Public What?

I have the following conversation often since I moved to Chicago:

Inquisitor asks “What do you do?”
I reply “I’m in graduate school.”
Slightly interested inquisitor then asks “Oh! For what?”
I respond with a smile and anticipating the end of the conversation “History.”
Inquisitor then yawns and politely asks “Oh, what type? Are you going to be a teacher?”
And then I reply “No, it’s public history…”
Blank stare. And then, with a whisper “And what is that?”

So for those of you not sure what I am doing at Loyola University Chicago here is a little description. I wrote the next two paragraphs for an introduction to public history paper assignment. Hope it clears up the air about what I am actually doing in Chicago...

"As a new and upcoming field, many people are unaware of what public history is and how, if at all, it is different from the history they learned growing up. As a new field its definition is being refined and cannot be narrowed to one brief sentence. Public history is the presentation and interpretation of history for a specific audience, and it is grounded in practice, experience and concrete examples. One could even consider a public historian a mediator between the public and history. But public history can also bridge the gap between professional history and popular history, because it is rooted in culture and society outside of the academic lecture. The field brings a balance to the specialization of history and gives generalized history context using an interdisciplinary approach. One must keep in mind that public history is not one size fits all, and it is important to recognize the need to adapt when dealing with history, the public and various components. Because of this public historians weigh the ethical issues of history differently from traditional historians in their research.

The Public History Resource Center (PHRC) considers these elements and many more in its definition of public history. The contributing scholars of PHRC define public history as history which can be seen, heard, read and interpreted by a popular audience by expanding on the methods of academic historians and emphasizing non-traditional evidence. It is the belief that history belongs to the public and that history matters in the day to day lives of people. It is the presentation of historical knowledge to a general audience which can take many forms: museum presentations, television documentaries, historic preservation projects, collections and recording projects. Public history also provides employment for historians outside of academia through practically applied methods and the retranslation of traditional historical knowledge. Also included is the responsibility of public historians to consider the ethical and efficient management of a group’s heritage and history."

There ya have it, folks. With my semester almost wrapped up, I have gotten the chance to dip my toe into a few projects: oral histories, transcriptions (yuck!), historical tours and reading and writing lots and lots. I am also getting some practical use at a historical society north of the city. Ok, enough procrastinating, I am off to work on a final project. [Insert comment on how lame I am here.]

xo
Am

At the Rally with Amber (and President Elect Obama)!

Yes We Can! And Yes we did! (And yes, the road ahead is very very long.) Last Tuesday as the nation waited in anticipation and watched as the returns come in for the most historical presidential election in our time I was headed down to Grant Park to take part in the rally. (I apologize for the delays (cough- cough, Mom and B) but here it is...

Even though the gates opened at 8:30 PM for ticket holders, I had this little inconvenience I like to call "grad school" and so I wasn't able to get downtown until 8:30 and drop off my purse at Kathryn's (my plus 1 and new friend from Loyola) and then jumped back on the el and headed south to Grant Park. Braving the crowds and long lines going through a securities we finally reached the rally around 9ish and it was packed...


Both of us being "vertically challenged" we had to be satisfied with occasional glances at the jumbo-tron which was tuned to CNN and the crowd would go wild as the results came in (I even did a little gig when the Ohio was welcomed as a blue state-all it took was for me, Mom and Don to move but we still sent in our new absentee ballots!)
We took a break from the patiently waiting revelers and got some deep dish (a rally in Chicago would not be complete without some of their famous pizza) and then back to stand and dance and cheer with the crowd.
The amazing thing about the crowd was how diverse it was which I think is symbolic of this election. There were all kinds of people down at Grant Park. Young, old, black, white, American born citizens and new citizens who voted for the first time (and insisted on filming the entire rally-crazy crowd and all). And everyone was so happy! And cheerful! And respectful when CNN aired McCain giving his concession speech and everyone clapped when his supporters booed Obama (but it's easy to be gracious when your pick wins). But I think it is important to keep in mind that this election is not only a triumph for the Democratic party in what was a knock-down-drag-out election but a significant triumph for the American people. The first African-American elected to the highest office in our nation but an amazing voter turnout (so thank you to all those PSAs and volunteers) and I think that our country is at time when we can stop being blue states and red states but be one big purple country! And we can once again unite and take pride in our great nation. Last Tuesday night was the first time I could say how proud I am of America as awhole and to say I am an American (don't get me wrong I have been proud of previous "American moments" but never in my last time.)

