th e vi e w o f s tu d e n ts a s po te n ti a l s c h o l a rs ,
a n d th e s e a rc h f o r th e o n e gi mmi c k wh i c h wo u l d b l e n d s c h o l a r-
s h i p a n d te a c h i n g.
A t th e s a me ti me th a t th e h i s to n c a l pro f e s s i o n mo ve d to d e f i n e
i ts e l f i n th e s e n a l To we r te xms , a n d o u ts i d e o f th e a c a d e my , a n o th e r
gro u p o f h i s to xi a n s e me rge d to wo rk wi th a n o n -c o l l e ge pu b l i c :
th e l o c a l h i s to ry mo ve me n t. (De n e ra l l y a d d re s s i n g th e ms e l ve s to
l o c a l a ma te u rs a n d i n c re a s i n gl y pro f e s s i o n a l i zi xl g th e ms e l ve s i n a
d i re c ti o n ve ry d i f f e re n t f ro m th a t ta ke n b y a c a d e mi c h i s to ri a n s ,
me mb e rs o f i i s mo ve me n t s po ke to a n d wo rke d wi th a h o d ge -
po d ge o f po te n ti a l pu b l i c s ra n pg f ro m th e mo s t re a c f i o n a ry l o c a l
s o c i a l e l i te s , to gra d e -s c h o o l c h i l d re n , to ge n e a l o gi s ts , to h i s to n c a l
W HOSE P UBLI G ? W HOSE HI STORY? * 43
b d s , to pre s e rva ti o n i s ts . W i i o u t th e pro te c ti o n o f th e u n i ve rs i ty
a n d wi th o u t i e e th i c o f "a c a d e mi c f re e d o m," th e s e h i s to ri a n s
h a ve re l a te d to th e i r pu b l i c i n a qu i te d i f f e re n t ma n n e r th a n h a ve
th e i r a c a d e mi c pe e rs .
P ri o r to th e e me rge n c e o f pu b l i c h i s to ry , i t wa s th e l o c a l h i s to xy
mo ve me n t wh i c h o f f e re d th e mo s t th o ro u gh go i n g a l te rn a ti ve to
th e h i s to ri c a l wo rk d o n e i n th e a c a d e my . P a rti a l l y o rga n i ze d to
pre s e rve th e re c o rd o f th e pa s t wi th i n th e va u l ts o f pri va te h i s to r-
i c a l s o c i e ti e s , re pre s e n ta ti ve s o f th e l o c a l h i s to ry mo ve me n t gra d -
u a l l y e xpa n d e d th e i r e f f o rts i n wri ti n g a n d pre s e n ti n g l o c a l h i s to ry ,
a n d b y th e 1960s h a d b u i l t a s u rpri s i n gl y l a rge n e two rk o f h i s to r-
i c a l wo rke rs i n e ve ry s ta te o f th e u n i o n . Ne ve r qu i te re c o gn i ze d a s
e qu a l b y th e a c a d e my , th e s e te n s o f th o u s a n d s o f wo rke rs -b o th
pro f e s s i o n a l a n d pa i d , a n d a ma te u r a I l d u n pa i d -h a ve b e c o me b y
f a r th e l a rge s t pu re l y h i s to ri c a l pu b l i c i n th e Un i te d Sta te s .
I n a d d i ti o n , s i n c e th e Se c o n d W o rl d W a r, o r th e Fi rs t W o rl d
W a r i f o n e c o n s i d e rs th e "I n qu i ry " ma d e b y a gro u p o f i n te l l e c -
tu a l s to a d vi s e W o o d ro w W i l s o n o n th e Tre a ty o f Ve rs a i l l e s , s o me
h i s to ri a n s h a ve , f ro m ti me to ti me , wo rke d f o r o r a d vi s e d va xi o u s
go ve rn me n ta l o r pri va te a ge n c i e s , th u s d e a l i n g wi th y e t a n o th e r,
a l b e i t mo re re s tri c te d , pu b l i c . I n s u c h ro l e s th e y h a ve te s ti f i e d i n
c o u rt a n d a d mi n i s te re d a ge n c i e s o r wo rke d a s c o n s u l ta n ts f o r
th o s e wh o d o .
