HYM5020

Methods of public history

Coordinator to be advised

8 points
* One 2-hour workshop each week (held in the evening)
* All year
* City location
* Prohibitions: Only available in the MA in public history

Objectives Students successfully completing this subject should develop an understanding of the practical skills required in historical research, interpretation and communication. Students should develop an understanding of the different management, research and presentation requirements of historians in the public sphere.

Synopsis This series of workshops introduces students to practical skills of historical research, interpretation and communication. These include surveying and assessing an historic landscape or site, preparing a conservation study, doing oral history, writing for a range of audiences, public speaking, surviving on commission, cataloguing a museum collection, preparing an exhibition brief, preparing text for publication, television presentation skills and small business management. Field trips and special projects are an essential part of the subject, and practising public historians and other experts are involved in leading some of the workshops.

Assessment Written, oral work, project and field exercises (6000 words): 100%

Recommended reading

Kerr J The conservation plan National Trust, 1985
Australia ICOMOS The Illustrated Burra Charter ICOMOS, 1993
Sagazio C The National Trust research manual Allen and Unwin, 1992
Straight to the source Monash University, 1995
Victorian heritage register Historic Buildings Council, 1995