[Genealib] Crossover Opportunities for Genealogists and PublicHistorians

[UW-W Archives]

We regularly have students from the public history program on campus do their required internships in our archives.  The most significant project they worked on from a genealogical point of view was a landowner index to the 1857 Walworth County plat map.  The map was later digitized and the map and index are available through the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections site.  The faculty member viewed the project as a way to teach students about land use.  We viewed it as making a fragile item available to all researchers - historian or genealogist.
 
Karen Weston
University Archivist
 
UW-Whitewater Archives / Area Research Center 
800 West Main Street  P.O. Box 900 Whitewater, WI 53190-0900 
(262) 472-5520   http://library.uww.edu/COLLECTN/archicol.html 
Normal Hours:  Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM 
                        
Exceptions Fall 2008: 
Closing at 4:30: Wed. Nov. 26; Fri. Nov. 28; Mon. Dec. 22; Tues. Dec. 23; Fri. Dec. 26; Mon. Dec. 29
Closed: Thurs. Nov. 27; Wed. Dec. 24; Thurs. Dec. 25; Tue. Dec 30; Wed. Dec. 31 
 

________________________________

From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu on behalf of Sharon
Sent: Sun 10/5/2008 6:55 PM
To: apg at rootsweb.com; genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu; neapg at neapg.org
Subject: [Genealib] Crossover Opportunities for Genealogists and PublicHistorians



Hello,

In April of 2009, I will be a genealogical representative in a panel
discussion about genealogy and public history at the annual conference
of the National Council on Public History in Providence, Rhode Island.
www.ncph.org

Public history is centered on bringing history to the public, often
through museums, libraries, other special collections, historical parks,
university research projects and public education programs.

In my mind, public history is an incentive for a history "of the people,
by the people and for the people," ideally providing a context for civic
knowledge, education and understanding for families, communities and
nations.

Genealogy research reveals not only lineal begats, but the lives,
fortunes or misfortunes of families and their communities over time.
Genealogy methodology standards requires fact finding without regard to
preferred views or generalities. As preconceptions fall away, ancestral
lives become much more complex and interesting "microcosms in history."
A personal window into eras and layers of history that may also reveal
family ancestry on various sides of wartime, political, economic,
religious or social upheaval or progress.

Such ancestral views allow for a better perspective in the larger
panoramas of history.

The purpose of sparking discussions between genealogists and public
historians is to provide possibilities for more synergy in our efforts.

I would like to hear from folks who have observed or participated in
projects that were founded in or produced synergy between genealogists
and public historians. I am particularly interested in how the
collaboration was sparked and what practical issues were addressed to
make the project successful.

Thanks!

Sharon Sergeant




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