Pursuit of Local History

Carol Kammen writes editorials for History News and is the author of On Doing Local History: Reflections on What Local Historians Do, Why, and What It Means and of eleven plays. She co-edited the Encyclopedia of Local History with Norma Prendergast.

This is an important book for students of museum studies who, in their future careers, will become practitioners of local history. It is equally important for those of us involved in the practice of local history, as it is a good starting place for discussions about the quality of what we do and the ways we can make it better.

• chapter 1 About the Editorchapter 2 Acknowledgmentschapter 3 Introduction:Local History-In Search of Comon Threadschapter 4 I:The Local Historianchapter 5 1. The Amateur Historian by Carol Kammenchapter 6 2. Some Impressions of the Nonacademic Local Historians and Their Writings by David J. Russochapter 7 3. Local Historians and Their Activities by Judith M. Wellmanchapter 8 II:Nineteenth-Century Views of Local Historychapter 9 4. An Address Delivered Before the New Hampshire Historical Society by Salma Halechapter 10 5. Deficiencies in Our History: An Address Delivered Before the Vermont Historical and Antiquarian Society at Montpelier, October 16, 1846 by James Davie Butler, Jr.chapter 11 6. The Literature of American Local History: A Bibliographical Essay by Hermann E. Ludewigchapter 12 III. The Nature of Local Historychapter 13 7. The Value of Local History by Lewis Mumfordchapter 14 8. The Value of Local History by Constance Mclaughlin Greenchapter 15 9. Nearby History: Connecting Particulars and Universals by David E. Kyvig and Myron A. Martychapter 16 10. State, Local, and Regional Studies by John Alexander Williamschapter 17 IV:Thinking Anew about Local Historychapter 18 11. Changes in the Community by Constance Mclaughlin Greenchapter 19 12. Challenges and Opportunities in Writing State and Local History by Michael Kammenchapter 20 13. The Usable Past: A Study of Historical Traditions in Kansas City by Richard Wohl and A. Theodore Brownchapter 21 14. A Manifesto: The Defense and Illustration of Local History by Paul Leuilliotchapter 22 15. A Sense of Place: A Historian Advocates Conceptual Approaches to Community History by Shelton Stromquistchapter 23 V:Rx for Local Historianschapter 24 16. How Not to Write Local History by H. P. R. Finbergchapter 25 17. The Local Historian: His Occupational Hazards and Compensations by John Walton Caugheychapter 26 18. How to Write a Dull Town History by Geoffrey Elanchapter 27 19. Local and Community History: Some Cautionary Remarks on an Idea Whose Time Has Returned by David A. Gerberchapter 28 VI. A Passion for Local Historychapter 29 20. The Stuff of History by Robert Archibaldchapter 30 Suggestions for Further Reading