Oth e r tra d i ti o n a l pu b l i c s f o r th e h i s to ri a n wo u l d i n c l u d e gra d e -
s c h o o l o r s e c o n d a ry s tu d e n ts , re a d e rs o f po pu l a r jo u rn a l s wh i c h
pre s e n t th e wo rk o f jo u rn a l i s t-h i s to ri a n s , a n d th e a u d i e n c e f o r
h i s to ri c a l n o ve l s o r f i c ti o n a l i ze d me d i a -ma d e h i s to ry .
To b e s u re , th e s e c a te go ri e s c a n n o t b e a n d h a ve n o t b e e n ri gi d l y
d e f i n e d . G i f te d a ma te u rs h a ve o f te n ma d e s u b s ta n ti a l c o n tri b u -
ti o n s to h i s to ri c a l re s e a rc h . So me h i s to ri a n s s u c h a s A l l a n Ne vi n s ,
o r Ri c h a rd Mc Co n n i c k i n Ne w Je rs e y , o r Jo h n Ca u gh e y i n Ca l -
i f o rn i a , h a ve mo ve d wi th e a s e f ro m o n e pu b l i c to a n o th e r. Oth e rs ,
l i ke Th o ma s C. Co c h ra n , s pe n t th e i r e a rl y y e a rs f a r f ro m th e
a c a d e my . I n a d d i ti o n , f ro m th e f i rs t d a y s o f th e pro f e s s i o n s o me
o f th e gi a n ts o f th e f i e l d h a ve s po ke n to a va ri e ty o f pu b l i c s i n a n a t-
te mpt to ra i s e th e c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f th e c i ti ze n ry a t l a rge a n d ma ke
h i s to ry re l e va n t to s o c i a l c o n c e rn . Ch a rl e s Be a rd wro te a t ti me s f o r
h i s c o l l e a gu e s . He a l s o c o -a u th o re d o n e o f th e mo s t i mpo rta n t
gra d e -s c h o o l te xts i n A me ri c a n h i s to ry , a n d wi th h i s wi f e pro -
44 s THE P UBLI C HI STORI A N
d u c e d e n o rmo u s l y po pu l a r a n d i n f l u e n ti a l n a rra ti ve s . He a l s o
wo rke d d i re c tl y wi th gro u ps s u c h a s th e Na ti o n a l Mu n i c i pa l
Le a gu e f o r a va ri e ty o f re f o rms . Oth e r h i s to ri a n s h a ve i n vo l ve d
th e ms e l ve s d e e pl y i n a n c i l l a ry f i e l d s : He rb e rt Bo l to n i n l i b ra ri a n -
s h i p, a n d J. Fra n kl i n Ja me s o n i n a rc h i ve s ma n a ge me n t.
Be a rd 's n a me i s mo s t i mpo rta n t f o r o u r pu rpo s e s h e re , f o r i f h e
wa s e a s i l y i d e n ti f i e d a s a c o mmi tte d h i s to ri a n , th e a tta c k u po n h i m
a n d h i s wo rk i I l th e l a te 1940s a n d 1950s wa s c ru c i a l to th e d e ve l -
o pme n t o f a mu c h mo re re f i n e d d e f i n i ti o n o f th e pro f e s s i o n a l h i s -
to ri a n -th e a c a d e mi c s c h o l a r-wh i c h c a me to d o n a te th e f i e l d a t
th a t ti e ; th e d e f i n i ti o rs wh i c h th e pu b l i c h i s to ry mo ve me n t n o w
s o vi go ro u s l y re je c ts , b u t, i ro n i c a l l y , n o t f ro m a Be a rd i a n pe rs pe c -
ti ve .
Ni s re je c ti o n o f s u c h a n a rro w d e f i n i ti o n i s , h o we ve r, n o t n e w.
