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)