Public History Track Program

Administration Building, 7th Floor

Public History Track

Master of Arts in Historical Studies

What is Public History?
Public history is a collaborative form of historical scholarship. Public historians apply professional research and interpretive skills to projects that serve the public interest. Public historians produce historical narratives in active collaboration with a variety of stakeholders –audiences, funders, governments, teachers, etc –in order to make the past meaningful and useful.

The Public History Track is an option for students pursuing the Master of Arts in Historical Studies. Students in the public history track explore large issues of ethics and professionalism that shape work in the public sector. Students in the public history track acquire specialized experience in the field of public history, and can select projects and courses that meet their particular interests, including archival research, exhibition development, oral history, and preservation policy.

As part of the overall requirements for the M.A. in Historical Studies, course work for students interested in the Public History Track must complete the following twelve credits:

Offered each Spring, this course is a survey of the practice of history in public venues, including government agencies, historical societies, archives, museums, businesses, and various professional organizations. Intended to provide students with a broad survey of such historical practice and the tools to explore chosen specialties in depth, the course addresses intellectual as well as practical issues.

Offered each semester, this course is taught by currently practicing public history professionals. Individual themes vary by semester and may include: Historic Tourism & Heritage, The Historian in Private Practice, Museum Studies, Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Management, Cyberspace and New Media, Federal, State and Local Government, Oral History, Documentary Editing, and others.

Each student in the Public History Track must serve at least one internship. Student internships need the approval of a faculty advisor. Complete and turn-in the Internship Contract Form prior to beginning an assignment.

Terry Bouton, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Colonial and Revolutionary America.

Kate Brown, Ph.D., Associate Professor. Russian history, film, video, radio documentary.

John W. Jeffries, Ph.D., Professor and Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Science. U.S. public policy and political history.
jeffries@umbc.edu

Kriste Lindenmeyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair. American social history, history of childhood and youth, and public policy, new media.

Denise Meringolo, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, American Cultural History, Public History.
ddm@umbc.edu

Michelle Scott, Ph.D., Assistant Professor. African American history, race and ethnicity, music, and historical editing.

Anne Rubin, Ph.D., Associate Professor. Civil War era, new media, exhibitions, history for clients

Joseph Tatarewicz, Ph.D. Associate Professor. History of technology, technology policy, oral history, and public history.

Nancy Bramucci, M.A. (Maryland State Archives). Archives, editing, new media.
nbramu1@umbc.edu

Barry A. Lanman, Ph.D. (Association of Oral History Educators; Director, Martha Ross Center for Oral History). Oral and Video history.

Marcia Peri, M.A., M.L.S. (UMBC Albin O. Kuhn Library, Special Collections) Archivist.
mperi@umbc.edu

Raymond Smock, Ph.D. (Executive Director of askahistorian.com and former historian for the U.S. House of Representatives). Federal government, oral history, private practice.

John Willard, M.A. (Assistant Director, Martha Ross Center for Oral History). Oral and Video History
jdwillard@umbc.edu