Th ro u gh o u t th e s e l a s t th re e o r f o u r d e c a d e s o th e rs h a ve po i n te d
o u t th e l i mi ta ti o n s o f th e e me rgi n g d e f i n i ti o n o f th e pro f e s s i o n a l
h i s to ri a n . Le a d e rs o f th e s ta te a n d l o c a l h i s to ry mo ve me n t, a t l e a s t
s i n c e th e 1940s , h a ve c o mpl a i n e d a b o u t th e i r tre a tme n t a t th e
h a n d s o f a c a d e mi c h i s to ri a n s a n d th e i r a s s o c i a ti o n s , a s h a ve h i gh -
s c h o o l te a c h e rs a n d gi f te d a ma te u rs .
I t i s e s pe c i a l l y i mpo rta n t to n o te i n th i s c o n te xt th e a tta c k o f th e
1960s u po n th e a c a d e mi c a l l y -d e f i n e d pro f e s s i o n a l h i s to ri a n . To a
ge n e ra ti o n to rme n te d b y th e i s s u e s o f ra c i s m, wa r, s e xi s m, a n d
c l a s s b i a s , th e "n e w" pro f e s s i o n a l i s m s e e me d to h a ve l i ttl e to o f f e r.
Ha vi n g s c o u re d th e pro f e s s i o n c l e a n o f Be a rd , P a rri n gto n a n d
Tu me r, th e "c o n s e n s u s " s c h o o l c o u l d o f f e r o n l y a l l a b s tra c te d n e u -
tra l i ty wh i c h wa s s o me ti me s re ve a l e d to b e c o mpl i c i ty wi th th e
a ge n c i e s re s po n s i b l e f o r th e pu b l i c ma l a i s e o f th a t d e c a d e , o r a
jo b -o n e n te d c y n i c i s m. Bu t th e c a l l o f th e s i xti e s f o r pro f e s s o rs to
pro f e s s s o me th i n g a n d to ma ke h i s to ry re l e va n t wa s a l s o n o t a
mo me n ta ry c o n c e rn . I t to o wa s pa rt o f a l o n g-s ta n d i n g d e b a te
wh i c h c o n ti n u e s i n ma n y f o rms to d a y , e s pe c i a l l y a s y o u n ge r h i s -
to ri a n s mo ve i n to c o mmu n i ty pro je c ts , b ri n gi n g a n e w s e t o f c o n -
c e rn s to l o c a l h i s to ry a n d a n e w u rge n c y to e f f o rts o f l o c a l a ge n c i e s .
A l l o f th i s b a c kgro u n d i s n e c e s s a ry i f we a re to u n d e rs ta n d f u l l y
wh a t i s n o w te rme d "pu b l i c h i s to ry ." I t i s n o t d e n o vo . I t i s mo vi n g
i n to f i e l d s l o n g o c c u pi e d b y pra c ti c i n g n o n -a c a d e mi c h i s to ri a n s .
I t i s d e b a ti n g i s s u e s wi th i n a l o n g tra d i ti o n o f d e b a te . I t i s d e e pl v
e mb e d d e d wi th i n a s e ri e s o f o n go i n g te n d e n c i e s i n th e pro f e s s i o n .
W HOSE P UBLI C? W H06E HI STORY? * 45
Th e c u rre n t d e b a te s , h o we ve r, h a ve b e e n s o u n h i s to ri c a l , e s pe c i a l -
l y i n th e i r a tte mpt to i gn o re th e l 960s , th a t th e y h a ve s l e d u s
i n to th i n l d n g we a re b e i n g pre s e n te d wi th s o me th i n g n e w.
W h a t th e n i s re a l l y n e w a b o u t pu b l i c h i s to ry ? A s i t pre s e n ts i t-
s e l f c u rre n tl y , s e ve ra l f b i n gs a re n e w.
1. I n i ts a c c e n t u po n tra i n i n g ga d u a te s tu d e n ts to pre pa re t:h e m-
s e l ve s f o r po s i ti o n s a s a rc h i vi s ts , mu s e u m d i re c to rs , pre s e rva -
ti o n i s ts , e tc ., pu b l i c h i s to ry i s a n a tte mpt to c o -o pt f o r th e a c a d -
e my u th e tra d i ti o n a l b a s e o f a n d th e re f o re th e pu b l i c o f th e s ta te
a n d l o c a l h i s to ry mo ve me n t. I t i s th i s a s pe c t o f th e mo ve me n t
wh i c h h a s s o a ttra c te d a c a d e mi c h i s to rs a n s a n d wh i c h h a s ge n -
e ra te d s u c h d e e p a n ta go n i s ms to wa rd pu b l i c h i s to ry a mo n g th e
l e a d e rs o f th e s ta te a n d l o c a l h i s to ry mo ve me n t.
