5/11/16 – The Continuing Business of History

May 11, 2016

Long-time followers of this blog will recognize several recurring themes. In addition to a passion for history, our historians have a passion for the business of history.   Many people outside the profession don’t know the full gamut of career opportunities outside of academia that are available to students of history – or the humanities in general. Such opportunities do exist, however, and are growing; it is our hope that those possibilities will become more visible, especially as we continue to share our own experiences.

Jennifer Stevens, principal of SHRA, recently attended the 2016 American Society of Environmental History conference in Seattle. In addition to presenting on a panel entitled, “Environmental Historians Doing Public History,” she attended several other presentations by colleagues whose work will shape and inform how our business and the profession writ large will evolve to embrace new technologies.

Earlier that week, SHRA’s Stephanie Milne-Lane attended The Humanities and Technology (THAT) Camp that was offered in connection with the ASEH conference in Seattle. The day-long event provided Stephanie with the opportunity to learn from fellow historians about electronic mapping, data collection, collaboration, and the vital role that technology plays in the humanities. The information discussed provided insight into new ways SHRA might organize and present the historical information researchers collect, as well as opening new troves of information to a wider audience, including through advanced mapping and GIS.

One of the most exciting topics of conversation, however, was about the National Endowment for the Humanities’ recently announced grant program, Next Generation Humanities PhD, which is designed to assist universities in molding their curriculums to train graduate students for career paths outside of the academy. Dr. Stevens is working with the University of Washington to mentor a graduate student in the 2016-2017 school year toward these aims with a recently submitted grant proposal.

Over the past several years, we have profiled the field of entrepreneurial history, and this business, both here on this blog and through several guest posts on the National Council of Public History’s History@Work blog.

We invite you to revisit or discover these pieces from our blog:

8/23/12: SHRA’s Stephanie Milne Shares Her Path to a Career in Public History

1/25/13: The Business of History, Part 1

2/1/13: The Business of History, Part 2

11/1/13 – An Entrepreneurial Education: Bridging History and Business

In addition to these SHRA blog links below are pieces written by Jennifer Stevens from History@Work:

To expand or not to expand, that is the question

Public history and policy: A synergy

From independence to collaboration in historical consulting

Hustling historians: selling your trade

A consultant in the field: Mining history in the West

– Jill Johnson