Public History

When Stevenson Public History major Erin Davis, an intern at the Historical Society of Baltimore County, was given the opportunity to design, develop, and implement a local display to augment a nationally touring exhibit regarding Abraham Lincoln, she jumped at the opportunity. The nationally touring exhibit, "Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation," and Erin’s local complementary display mark their debut on Monday, January 25, in the Towson branch of the Baltimore County Public Library’s (BCPL) rotunda at 6:00 p.m.  According to the American Library Association, “Forever Free” reexamines President Lincoln’s efforts to abolish slavery during the Civil War. "Organized by The Huntington’s John Rhodehamel, Norris Foundation Curator of American Historical Manuscripts, the exhibit consists of reproductions of rare historical documents from The Huntington’s collections and those of the Gilder Lehrman Institute, and draws on the latest scholarship in the field."

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On October 17, adjunct faculty member Jen Erdman and several public history majors visited Mount Vernon, the plantation estate of George Washington. The group toured the mansion, the grounds, and the working farm before going to Washington’s distillery and gristmill. The education center features the “Hands on History” room designed for children to learn about Colonial America. Even though it was raining and cold, students found the trip interesting and enjoyed new aspects of the plantation, such as the new visitor’s center.

• Dom Stati: Nuclear Annihilation and You: Baltimore County in the Cold War
  Dom Stati’s internship has allowed him to travel back to the 1960s to examine the role of civil defense in the daily lives of Baltimore County’s residents. Dom researched the role of the Alms House as a civil defense shelter furing the Cold War. His presentation at the BCHS included film (Duck and Cover, Atomic Alert, and Survival Under Atomic Attack) and an exhibit of civil defnece goods stored at the Alms House during that period.

• Anna Siebring: Deeds, Indentures, and Apprenticeships: 150 Years of Early Law in Baltimore County
  Anna Siebring interned at the Historical Society of Baltimore County. Among her duties was the indexing of over 300 legal documents at the Baltimore County Alms House, now home to the BCHS.. Dating from as early as the 1780s and as recent as the 1930s, these documents provide an insight into the legal community of the late-Eighteenth and the Nineteenth centuries in the Baltimore area.
• Jesse Cerda, All That Jazz: National Museum of American History, Jazz Oral History Program
  Jesse Cerda is serving his intership at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History Jazz Oral History Program. Since 1990, this program has conducted interviews with over 160 subjects (6 hours in length) and continues to add to the collection. Jesse’s role involves online interview posting, development of educational programs, and research of upcoming interviews.

History Forum Spotlights State Department Jobs
Barbara Cummings, a US State Department Diplomat in Residence, spoke at the September 17 meeting of the History Forum.    Ms. Cummings’ enlightening and entertaining talk covered various State Department careers and internship opportunities. The History Forum is a monthly meeting of all PHIST majors.  It is both a social and educational gathering of PHIST students.  While enjoying free pizza and sodas, PHIST majors have the chance to learn from a variety of educational guest speakers:  SU career services staff, government officials, internship sponsors, living history specialists, National Park Service representatives, and many more.

Historians Fete Decapod Crustations
On September 11, several members of the SU PHIST family joined in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Historical Society of BaltimoreCounty at the Society’s shrimp feast.  PHIST majors Dom Staiti, Anna Siebring, Amanda Codd, and Mary Frances Kovach joined PHIST department chairperson Joseph McGraw and SU adjunct history professor Glenn Johnston foran evening of fun and great food at the annual fundraiser event.  Professor Johnston is currently serving as the President of the HSBC.

Public History faculty member Dr. Claudia Floyd will address the annual Conference of the Society for Women and the Civil War  on July 24-26 in Arlington, Virginia.  Her presentation, entitled  “Baltimore’s Confederate Women: Perpetuating a Culture of War,” is scheduled for Sunday morning, July 26.  Contact Professor Floyd  cfloyd@stevenson.edu for further information about the conference or go to the SWCW webite.