I t h a s a ttra c te d th e a c a d e my b e c a u s e i t s e e ms to o f f e r jo b o p-
po rtu n i ti e s i n a ti me o f a s h ri n ki n g ma rke t, a n d pro mi s e s o n c e
a ga m to ma ke h i StQw re l e va n t. I t h m a n ta go n i ze d e l o c a l ks -
to ry mo ve me n t b y i l ts e a rl y f a i l u re to re c o gn i ze th a t s u c h wo rk
wa s a l re a d y b e i n g d o n e a n d th e l a n d s c a pe a l re a d y o c c u pi e d .
P a rt o f th i s a n ta go n i s m i s th e c o n f l i c t o f two pe rs pe c ti ve s a n d
tra d i ti o n s o f pro f e s s i o n a l i za ti o n . Es pe c i a l l y i n a re a s s u c h a s
l i b ra ry s c i e n c e , a rc h i ve s a n d re c o rd s ma n a ge me n t, pre s e rva ti o n
a n d mu s e u m ma n a ge me n t tra i n i n g pro gra ms a s we l l a s n e w
s ta n d a rd s f o r th e pro f e s s i o n h a ve e me rge d o u ts i d e o f th e u n i -
ve rs i ty a n d i n pa rti c u l a r o u ts i d e o f d e pa rtI n e n ts o f h i s to ry . To
mo ve i n to th e s e a re a s wi l l ta ke a gre a t d e a l o f ta c t a n d n e go ti -
a ti o n .
P u b l i c h i s to ry h a s a l s o re ma i n e d l a rge l y i gn o ra n t o f s o -c a l l e d
c o mmu n i t h i s to ry pro je c ts . A l th o u gh s e ve ra l pu b l i c h i s to ri a n s
h a ve wo rke d o n c o mmu n i ty h i s to ry pro je c ts th e re h a s b e e n n o
a tte mpt to l i n k u p wi th th e va ri o u s s ta te o r l o c a l a ge n c i e s s u p-
po rti n g th e s e pro je c ts , n o a tte mpt to b ri n g i n to th e pu b l i c h i s -
to ry n e two rk th e s e mo re po pu l a r ty pe s o f e f f o rts .
2. I n ma n y wa y s pu b l i c h i s to ry o f f e rs a d e f i n i ti o n o f pro f e s s i o n a l -
i s m a l mo s t a s n a rro w a s f f i a t o f th e a c a d e my . I n a l l pn o r d e -
b a te s , e s pe c i a l l y i o s e o f th e s i xti e s , th e re wa s a c o n c e rn f o r
h i s to ry n o t o n l y a s a pro f e s s i o n y b u t a s a vo c a ti o n -a c a l l i n g On
b o th s i d e s o f th a t d e b a te i t wa s a s s u me d th a t to b e a h i s to ri a n
wa s a s pe c i a l c a l l i n g wh i c h l e d o n e to a d e e pe r pe rs o n a l a n d
46 * TE: P UBLI C H3TOSA
s o c i a l i gh t th a t c o n f e rre d u po n o I l e a s pe c i a l mi s s i o n l n th e
c u b tu re .
