The University of Toledo

Public History Program

In1986 the Department of History at The University of Toledo integrated public history into existing undergraduate and graduate history programs. One goal of this change was to instill in history majors not only a sense of postgraduate options, but also a sensitivity to their professional responsibilities. The program stresses that all historians can be involved in public history, no matter where they work. The profession's goals include promoting an understanding of history, historical methodology, and the utility of history. Public history curriculum at UT combines traditional grounding in content area courses and research with public history theory and practical experience. Students are trained to apply their historical knowledge and methodology beyond academe and to communicate history to a variety of audiences.

Community outreach efforts sponsored by the history department provide students with practical experience throughout their degree programs. Outreach takes many forms including public programs, regional historical forums, local preservation, community problem solving, and cooperative efforts with local historical organizations. Related projects involve both coursework and student internships and these activities add an important dimension to the undergraduate and graduate history curriculum.

Public history internships at the University of Toledo are flexible, and can be completed for credit, stipend or a combination of both. They may involve ongoing projects with sponsoring agencies or summer employment within an organization. Internships emphasize continuous experience outside the university while the student is working toward the history degree. The Department of History maintains a relationship with several organizations through which students participate in cooperative and educational activities. As students work to complete their degree programs, they gain both a sensitivity to the professional roles of historians in society and the necessary skills to pursue public history careers. In addition, students can gain training in specific areas including archives, historic preservation, editing, historical societies/ museums, oral history, local/community history and business.

For additional information contact:

Dr. Diane F. Britton
Department of History
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH 43606
(419) 530-2845
diane.britton@utoledo.edu

Public History Classes at The University of Toledo

Public history courses are dual-listed for undergraduate and graduate student enrollment.

Introduction to Public History

familiarizes students with the definition, philosophy, and evolution of public history as well as the current literature and debates within the field. Self discovery exercises assist students to apply theory to real world situations as they explore what public audiences know about the past and how they gained that knowledge.

Public History Practicum

provides students with hands-on experience in the practice of public history by completing a project using specialized techniques, client-oriented research, team work and publication for non-academic audiences. The class applies historical knowledge and methodology on a first hand basis. As a team, students formulate historical objectives and do the research to complete a project within the time limit of the quarter to fulfill the terms of an informal work agreement with a sponsoring agency.

Public History Internships

allow students opportunities to apply knowledge and skills acquired through coursework in a professional atmosphere. Student interns develop additional competencies in selected aspects of public history, make beginning contacts with professionals in the field, and gain valuable experience not available in a traditional classroom setting. Interns complete projects that are mutually beneficial to the students and to the sponsoring agencies. Internships provide students with supervised practical experience and at the same time encourage a better definition of personal strengths and career goals.

Institutions where UT students have interned:

• Birmingham (Toledo) Cultural Center
• Canaday Center Archives, University of Toledo
• Cincinnati Historical Society
• Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur's Office
• Cummings-Zucker Center
• Erie County Historical Society
• Forum for History and Business
• Franklin  Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library, Hyde Park, New York
• Great Lakes Historical Society
• Hayes Presidential Center
• The Historian
• Lakeside Heritage Club, Inc.
• Local History Department, Toledo/Lucas County Public Library
• Monroe County (Michigan) Historical Museum
• Northwest Ohio Quarterly
• Ohio Historic Preservation Office
• Richland County Museum
• Ross County Historical Society
• St. Patrick's Historic Church
• Toledo Metroparks
• Toledo Sight Center
• Toledo Warehouse District
• United Health Services
• Urban Affairs Center, University of Toledo
• U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

Related courses

• Historic Preservation Planning
• Introduction to Archives Administration
• Tracing Your Family
• Special Topics Courses