History Commons^™

Buying History: Trends In Ohio Historical Markers, Nicole Slaven

Graduate Student Research Symposium

This is an extension of previous research from the NCPH 2019 Annual Conference Poster Session and GSRS 2019 Poster Session: “Are We Diluting History?: A Holistic Analysis of Ohio Historical Markers”. Research for this poster involved a random sample of approximately 20% of Ohio Historical Markers. The 327 markers that made up the sample were then analyzed and graded on a ten-point scale in four categories: historical significance, historical integrity, context, and mechanics. From there many conclusions were made after crunching the numbers and sorting the grades by decade, subject matter, and other parameters.
Trends from this study include: the …

A Partial Presence Is No Presence: Public History Institutions And The Danger Of Social Media, Alex Warren

Graduate Student Research Symposium

243.6 million people use social media in the United States alone: that is roughly ¾ of the population.[1] This massive audience gives the perception that, especially for smaller public history organizations, it is a simple and effective tool to reach their audiences. But this may not be the case. Although social media provides an opportunity to put forth information to a wide public audience in a way that would otherwise be near impossible for many non-profit organizations, the reality of a successful social media presence provides potentially catastrophic results for an unprepared organization.

Effective social media use requires consideration …

Engaging Visitors With Conservation: The Key To Museum Sustainability, Megan Crutcher

Graduate Student Research Symposium

What is museum conservation and why does it matter? Increasingly, museum professionals are having to answer this question not only for themselves, but for the public as well. I argue that conservation’s definition is twofold, encompassing the actual work, as well as public engagement and presentation. First, conservation is the act of preserving and protecting cultural heritage to improve its structural integrity and historical significance. Second, conservation’s ultimate effectiveness lies in its ability to leave the public informed and passionate. Two of the best examples of these programs are the conservation of the Star Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian in …

Are We Diluting History?, Nicole Slaven

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Historical markers are everywhere and therefore have the potential to transmit history to a wide range of audiences. But is the history they are promoting always “valid” history? Through this research project, I hope to show trends in the validity of historical markers, how time has had an effect on the historical significance of markers, and how they correlate to the median income of the areas where they are erected.

This research project will use the Ohio Historical Marker program for its case study. I will use a random sampling of 20-25% of the markers (approximately 300) and test them …

Decolonizing National Parks: A Conversation About Repatriation And Shared Authority, Stephanie Walrath

Graduate Student Research Symposium

This project explores how shared authority in national parks can be reassessed through the lens of administrative repatriation. The majority of NPS interpretations focus on conservation and naturalist education, perpetuate a mythology of “gifted land,” and have neglected cultural imprints as an integral element of the land’s history. The rich histories of the peoples that have occupied these lands over time provide an opportunity for the NPS that few museums possess: to present an American history that is deeply interwoven with the natural landscape and recall events back farther than any constructed museums can possibly venture. National parks have an …