Public History Practicum, Spring 2009
Course Blog: http://vuhistory.wordpress.com
(See Practicum 2009 links)
Class listserv:
Spr09-HIS-8002-001@villanova.edu
Charlene Mires
charlene.mires@villanova.edu
Office hours: Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m
and 6 to 7 p.m.
The public history practicum provides experience in applied research for historic sites. This
semester, we will be investigating Philadelphia legal proceedings and incarcerations related
to slavery between 1826 and 1849 – that is, prior to the new Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
These will include fugitive slave cases, kidnappings of African Americans into slavery, cases
involving racial violence, and other proceedings that involve migrants from the South. Our
research will benefit historic interpretation at Independence National Historical Park
(courtrooms in Independence Hall) and Eastern State Penitentiary, which opened in 1829.
The practicum will include training in historic interpretation and observation of interpretation
at our partner sites.
Recommended reading prior to the semester:
-- Nash, Forging Freedom: The Formation of Philadelphia’s Black Community,
1720-1840
-- William R. Leslie, “The Pennsylvania Fugitive Slave Act of 1826.” Journal of
Southern History (November 1952): 429-45. in JSTOR
-- Julie Winch, “Philadelphia and the Other Underground Railroad,” Pennsylvania
Magazine of History and Biography (January 1987): 3-25.
Available online through:
http://publications.libraries.psu.edu/eresources/pmhb
-- Jennifer Coval, “Report on Fugitive and Former Slaves at Eastern State
Penitentiary” (November 2007), handout, including inmate list and annotated
bibliography.
Reading during the semester
-- Johnston, Finkel, and Cohen, Eastern State Penitentiary: Crucible of Good
Intentions (available in paperback at the Eastern State gift shop)
-- Mires, Independence Hall in American Memory (focus on Chapters 2 and 4)
-- Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage (2007 edition from University of North Carolina
Press)
-- Other books and articles as needed for research; web sites for both partner sites.
Expectations for participants
The time spent on the practicum should be at least the equivalent of any other course or
internship (internships require 8 hours of work per week). Requirements:
-- Attendance, participation, and professional collegiality
-- Completion of the above-listed reading, at minimum
-- Completion of assigned research tasks; maintenance of a log of time and expenses
-- Participation in historic interpretation training and observation of on-site
interpretation.
-- Writing:
-- Blog post following each research session
-- Research notes on primary source survey
-- Research report on one selected story (length to be determined)
-- Assigned segment(s) of final product(s) for partners (length to be
determined)
-- Presentation of findings to partners
2
PARTNERS
Eastern State Penitentiary
www.easternstate.org
Sean Kelley sk@easternstate.org
Jennifer Coval jenny_woods78@yahoo.com
Independence National Historical Park
www.nps.gov/inde
Coxey Toogood
coxey_toogood@nps.gov
Philadelphia City Archives
www.phila.gov/city/departments/records.html
Jill Rawnsley jill.rawnsley@phila.gov /
jrawnsley@msn.com
(will be away during the week of January 19)
Winter weather: It is common for night classes to be canceled at least once during the
spring semester due to inclement weather. To find out if classes are canceled, check the
Villanova home page or call the university weather line: 610-519-4505. Watch your email
for instructions about any resulting changes in our work schedule.
SCHEDULE
This schedule will be adjusted according to the needs of the project. Wherever possible, we
should strive to meet our goals sooner than the schedule specifies.
Phase I. Survey of primary sources (January 15 to approximately February 12 or 19)
Our tasks during this phrase are:
 Determine locations of courts on Independence Square through survey of city
directories.
 Survey minutes of Pennsylvania Abolition Society for evidence related to our project.
 Survey court records at City Archives, historical newspaper databases, and
newspapers on microfilm for the following:
o Cases of accused fugitives
o Kidnappings of free blacks
o Racial violence / riots
o Other cases involving African Americans, especially evidence of migrants
from the South.
Our survey covers the period from 1826 through 1849; we are especially interested in court
proceedings in the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) and incarcerations at
Eastern State Penitentiary.
Each person will maintain records of information located and a file of copies of original
documents (photocopies, printouts, or digital images). If enough cases are found, we will
create a database of case information.
January 15
Meeting with site partners
Introduction / review of archival procedures
3
January 22
Read: Public History Code of Ethics (link on Practicum 2009 page on
blog). In what ways does this or might this apply to our projects? Or
to other situations we have studied this year?
Report on first week of research (bring copies of anything you have
found); outline plans for the week ahead.
During class, practice reading court records.
January 29
Guest: Dr. Larry Little for discussion of slavery and the legal system
during 1820s-1840s.
February 5
[no class meeting – research week]
February 12
Report on status of research; determine further research needs.
February 19
Target date to complete primary source surveys. Identify stories for
further investigation.
Phase II. Focused research on individuals (mid-February to end of March)
Our task during this phase will be to work with our partners to select individual stories from
our findings in Phase I and pursue additional research to develop those stories for on-site
interpretation. Each person (or perhaps teams) will pursue one story in depth. Likely
research sites will be the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Library Company of
Philadelphia, the American Philosophical Society, and the Blockson Collection at Temple
University. Each person will maintain a research file of information located and write a
report based on these findings.
February 26
March 5
March 12
March 19
March 26
April 2
April 9
Discussion of sources for African American history research, using
assigned readings.
Report on status of research; outline plans for the next two weeks.
No class – Spring break
Report on status of research; outline plans for the next week.
Report on status of research; outline plans for the next week
Due to academic conferences and Easter break, we will not meet on
Thursdays for these weeks. If needed, and if possible, we will meet
at least once on a different night (Tuesday?)
On or before April 2: Each person will submit a research report of
story investigation.
Prior to Easter break, assignments will be made for our final
collective report(s) to the partner sites.
fyi: National Council on Public History annual meeting in
Providence, Rhode Island, April 2-5. Information: www.ncph.org
4
Phase III. Historic interpretation; writing and presentation of findings (April /
beginning of May).
Lastly, we will turn toward the final products of the practicum. To understand the
application of research on-site, we will learn about techniques of historic interpretation and
observe guided tours at Eastern State and Independence Hall. For each site we will prepare
binders of research materials with narrative introductions summarizing research and
suggestions for interpretation. For Eastern State, the work may also include preparing an
application for “Network to Freedom” designation. For Independence, the work will include
creating “factual fliers” for ready reference by park rangers. We will also present our
findings to staff members at both sites.
Date to be determined: We will be joined by Mary F. Jenkins, from Independence
National Historical Park, who will provide the same orientation to historic
interpretation that she conducts for new park rangers.
April 16
April 23
April 30
Site observations; meet as needed
Site observations; meet as needed
DRAFT REPORTS due; collaborative review
The American Association of Museums will hold its annual meeting
and MuseumExpo in Philadelphia, April 30-May 4. Information
online at http://www.aam-us.org/am09
May 7
REVISED REPORTS due; copy-editing
Presentations to partners to be scheduled prior to May 15
(we will need to schedule a practice session for these presentations)