AASLH

Museums and archives are often owners of artifacts that are mysterious and controversial. Figuring out what items are, their place in historical context, and display options can be daunting. Presenters discuss items that posed problems, and attendees are encouraged to bring in stories about experiences with controversial artifacts. Chair: Erica Ward, Archivist, Research and Academic Support Specialist, The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/controversial-objects/

For the past decade, museums have embraced the “young professionals” model to attract the next generation of visitors and donors. Now that the first generation is aging out, what’s next in the ladder of engagement? What programming do mid-life supporters want? How can we best meet their needs? Let’s discuss. Chair: Sarah Jencks, Director of Education Programming, Ford’s Theatre Society, Washington, D.C. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/engaging-the-grown-ups-a-roundtable-exploring-new-strategies/

In the wake of Michael Brown’s death, people closely examined the past, present, and future of the state of Missouri. The Missouri History Museum is located approximately twenty minutes from Ferguson. This resulted in a wave of community engagement opportunities and potential pitfalls. What happened? What would you do? Chair: Melanie Adams, Managing Director, Community Education and Events, Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, MO. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/ferguson-usa/

Historical organizations must develop and demonstrate relevance to remain successful. In this highly-participatory session, attendees work in small groups and then in the large group to identify means to develop and demonstrate relevance. Following the session, the facilitators will compile and distribute the group’s findings to all participants. Chair: Mark Sundlov, Manager, Local History Office, Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/field-services-alliance-tips-demonstrating-relevance/

Peace, love, and understanding, or bitter aftertaste? Can remembering troubled local history empower communities to reach common understanding and start to heal? Learn how Columbia, Missouri citizens remembered a former black business district and reached for greater possibilities. Share your experiences and thoughts on how historians can help. Chair: Toni Messina, Civic Relations Officer, City of Columbia, Columbia, MO. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/is-it-possible-that-remembering-local-history-can-heal-old-wounds/

A successful collaborative project yields high rewards for everyone. Innovative collaborations between museums and nontraditional or unexpected partners helps build relationships, executive successful projects, increase visibility, and enhance goodwill. This session examines recent examples of museums working with nontraditional partners to help advance the missions of both. Chair: Bruce Whitmarsh, Director, Chemung County Historical Society, Elmira, NY. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/new-partners-and-new-opportunities/

History museums increasingly embrace the possibilities of incorporating visitor feedback and user-generation information into exhibition presentations as a part of the interpretation. Museums that are using talk-back cards and dialogue in exhibits also make a commitment to systematically preserve and analyze the responses to better understand visitor experiences. Chair: Barbara Franco, Founding Executive Director, Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum, Gettysburg, PA. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/visitors-talk-back-what-audiences-tell-museums/

Military history is full of stereotypes: rooms stuffed with weapons, exhibits with dense text going into the minutiae of battle, etc. This session advocates a people-centered approach instead, which makes military history relevant to returning visitors and those who dismiss military history as tedious. Chair: Marc Blackburn, Supervisory Park Ranger, Mount Ranier National Park, Ashford, WA. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/thems-fighting-words-new-approaches-in-military-history/

In 2005, the Gulf Coast was hammered by two hurricanes. AASLH, working with other organizations, responded by dispatching Historian Emergency Assistance Recovery Teams (HEART) to offer aid in documenting and mitigating storm damage to cultural resources in Louisiana and Mississippi. This roundtable reviews those efforts, ten years later. Chair: Vincent Murray, Historian, Arizona Historical Research, Phoenix, AZ. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/stories-from-the-heart-10-years-after-katrina-and-rita/

Commemorations are a significant feature of public programming, but can become mired in tradition, politics, and memory. Together we explore new strategies for inclusive, innovative programs through case studies of 250-, 150-, and 50-year commemorations and discuss how to commemorate what’s happening today. Chair: Erin Carlson Mast, Executive Director, President Lincoln’s Cottage, Washington, D.C. Download at: http://resource.aaslh.org/view/new-strategies-for-inclusive-commemoration/