That's me throwing out the "peace sign". I was torn between thumbs up and the peace sign and I went the timeless peace sign because "they" say every single person votes for one or two reason or issues. (the economy, the war, social issues, health care, fill in the blank here______.) I decided that I vote for peace: world peace, peace among our citizens and peace of mind.

And then the grand news came that America elected Barack Obama as the next president of the United States! And the amount emotions I felt at the time and following are too numerous to list but lets just say I was moved to tears by his speech and the significance of that moment and still can't put articulately into words. And so with my fellow Chicagoains (even Oprah was there) and fellow Americans I watched and listened (I had no idea that such a large group of people could be so quiet) with anticipation as President Elect Obama addressed the country.

We were pretty far back so I had to take pictures of the screen and it was extra zoomed and my hand wouldn't stay still so I apologize for the blurriness.

The first family! I love the Obama family. They are so cute, charming and an American family. (And regardless of what the talking heads said, I loved Michelle's dress and how she coordinated the girls with her dress and his ties). And I am so so so excited to have a young family in the White House!

P.E. Obama addresses those of us at Grant Park and the nation. My favorite part of his speech was when he spoke to those who didn't vote for him and told them he would be their president. I could definiately pick up on the somberness of his demeanor and I wonder when he began to realize the burden and work he has ahead of himself. (So if you are praying person or just a "warm thoughts thinker" pray/think of P.E. Obama and our country because we came along way last Tuesday but we have a lot further to go and I think he is the man that can get back on our feet.)
Looking back at the crowd...keep in mind this is only section. There was the VIP section which was right by the stage, the ticket holder section (where we were) and then the general crowd that was a ways back beyond the Buckingham Fountain. And then everyone spilled out onto Michigan Avenue which was an amazing spectable and one those moments I will remember forever. Side note: soon after moving to Chicago I realized that I am happy to be here now but I don't plan on staying here after I get my master's so I have set about collection "Chicago moments" and this night at the rally and walking down one of the most shopping streets in the world in the greatest city.


And then I headed north on the train which took forever because it was so crowded. And I apologize that I didn't capture the euphoria of that night (my fault for procrastinating) but it was a significant night and as a professional historian who spends considerable amount of time studying these significant moments (and interpreting them) I feel so lucky to have been there. Although I don't wish away time I look forward to hear and see what historians say about this election and that night. So regardless if you agree with me or not, this was a great night for America!

There's no place like Halloween

Happy Fall and Happy Halloween!

Last night I had my first Chicago Halloween, and it was so great! Everyone dresses up in really creative costumes and the streets are packed! (No cabs could be found and there was a long line for the train.) I went out with Jen and Sara from Cincy and friends from grad school. Enjoy the pics!

Dorothy and Todo

Amanda and Jen as Not-a-Happy Camper and a Bunny

Me and Jen at her house before going out.

Me and my new friend, Kathryn, from grad school.

Sara and Jen as nun and bunny.

Me, Jen and Sara at Halligan's in Lincoln Park (not quite the Emerald City but it was fun!)

Me and Kathryn out at Halligan's. (The neck of my dress was ridiculously high and I was mistaken for a Mormon, so I found myself educating the yuppies of Lincoln park on childhood stories they apparently missed.)

Me and Reilly (as Indiana Jones) another new grad school friend.

And now that Halloween and done with, it seems that every store and everyone has moved on to Christmas.