To help residents of Havre de Grace and Harford County preserve eyewitness accounts of the past, I am doing an oral history workshop at the town library on Dec 6th, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. The program presents the methods for gathering and preserving history through interviews with people by recording their memories and stories. It…
Two New Programs on the War of 1812 as Part of the 200th Anniversary Speakers Bureau Series
In conjunction with the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, the Maryland Humanities Council is offering a special speakers bureau series focusing on that conflict. I am pleased to be selected to serve as one of the presenting scholars. Here are the descriptions of my two programs: Spread the News: The War of 1812 on the…
Delaware Public Archives, One of the Best Around
While wrapping up research at the Delaware Public Archives a few days ago, an attractive poster proclaiming October as national archives month caught my attention. This got me to thinking about how repositories such the one in Dover serve an important function, preserving governmental records, manuscripts, photographs, and others materials from the past. Unlike a regular library where…
Participating in Focus Group Discussing How to Strengthen Smithsonian’s Museums on Main Street Program
This week I participated in a focus group discussing how to strengthen the Smithsonian’s Museums on Main Street (MOMS) program. The Maryland Humanities Council, the sponsor of the initiative in this state, assembled a panel of stakeholders and subject matter experts to share perspectives on how to strengthen the program. This cultural initiative serves small town…