Public History in the College or University History Department

This section includes information for public historians based in traditional History Departments, including discussion of promotion and tenure criteria.

For a list of departments offering graduate training in Public History, their requirements and curriculums, see the National Council on Public History website.

"Public History and the Department: Prospects and Directions," Michael Galgano, ed.
From the second issue of the OAH Council of Chairs newsletter. James Huhta traces the history of the field, while Barbara Howe describes OAH workshops on public history. Kendrick Clements, contributes "Promotion and Tenure for Public Historians."

"Developing a Public History Program" by Cynthia Brandimarte
From the CCWH Newsletter. In Spring 2000, the National Council on Public History held its annual meeting jointly with the Organization of American Historians, affording historians whose primary interests lay elsewhere the opportunity to learn more about Public History's theory and practice. This is the summary of session at that annual meeting.

"Redefining Historical Scholarship"
Report of the American Historical Association Ad Hoc Committee on Redefining Scholarly Work - This December 1993 report touches on a number of issues related to the expansion of definitions that have limited what is considered scholarly contributions to the field, including faculty reward systems as they pertain to tenure and promotion.

New England Resource Center for Higher Education
Founded in 1988, NERCHE is "dedicated to improving colleges and universities as workplaces, communities, and organizations." Among other things, they provide consulting services to schools reevaluating their faculty reward systems.

Historians concerned about tenure and promotion policies as they pertain to work in Public History may wish to consult The Public Historian 1999 21 (2). This issue contains an exchange on this subject among James B. Gardner, Constance Schultz, and Kendrick Clements. This issue also contains an article by Noel Stowe, "Public Historians as Faculty: Roles and Rewards."