History Commons^™

Report From The Field: Public History At Howard University, Elizabeth Clark-Lewis

Elizabeth Clark-Lewis

At Howard University, the public history program uses new empirical methodologies and pedagogies to engage students and nonacademic audiences. This article outlines the specialized knowledge, perspectives, approaches, practices, issues, and critical concerns of this program. It illustrates how focused, innovative research opportuni- ties simultaneously move students beyond the boundaries of academic theories, pub- licly funded agencies, private corporations, or entrepreneurial firms while helping them remain sensitive to community-based programs, projects, institutions, and con- stituencies. Public history is congruent with service, a core value of Howard Univer- sity, and it strengthens the university's ability to reach beyond the confines of academe; …