Th ro u gh o u t th e b i tte r a rgu me n ts o f t:h a t d e c a d e , b o th wi th i n
th e El a d i c a l Hi s to ry Ca u c u s a n d o n th e f l o o r o f e ge n e ra l
me e ti n gs o f mo s t h i s to ri c a l a s s o c i a ti o n s wh e th e r th e to pi c wa s
th e pro pe r re s po n s e to Vi e t Na m o r Ci Yu n ts o r e qu a l e mpl o y -
me n t, e ve ry o n e a s s u me d th a t th e i n te rpre ta ti o n o f th e pa s t wa s
mo re th a n '<o n e to o l i n a b a g o f to o I s ,2' a n d th a t th e re wa s mo re
a t s ta ke th a n s i mpl y jo b s f o r gra d u a te s tu d e n ts . Th i s ma y h a ve
b e e n th e a rro ga n c e o f th e l u mpe n , b u t th o s e po s i ti o n s i n vo l ve d
qu e s ti o n s o f h o w h i s to ri a n s re l a te d to th e c o mmu n i ty , wh i c h
c o mmu n i ty th e y s h o u l d re l a te to , a n d h o w th e y we re to a c t a s
h i s to ri a n s a n d c i ti ze n s . Th e s e d e b a te s we re a n d re ma i n s i gn i f
i c a n t f o r a l l h i s to xi a n s , a n d e s pe c i a l l y th o s e wo rki n g wi th a
n o n -u n i ve rs i ty pu b l i c .
Be c a u s e th e pu b l i c h i s to ry mo ve me n t h a s i grl o re d th e s e d e -
b a Jte s , i t s e e ms to h a ve a c c e pte d a mu c h n a rro we r i d e a o f th e
pro f e s s i o n a n d a l o n g th e wa y s o me o f i ts f o l l o we rs h a ve e m-
b ra c e d th e mo s t c pe a l vi e w o f pro f e s s i o n a l i s m pro po u n d e d b y
th e a c a d e my . To b e a h i s to n a n s e e ms to me a n to h o l d a jo b , to
e a rn a l i vi n g, to c a rve o u t a s a f e h a ve n . I t i s re ma rka b l e h o w
l i ttl e o f th e po pu l i s t rh e to n c i f n o t o f th e mo re pro gra mma ti c
i d e o l o gy o f th e n e w l e f t a ppe a rs a mo n g pu b l i c h i s to n a n s .
I n a l l f a i me s s i t s h o u l d b e n o te d th a t th e re s po n s e o f th e
mo re s o c i a l l y a c ti ve h i s to rl c a l n e two rk h a s ge n e ra l l y b e e n a
s o me wh a t a u to ma ti c n e ga ti vi s m wh e n d e a l i n g wi th pu b l i c h i s -
to ry , b u t i t i s d i f f i c u l t o f tti me s to f i n d m pu b l i c h i s to ry th a t
s e n s e o f mi s s i o n th a t we f i n d i n l o c a l h i s to xy a t i ts b e s t-th e go a l
o f wh i c h i s to h e l p pe o pl e wri te , c re a te , a n d d e rs ta n d th e i r
o wn ms to ry .
3. I n s o me c a s e s X e s pe c i a l l y i n th e s o -c a l l e d a ppl i e d h i s to ry pro -
gra ms , pu b l i c h i s to ri a n s s e e m to b e e l a b o ra ti n g wh a t h a d a l -
wa y s b e e n a mi n o r e n te rpri s e f o r h i s to ri a n s -wo rki n g f o r c o r-
po ra ti o n s o r a s go ve Tn me n t a d u s e rs o r e mpl o y e e s -i n to th e
ma jo r f o c u s o f h i s to n e a l e f f o rts Eve n a t i ts wo rs t, th e o l d e r
vi s i o n o f pro f e s s i o n a l i s m a l l o we d th e h i s to ri a n a I a rge r ro l e . Bu t
b o o f te n th e c a l l f o r a re l e va n t, s o c i a l l y s i gn i f i c a n t h i s to ry -a
tra d ;ti o n f ro m th e P u ri ta n d i vi n e s o f Ma s s a c h u s e tts to Sta u gh -
to n Ly n d -h a s c h a n n e }l e d pu b l i c h i s to ri a l l s i n to th e n a rro we s t
W HOSE KBUC? E HI STORY? * 47
o f c a re e rs : wo rki n g f o r th o s e wh o ru l e a n d d o n i i n a te t:h e i n s tru -
n e n ts o f SOCi M po we r. I t i s o n e g to s a y i s U U we me a n
b y pu b l i c h i s to ry , a n d a n o th e r to s a y th i s s s wh a t pu b l i c h i s to ry
me a n s .
