Bringing the Museum to the People

Hear/read this morning's story on NPR's Morning Edition about SFO's (San Francisco Airport) museum program - the only U.S. airport museum accredited by the AAM (American Association of Museums.)  Great story, including discussions about the value of accreditation and the questions of audience and accessibility.

Front Page News - March 12, 1770

Tony Nauroth, a columnist with the Express Times newspaper in the Lehigh Valley, has put out a call for information on a March 12, 1770 Boston Gazette Country Journal front page article foreshadowing the Dec 16 1773 Boston Tea Party.  The newspaper clipping is now owned by Ruth Gainer of Moore Township, left to her by her late husband, Glenn, whose last request was for Ruth to find out more about the clipping, originally found by in a drawer in his grandmother's house in Elizabethtown, PA when he was in high school.  (Glenn died last July, age 90.)

Kudos to the Express Times for two different history-focused features this Sunday morning.

News: Saucon Valley Conservancy and the Heller Homestead

Congratulations to the Saucon Valley Conservancy on the nomination of the Michael and Margaret Heller House (Heller Homestead) to the National Register of Historic Places.  The property was approved for nomination by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission this month.  Next step is a final review by the National Park Service.  Read the press release here.  Also featured in this morning's Express Times.

If you are looking for something to do next Saturday, April 24th, head to Hellertown, PA in Northampton County for the 3rd Annual Saucon Valley History Day.  Tour one of three historic buildings, participate in hands-on activities, and learn about the early days of Hellertown and the Saucon Valley.

Who Pays for Historic Markers?

Ken Finkel questions the future, and credibility, of the Pennsylvania State Historic Marker program after the change in funding from public to private.  Pay to Play History?

Lecture at the AAS in Worcester, Mass

The American Antiquarian Society has announced a lecture on Uncivil Discourse.  Jim Leach (President of the NEH) and Jill Lepore (historian and author of several works including New York Burning) speaking together should be a *good* discussion.  Highly recommended if you are within easy traveling distance of  Worcester, Mass.

Also highly recommended is Annette Gordon-Reed's book The Hemings of Monticello (also mentioned in the article.) 

What is Public History?

Nicholas Sarantakes provides a very useful answer to the question What is Public History?

Jobs in History

These days a common discussion in any space - virtual or physical - inhabited by graduate students in history is the state of the job market.  Again, as in the 1970s, part of that discussion includes what historians can do other than teach at a four year institution.  Having strayed from the path of tenured professor years ago, I actively look for opportunities outside of academia, and recently, am intrigued by public highlights of such jobs. Here's a spotlight from the Washington Post on the FBI's Official Historian.