By Katie McCarthy, American University Public History Fellow Today is the 40th anniversary of the founding of the National Council of Public History (NCPH). HAI is just a year younger—we will turn 40 in 2021. In honor of this milestone, …
The History and Use of the Defense Production Act: Part 2
The History and Use of the Defense Production Act: Part 2 Part 1 of this blog explores the historical context of the passage of the Defense Production Act. Read it here. President Harry S. Truman signed the Defense Production Act …
Engaging Visitors in the Age of Social Distancing
By Hilary Bergen, Historian & Certified Interpretive Planner In the midst of a public health crisis, museums and cultural institutions are more important than ever. Museums are much more than four walls and a roof. They are trusted sources of …
Looking Back at 1918: The Human Experience of a Pandemic
By Jen Giambrone, Historian The COVID-19 pandemic has me thinking—like a lot of people—about 1918. The influenza pandemic that swept the globe that year struck at a particularly vulnerable moment. Soldiers from all corners of the globe crammed into filthy …
Investigating the Recent Historical Past: Using the Internet Archive Wayback Machine for Litigation Research
By Justin Broubalow, Research Historian Our legal clients often ask us to investigate events in the recent historical past. Roughly spanning the last twenty or so years, this encompasses a period when the fact record was likely born-digital—that is, it …
Quarantine in Context: A Brief History of Staying at Home
By Justin Broubalow, Research Historian Orders to “quarantine,” “stay at home,” or “shelter in place” issued on a state-by-state basis in the past few weeks feel unprecedented. It is difficult to recall a time of such restriction on personal movement. …
Recipes for Rationing: American Kitchens During Shortages Past
By Emily Sullivan, Historian Is your grocery store missing your usual staples? Do you have kids at home who love cooking or history? This could be an opportunity to learn about how people of the past fed their families during …
The President’s Best Friend: Celebrating White House Pets in Honor of National Pet Day
By Emily Sullivan, Historian Happy National Pet Day! Has your furry, feathered, or scaly friend enjoyed having its humans at home more than ever? While this may be a new arrangement at your home, throughout history, pets have roamed the …
Genealogy: The Branches of Historical Storytelling
By Jenna Hill, Historian When Roots: The Saga of an American Family, based on the novel by Alex Haley, aired over eight nights in January 1977, it captivated millions, ignited important conversations about race, and transformed genealogical research. The miniseries—a …
Pantry Perishables: A Brief History of Shelf-Stable Staples
By Colleen Kim, Historian In the few short weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began, social distancing and lockdown measures have changed the way many Americans shop for food. This pandemic is revealing the extent to which American shopping and eating …
The COVID-19 Pandemic in Historical Perspective
By Mimi Eisen, Historian In a matter of a few short weeks, individuals worldwide have come to face the gravity of a pandemic of a respiratory disease caused by the person-to-person spread of a novel (new) coronavirus. The disease, COVID-19, …
Make the Trip Online: Virtual Experiences that Bring History to You
By Scott Vierick, Historian The shift towards accessible, digital experiences that many historic sites, cultural institutions, and museums have embraced to share their collections, histories, and stories with a broader audience has perhaps never seemed more important. As the response …