Th e d e f i n i ti o n o f '<pu b l i c '7 h a s n o w, e +7e n i n mo re b ro a d l y -
b a s e d pu b l i c h i s to ry pro gra ms b e e n n a rro we d . Th e re s h o u l d
b e mo re d i s c u s s i o n o f l l n i o n o r c o mmu n i ty wo rk a s vi a b l e h i s -
to ri c a l wo rk. A l l e f f o rts s e e m to h a ve b e e n d i re c te d to th e c o r-
po ra te o r go ve ro me n ta l wo rl d . G i ve n th e e c o n o mi c f a c ts o f l i f e ,
s u c h a th ru s t i s pro b a b l y n a tu ra l . Bu t a l s o a t i s s u e i s th e wa y i n
wh i c h o n l y o n e pu b l i c a mo n g ma n y h a s b e c o me t7*pu b l i c f o r
pu b l i c h i s to ry .
Th e c u rre n t gro wth o f pu b l i c h i s to ry a n d th e d e b a te o ve r th e
d e f i n i ti o n o f th e h i s to rl c a l pro f e s s i o n h a s ta ke n pl a c e wl th i n th e
c o n te xt o f a n i ro n i c s i tu a ti o n . I te s d y o f h i s to ry i s i n a l mo s t to ta l
c o l l a ps e i n th e a c a d e my , wh i l e th e po pu l a ri ty o f h i s to ry th th e
pu b l i c i s gro wi n g e ve ry wh e re . Th o s e o f u s wh o wo rk o r h a ve
wo rke d i n l o c a l h i s to ri c a l a ge n c i e s h a ve , o f c o u rs e b e e n th e b e n e -
f i c i a ri e s o f th i s b o o m. W e wo u l d n o t h o l d th e jo b s we d o we re i t
n o t f o r th i s po pu l a ri ty a n d th e f e e l i n g a mo n g a n u mb e r o f pu b l i c s
th a t h i s to ri c a l e f f o rts a re i mpo rta n t a n d me a n l n gf u l to d a i l y l i f e s
Bu t s u c h wo rk h a s a l s o a l wa y s c o mb i n e d a c o mmi trn e n t to o n e a s
o wn re s e a rc h a n d a c o mmi tme n t to h e l pi n g pe o pl e d o th e i r o wn
h i s to ry to i n vo l ve th e ms e l ve s i n th e i r pa s ts to i n c re a s e th e Lr h i s -
to ri c a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s .
I f th e XCn e w>' s o c i a l h i s to ry h a s ta u gh t u s a n y th i n g} i t i s th e b a s i c
c o rre c tn e s s o f th e vi e w o f Ma rx th a t) wi th i n l i mi ts pe o pl e ma ke
th e i r o wn h i s to ry . Th e l r a c ti o n s c o u n t h e a vi l y i n th e pro c e s s o f
o n go i n g c h a n ge b e i t i n c re me n ta l o r s tru c tu ra l . I n a d d i ti o n wh a t
we kn o w a b o u t pu b l i c h i s to ri c a l a c ti vi ti e s a s th e y n o w e xi s t po i n ts
to a s i mi l a r c o rre c tn e s s i n Ca rl Be i e r's vi e w th a t e ve ry ma n c a n
b e c o me h i s o wn h i s to n a n ; th a t re l a ti ve l y o rd i n a ry pe o pl e c a n s e e k
a n d f i n d kn o wl e d ge o f th e wo rl d th e y h a ve ma d e o r th a t wa s ma d e
f o r th e mn a n d th a t s i n c e h i s to ry a l wa y s h a s a s o c i a l pu rpo s e -e x-
pl i c i tl y o r i mpl i c i tl y -s u c h kn o wl e d ge s h a pe s th e wa y th e pre s e n t
i s vi e we d . Th u s th e ta s k o f th e pu b l i c h i s to ri a n b ro a d l y d e f i n e d a
s h o u l d b e to h e l p me mb e rs o f th e pu b l i c d o th e i r o wn h i s to ry a n d
to a i d th e I n i n u n d e rs ta n d i n g th e i r ro l e i n s h a pi n g a n d i n te rpre ti n g
48 * THE P UBLI C HI STORI A N
e ve n ts . So me ti me s i s me re l y me a n s h e l pi n g to b ri n g to th e f ro n t
th e i rl f o u n a ti o n , u n d e rs ta n d i n g, a n d c o n s c i o u s n e s s th a t i s a l re a d y
th e re . Mo re o f te n i t me a n s a mu c h mo re pa ms ta l d n g pro c e s s o f
c o n f ro n ti I l g o l d i n te xpre ta ti o n s , re mo vi n g l a y e r u po n l a y e r o f i d e -
Ol o gy a n d o b f u s c a ti o n , a n d c o u n te n n g th e e f f e c ts o f s pe c ta c u l a r-
i ze d me d i a -ma d e i n s ta n t h i s to ry .
