Description
Book SynopsisZen and the Art of Local History is an engaging, interactive conversation that conveys the exciting nature of local history. Divided into six major themes the book covers the scope and breadth of local history: Being a Local Historian Topics and Sources Staying Relevant Getting it Right Writing History History OrganizationsEach chapter features one of Carol Kammen's memorable editorials from History News. Her editorial is a call. Each is followed by a response from one of more than five dozen prominent players in state and local history. These Respondents include local and public historians, archivists, volunteers, and history professionals across the kaleidoscopic spectrum of local history. Among this group are Katherine Kane, Robert Bob Richmond, Charlie Bryan, and Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko. The result is a series of dialogues on important topics in the field of local history. This interactivity of these conversations makes Zen and the Art of Local History a unique offering
Trade ReviewThe only thing better than a Carol Kammen 'On Doing Local History' essay is sixty-eight Carol Kammen essays. The only thing better than sixty-eight of Carol's insightful, spot-on, wonderfully crafted essays is marrying each with a talented colleague laboring in our rich field somewhere in this great country who provides equally compelling commentary and reflection. This volume is a superb idea taken to the max - at once readable, cerebral, practical, philosophical, and fun. Buy it. Read it. Pass it on. * AASLH History News *
Carol Kammen...has a gift for putting into crafted simple prose the thoughts that many of us have floating around rather vaguely in our minds. Zen and the Art of Local History is a constantly stimulating read. I have rarely seen a better book about local history, or been more impressed by the combination of wisdom, humanity and practicality which it offers. * The Local Historian *
Those in search of the higher purpose of history—be it local, regional, national, or global—would do well to acquaint themselves with Zen and the Art of Local History. It is a welcome reminder of what attracted many of us to the field of history and then kept us here. It speaks from the soul. Kammen and Beatty have produced a work that accurately defines the place of local history within the big tent of public history. It is a good introduction to local history and a road map of some of its contentious as well as more Zen-like paths. * Journal of American History *
Carol Kammen has been providing thoughtful commentary to History News readers for more than two decades. This volume is a retrospective of her columns followed by responses from her colleagues (and yours). Together, Carol and American Association for State and Local History’s own Bob Beatty have put together a book that will challenge your thinking and approaches to our work. -- Terry Davis, president and CEO, American Association for State and Local History
The only thing better than a Carol Kammen “On Doing Local History” essay is sixty-eight Carol Kammen essays. The only thing better than sixty-eight of Carol’s insightful, spot-on, wonderfully crafted essays is marrying each with a talented colleague laboring in our rich field somewhere in this great country who provides equally compelling commentary and reflection. This volume is a superb idea taken to the max—at once readable, cerebral, practical, philosophical, and fun. Buy it. Read it. Pass it on. -- D. Stephen Elliott, Director/CEO, Minnesota Historical Society
Carol Kammen and Bob Beatty provide timeless thought-fuel about the presence of local history in our daily lives. You’ll be engaged, inspired, and armed with a broader perspective that invites you to dig into the important task of making history accessible to others. -- Colleen Dilenschneider, chief market engagement office for IMPACTS and author/publisher of the blog Know Your Own Bone.
Table of ContentsForeword by Lorraine McConaghy Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: About Being a Local Historian Call: Not for a Test, but History for Life, Response: Spencer Downing Call: Perambulation, Response: Aaron Sachs Call: Inappropriate Questions, Response: James L. Baggett Call: What We Tell the Youngsters, Response: Kate Betz Call: We Are Not Journalists, Response: Jeffrey J. Kollath Call: Local Knowledge, Response: Mary Alexander Call: Abby Hemenway, Response: Rebecca Conard Call: Water Buffalos, Wildebeests, and Gazelles, Response: Robert B. Townsend Call: Educating Our “Other” Audiences, Response: Karen Graham Wade Call: The Local History Apprentice, Response: Kate Tiller Call: Millenialism, Response: Robert Richmond Call: Taking the Prize, Response: Donald P. Zuris Call: History’s Long Rangers, Response: Michael Potaski Call: Retiring Sorts, Response: Richard L. Williams Chapter 2: The Clay for Our Wheels and the Pots We Make Call: Getting Involved, Response: Allyn Lord Call: Out of the Closet, Response: Paul Landry Call: The Clipping Point, Response: Scott Muir Stroh III Call: An Ode to Scrapbooks, Response: Kelly Nolin Call: The Envelope Please, Response: K. Allison Wickens Call; Replevin, Response: Galen R. Wilson Call: Local History and the Underground Railroad, Response: Dina Bailey and Richard C. Cooper Call: The Hall’s in Your Court(house), Response: James D. Folts Call: Down for the Count, Response: Lila Teresa Church Call: Small Changes, Response: Darlene Roth Call: Rethinking Local History, Response: Bruce Teeple Call: Around and About, Response: William L. Lang Call: Recording the Home Front, Response: Courtney L. Tollison Call: To Blog or Not to Blog, Response: Kate Theimer Chapter 3: Mingled Yarn Call: Community Education, Response: Lynne Ireland Call: Seeking Diversity, Response: Patricia Williams Lessane Call: History Tents, Response: Linda W. Chapin Call: Travel at Home, Response: Janet Vaughan Call: Travel at Home (Redux), Response: Amy H. Wilson Call: In Memoriam: Quite a Decade (Prelude and Postscript), Response; Jessica Dorman Call: Acts of Nature and Other Disturbing Events, Response: Beverly C. Tyler Call: When All is Lost, Response: Alice Parman Call: The Poor are Always Among Us, Response: Robert Archibald Call: What’s in a Name, Response: Mary E. Montgomery Chapter 4: Truth and Consequences Call: When Not Being Wrong is Not Good Enough, Response: Constantine Dillon Call: Ducking, Bobbing, and Looking Away, Response: Charles F. Bryan, Jr. Call: Unintended Consequences, Response: Joe Meehan Call: Making it Up, Response: Tim Grove Call: Truth and Fiction, Response: Mark T. Mannette Call: Just All the Facts, Ma’am, Just Not All the Facts, Response: Annette Atkins Chapter 5: Words in Stone Call: History for Our Times, Response: David A. Janssen Call: In Context, Response: Paige Lilly Call: Local History’s Audience, Response: J. Kent Calder and Thomas A. Mason Call: Community History, Response: Stephen L. Cox Call: The Things We Ignore, Response: Philip V. Scarpino Call: To Note or Not to Note, Response: Chris Brewer Call: Defining the Field, Response: Matthew Gibson Chapter 6: Work and Play in History’s Sandbox Call: A Fourteen-Step Program for Local History, Response: Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko Call: Clanking of Canes: A Survey of North American State and Local History, Response: Burt Logan Call: The Future of Historical Societies, Response: James M. Vaughan Call: An Abundance of History, Response: Lisa Anderson Call: Cultural Tourism, Response: Carolyn Brackett Call: In the Company of Our Peers, Response: Janice B. Klein Call: The Importance of a Good Chair, Response: Tobi Voigt Call: Out of the Box and Into the Fray, Response: Katherine D. Kane Call: Tripping over History, Response: Lawrence J. Yerdon Call: Radio Waves, Response: Stan Deaton Call: Random Acts, Response: Cynthia Cardona Melendez Call: Into the Archive, Response: Kathleen D. Roe Call: On Boards, Response: Kent Whitworth Call: Being On Board, Response: Kathleen M. O’Leary Title/Author index Subject index About the Authors
