tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34222531.post115955856649147265..comments2023-07-16T06:53:28.835-04:00Comments on the pastime of past time: A Canadian Council on Public History?bryan andrachukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02095450039908081599noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34222531.post-6318548358257743222006-11-25T14:38:00.000-05:002006-11-25T14:38:00.000-05:00Hi Bryan,
A very interesting and thought-provokin...Hi Bryan,<br /><br />A very interesting and thought-provoking post. My name is Ken Reynolds, and I, too, am a Canadian member of the National Council on Public History and a subscriber to "The Public Historian". I am a civilian historian with the Department of National Defence and, even though I have a typical academic history background, I definitely view myself and pursue our craft as a public historian.<br /><br />I agree that historians need to consider the internet as a means to spread the word about history, to teach, and to create further interest in our profession. This will only become more important as time goes on.<br /><br />I also support your call for Canadians who view themselves as public historians to join the NCPH, in particular the younger generation of our profession.<br /><br />And, I have also been thinking lately about the need (in my opinion) for a Canadian equivalent of the NCPH. You're absolutely right, its focus is on the American situation, of course.<br /><br />Should a Canadian counterpart organization be formed? Yes.<br /><br />Is it a worthwhile venture? Anything that helps our profession create a greater sense of historical awareness amongst the Canadian population is worthwhile by definition.<br /><br />Would such an organization find a place within the Canadian public history community? I simply don't know, but there's only one way to really find out.<br /><br />Does a Canadian public history community exist? I think it's more likely that public history communities exist (students and teachers, government historians, contract historians, website authors, etc.).<br /><br />Would it garner enough interest among Canadian public historians to merit a long life? I think that would depend on what it could offer the community (I know, that's obvious, but still true).<br /><br />How should it be organized, and could the NCPH help? Good questions - I don't know.<br /><br />Does Canada even need such an organization? Yes. None of us has the time to track all of the potential resources, sources of funding, ideas, technologies, etc., involved in the pursuit of public history. A common forum or starting point would undoubtedly help all of us in our pursuit of public history.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Ken<br /><br /><br />Ken Reynolds, PhD<br />cmhnews@gmail.com<br />blog: www.cannonsmouth.ca<br />blog: 38thbattalion.blogspot.comKenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13896706566756041435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34222531.post-1159746653266384402006-10-01T19:50:00.000-04:002006-10-01T19:50:00.000-04:00Is it possible that the duties of Public Historian...Is it possible that the duties of Public Historians are spread out through Canadian Heritage? <BR/><BR/>The Goverment of Canada's departmental website dealing with Canada's heritage has a link named "Heritage," and that page lists a number of projects that would probably fall under the label "Public History." In particular, the Canadian Heritage Information Network is aiming to develop, present, and preserve Canada's digital heritage. (On the other hand, the website is not very big - does this reflect a small budget? Or perhaps a lack of public/digital historians?) It seems that Canadian Heritage would be the obvious rallying point for Canadian public historians.<BR/><BR/>Should there be a forum for communication among Canadian public historians? Yes - sharing and building upon innovative ideas to educate Canadians about their heritage can only come through the exchange of ideas! Would the government or the public be willing to support such a forum? That's a little trickier to answer. Certainly it would be wonderful if the federal government was willing to provide young public historians with projects and a start at a career, but what would the price be and what would such a forum or, as you write, such a council look like in relation to other established heritage institutions?Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01135262872884689163noreply@blogger.com