vHISTORY 5302: Introduction to Public History v

 

The University of Texas at El Paso

Fall 2001

W 4:30- 7:20 p.m. LART 308

 

Professor: Dr. Yolanda Chávez Leyva Office: Liberal Arts 311

Phone: 747-7067 Email address: yleyva@utep.edu

Office hours: MWF 9:30-10:30 a.m., W 3:30-4:30 p.m. and by appointment

 

 

vCourse descriptionv

 

History 5302 provides an introduction to the field of public history. It allows students to explore the meanings and uses of public history as well as surveying the various aspects of public history including museum management, historic preservation and cultural resource management.

Public history encompasses many meanings. At its foundation is the understanding that historians design "public history" to be experienced by the public. The role of the historian is fundamental in the production and interpretation of history for the public. The venues for public history differ from those of "academic history" which is meant for a narrower, more scholarly audience. Museums, historical monuments, films, national and states parks are also sites of public history. The public historian uses a broad range of evidence and formats, many of them non-traditional, to "do" public history: photographs, materials artifacts, and oral histories.

In this course we will investigate several fundamental questions rooted in the idea of "public history," including:

· Who do we mean by the "public" in public history?

· Who "owns" public history?

· What are the uses of public history?

· How is public history different from academic history?

· What are the politics of public history?

· What is the relationship between communities of color and public history?

· What is the relationship between women and public and public history?

In addition, we will explore some of the practical aspects of public history through the following activities:

· Visiting museums

· Visiting historic landmarks

· Conducting an oral history project

 

vCourse requirements and gradingv

 

Class participation and preparation (20%)

Participation and preparation will be evaluated on regular class attendance, the quality of discussion, and the completion of a weekly 2-page paper.

Weekly papers are intended to promote thought and discussion. They should not summarize the readings. Rather, they should focus on particular issues and questions. What significant arguments does the author raise? How do you respond to them? What questions does the reading raise? What did the author do well? What would you improve? This is intended to be a reflection paper rather than a summary.

Weekly papers must be turned in by 5 p.m. the Monday before class. You must make enough copies for the other students as well as the professor. You will drop off and pick up papers in a designated basket in the history department office.

Leading class discussion (20%)

Twice during the semester you will be responsible for leading the class discussion on the readings. You should come to class prepared with a list of discussion questions focusing on the arguments and issues raised in that week’s reading. You will work in teams of 2-3 students.

 

Museum exhibit evaluation 20% (due September 26)

For this assignment you will select a history museum in the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez/Las Cruces area and write a critical review of an exhibit. The 4-5-page review must contain the following elements: a description of the exhibit, a discussion of what you believe to be the goals of the exhibit, and a critique of the exhibit. The critique should address whether the exhibit achieved its goals as well as suggestions for improvement.

Oral history project 40%

UTEP is fortunate to have the Institute for Oral History which houses thousands of oral histories of border residents. Each student will plan an oral history project that illuminates border life and history. The project will consist of the following:

· A written project plan, which includes a list of potential questions, an annotated bibliography of at least ten sources, and a short summary of the project’s theme(s). (Due October 31.)

· Two oral histories (tapes, release forms, tape index)

· A final project report, approximately 10 pages long, which contains a description of the process of conducting the oral histories, reflections on issues raised by the projects, and a section suggesting how your oral histories could be incorporated into public history projects. (Due December 12.)

· A class presentation on your project (15 minutes) to be given on the last day of class, December 5.

In addition, UTEP is involved in the planning of the Paso al Norte Immigration History Museum/ Research Center. I am hoping that we can work on this project in some capacity this semester. There will be more information to follow.

vCourse readingsv

Books:

· Benjamin, Thomas. La Revolución: Mexico’s Great Revolution as Memory, Myth, and History.

· Brier, Stephen, ed. Presenting the Past: Essays on History and the Public.

· Buss, Fran. Forged Under the Sun: The Life of Maria Elena Lucas.

· Hayden, Dolores. The Power of Place: Urban Landscapes as Public History.

· Howe, Barbara J., ed. Public History: An Introduction

· Kavanaugh, Gaynor. Dream Spaces: Memory and Museum.

· Lipsitz, George. Time Passages: Collective Memory and American Popular Culture.

· Gluck, Sherna Berger, ed. Women’s Words: The Feminist Practice of Oral History

· Ritchie, Donald. Doing Oral History.

· Thelan, David, ed. Memory and American History.

· Trouillot, Michel-Rolph. Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History.

Articles:

 

Relevant articles will be assigned throughout the course. Journals will include: American Historical Review (E171 .A57), Oral History Review (D16.O68), and The Public Historian (HN1 .P8), among others.

vCourse reading schedulev

 

Week 1 (August 27-31) Introduction

Week 2 (September 3-7) What is public history?

Labor Day (September 3)- No classes

Howe, Public History: An Introduction, Parts I and II

Week 3 (September 10-14) What is public history? (Continued)

Howe, Public History: An Introduction, Parts III and conclusion

Week 4 (September 17-21) Who owns public history?

Brier, Presenting the Past: Essays on History and the Public.

Articles TBA.

Week 5 (September 24-28) Memory, museums, and history

Kavanaugh, Dream Spaces: Memory and Museum.

Articles TBA.

* Museum exhibit evaluation due in class.

Week 6 (October 1-5) Issues in oral history

Gluck, Women’s Words: The Feminist Practice of Oral History

Ritchie, Doing Oral History.

Articles TBA.

Week 7 (October 8-12) Issues in oral history (continued)

Buss, Forged Under the Sun: The Life of Maria Elena Lucas.

Articles TBA.

Week 8 (October 15-19) History and Power

Trouillot, Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History.

Articles TBA.

Week 9 (October 22-26) Individual meetings with students- no class

Last day to drop class with an automatic "W" (October 22)

Week 10 (October 29-November 2) Memory, myth, and history

Thelan, Memory and American History.

Articles TBA.

* Written project plan due in class.

Week 11 (November 5-9) History and popular culture

Lipsitz, Time Passages.

Articles TBA.

Week 12 (November 12-16) Memory and place

Hayden, The Power of Place: Urban Landscapes as Public History.

Articles TBA.

For this meeting, I ask that you visit a historical monument landmark. Come to class prepared to talk briefly about your response/ reflections.

 

Week 13 (November 19-23) Contested pasts

Benjamin, La Revolución: Mexico’s Great Revolution as Memory, Myth, and History.

Articles TBA.

Thanksgiving holiday (November 22-23)

 

Week 14 (November 26-30) Contested voices

Readings TBA.

Week 15 (December 3-7) Individual presentations

Last day for complete withdrawal (December 6)

Week 16 (December 10-14) Finals week

Final project due by noon on Wednesday, December 12.