Overview

Zen and the Art of Local History is an engaging, interactive conversation that conveys the exciting nature of local history. Divided into six major themes the book covers the scope and breadth of local history: * Being a Local Historian * Topics and Sources * Staying Relevant * Getting it Right * Writing History * History Organizations Each chapter features one of Carol Kammen's memorable editorials from History News. Her editorial is a call. Each is followed by a response from one of more than five dozen prominent players in state and local history. These Respondents include local and public historians, archivists, volunteers, and history professionals across the kaleidoscopic spectrum of local history. Among this group are Katherine Kane, Robert Bob Richmond, Charlie Bryan, and Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko. The result is a series of dialogues on important topics in the field of local history. This interactivity of these conversations makes Zen and the Art of Local History a unique offering in the public history field.

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9781442226890

Table of Contents

Reviews

Carol Kammen has been providing thoughtful commentary to History News readers for more than two decades. This volume is a retrospective of her columns followed by responses from her colleagues (and yours). Together, Carol and American Association for State and Local History's own Bob Beatty have put together a book that will challenge your thinking and approaches to our work. -- Terry Davis, president and CEO, American Association for State and Local History The only thing better than a Carol Kammen On Doing Local History essay is sixty-eight Carol Kammen essays. The only thing better than sixty-eight of Carol's insightful, spot-on, wonderfully crafted essays is marrying each with a talented colleague laboring in our rich field somewhere in this great country who provides equally compelling commentary and reflection. This volume is a superb idea taken to the max-at once readable, cerebral, practical, philosophical, and fun. Buy it. Read it. Pass it on. -- D. Stephen Elliott, Director/CEO, Minnesota Historical Society Carol Kammen and Bob Beatty provide timeless thought-fuel about the presence of local history in our daily lives. You'll be engaged, inspired, and armed with a broader perspective that invites you to dig into the important task of making history accessible to others. -- Colleen Dilenschneider, chief market engagement office for IMPACTS and author/publisher of the blog Know Your Own Bone.

Carol Kammen has been providing thoughtful commentary to History News readers for more than two decades. This volume is a retrospective of her columns followed by responses from her colleagues (and yours). Together, Carol and American Association for State and Local History's own Bob Beatty have put together a book that will challenge your thinking and approaches to our work. -- Terry Davis, president and CEO, American Association for State and Local History The only thing better than a Carol Kammen On Doing Local History essay is sixty-eight Carol Kammen essays. The only thing better than sixty-eight of Carol's insightful, spot-on, wonderfully crafted essays is marrying each with a talented colleague laboring in our rich field somewhere in this great country who provides equally compelling commentary and reflection. This volume is a superb idea taken to the max-at once readable, cerebral, practical, philosophical, and fun. Buy it. Read it. Pass it on. -- D. Stephen Elliott, Director/CEO, Minnesota Historical Society

Author Information

Carol Kammen has been writing about doing local history for many years. The first edition of this book came out in 1985; this edition is greatly pruned and expanded. She has edited The Encyclopedia of Local History (two editions) for Alta Mira Press and AASLH and has written editorials for History News since 1995. In addition she has written a history of her county, of the City in which she lives, and Cornell: Glorious to View (2003) and Part & Apart: The African American Experience at Cornell, 1865-1945 (2008) and edited First Person Cornell: Student's Letters, Diaries, Email and Blogs (2006). She has also written two-dozen dramatic presentations using local history, including Between the Lines, Peaches and Bird, The Language of War and others and writes a history column for her local newspaper. She lives in Ithaca, New York, taught at Cornell University, and serves as the Tompkins County Historian. Bob Beatty is Vice President for Programs for the American Association for State & Local History where he leads AASLH's professional development program including workshops, an annual meeting, affinity groups and other initiatives, and publications as editor of History News and a member of the AASLH Editorial Advisory Board. From 1999-2007 he directed the Education Department at the Orange County (FL) Regional History Center where he led or oversaw dozens of community outreach programs ranging from school partnerships, youth/family activities, adult programming, and community partnerships.

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