Th i s i s n o t to s u gge s t th a t o n c e a c o rre c t vi e w o f th e pa s t i s
re a c h e d , th ro u gh th e a i d o f b e n e vo l e n t, a n ti -c o rpo ra ti s t pu b l i c h i s -
to ri a n s , h i s to l y i mme d i a te l y b e c o me s a we a po n i n th e a rs e n a l o f
th o s e wh o s txu ggl e f o r s o c i a l c h a n ge ; a po s i ti o n th e En gl i s h Hts -
to ry W o rks h o p Jo u rn a l s o me ti me s c o me s c l o s e to e mb ra c i n g. Bu t
i t d o e s me a n th a t l o c a l o r c o mmu n i ty h i s to ry pro je c ts c a n pl a y a n
zmpo rta n t ro l e i n mo vi n g pe o pl e to a c l e a re r s e n s e o f th e po s s i b i l i -
ti e s o f s o c i a l c h a n ge a n d s o c i a l a c ti o n a n d th e i r ro l e s i n s u c h
c h a n ge .
By i ts n a me , pu b l i c h i s to ry i mpl i e s a ma jo r re d e f i n i ti o n o f th e
ro l e o f th e h i s to ri a n . I t pro e s u s a s o c i e t:y i n wh i c h a b ro a d pu b -
l i c pa rti c i pa te s i n th e c o n s tru c ti o n o f i ts o wn h i s to ry . Th e n a me
c o n ju re s u p i ma ge s o f a n e w gro u p o f h i s to ri c a l wo rke rs s n te xpre t-
i n g th e pa s t o f h e re to f o re i gn o re d c l a s s e s o f pe o pl e . I t s e e ms to
a n s we r th e qu e s ti o n o f wh o s e pu b l i c ? wh o s e h i s to ry ? wi th a d e m-
o c ra ti c d e c l a ra ti o n o f a f a i th l n me mb e rs o f th e pu b l i c a t l a rge to
b e c o me th e i r o wn h i s to n a n s a xl d to a d va n c e th e i r kn o wl e d ge o f
th e ms e l ve s . I f th e pu b l i c h i s to ry mo ve me n t l i ve s u p to i ts n a me ,
th o s e o f u s wh o wo rk i n th e f i e l d wi l l re c o gn i ze a l l i e s i n th e s tru p
gl e to ma ke h i s to n c a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s a re a l i ty i n A me ri c a n l i f e . I f i t
d e f i n e s i ts e l f mo re n a rro wl y , a s i t h a s te xl d e d to d o s o f a r, i t pre -
s e n ts u s wi th ve ry re a l pro b l e ms .
Th e pu b l i c h i s to ry mo ve me n t i s s ti l l i n i ts i n f a n c y a n d h a s b e -
f o re i t th e po s s i b i l i ty o f mo g i n ma n y d i f Fe re n t d i re c ti o n s . I f ,
h o we ve r, i ts s po ke s me n c o n ti n u e to i gn o re th e h i s to n c a l c i rc u m-
s ta n c e s o f i ts b i rth , a n d th e tra d i ti o n s u po n wh i c h i t c a n d ra w, th e
h i s to ry o f i ts h i s to ry ,, a n d th e e f f o rts o f th o s e a l re a d y i n th e f i e l d ,
i t wi l l o $e r u s l i ttl e th a t th e a c a d e my d o e s n o t o f f e r, a n d , a t wo rs t,
d i ve rt o u r e n e rgi e s i n to h u c ks te ri s m f o r th e s ta tu s qu o .

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