By Jen Giambrone, Historian To see a vivid example of how white privilege and white supremacy are embedded in American culture, look no further than our cultural institutions. From the stories and artifacts we enshrine in our museums to the …
How Did We Get Here? The Beginnings of the Public History Field
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, …
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 …
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 …
Archiving to Connect During a Crisis: How We Can Unite to Document COVID-19
By Laura Starr, Certified Archivist, HAI Engagement Strategist I am an archivist and historian. I am a spouse, friend, neighbor, and coworker. I am an American and a global citizen. And right now, I am one of the millions practicing …
“See” You There: A Virtual Panel Presentation for the National Council on Public History
By Emily Sullivan, Historian This weekend, the 40th annual conference of the National Council on Public History (NCPH) was to be held in Atlanta, Georgia. HAI has a special connection to the organization—one of our co-founders, Phil Cantelon, is also …
The Power of a Picture: How Images Engage Visitors at the New Statue of Liberty Museum
The stereograph shows the Statue of Liberty’s oddly disembodied hand rising up from a tent, holding the flaming torch. Two people can be seen standing at the railing encircling the sculptured flame. The attraction was part of the 1876 Centennial …
AAM2019 – American Alliance of Museums Conference – Recap of Day 2
This is a second in a series of posts covering the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting in New Orleans (AAM2019). This year’s event is focused on how museums and cultural institutions can remain relevant, engaging, and inclusive in an …
AAM2019 – American Alliance of Museums Conference – Recap of Day 1
The American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting this year in New Orleans (AAM2019) is focused on how museums and cultural institutions can connect with the communities they serve in new ways. My colleagues, Phoebe McDougal, Carly Swaim, and Laura Starr …
Unfreezing 1923: How the Reopening of the Public Domain Opens Doors for Museums
After a 20-year freeze, a flood of new content is now available in the public domain: iconic films like Charlie Chaplin’s The Pilgrim, riveting reads by Willa Cather and H.G. Wells, remarkable works by M.C. Escher and Henri Matisse, and …
Start Your Museum CMS Selection Process with a Needs Assessment
Museums and cultural institutions use a database system better known as a collections management system (CMS) to help care for their collection of archives, historical objects, and artifacts. Galleries, museums and even libraries use a museum CMS to track and …
Found in the Garcia Archives: Inspiration from a Notable Civil Rights Leader
In 2016, History Associates began working with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to process and digitize a unique archival collection from Dr. Hector P. Garcia — a prominent champion of civil rights for veterans and Mexican-Americans in the late 20th century. …