The Public History Committee of the Loyola University Chicago History Graduate Student Association presents:

A Roundtable on Revisionist Public History

Saturday, November 3, 2012

In Conjunction with Afternoon Sessions of the 9th Annual Loyola University Graduate Student History Conference, 2:45pm-4:30pm

LUC Water Tower Campus

You are invited to participate in a roundtable designed to foster discussion of recent efforts to revise interpretations at historic sites.  This roundtable features Dr. Amy Tyson of DePaul University, graduate student conference participants, and public history professionals from the Chicago area.

 

How to participate: 

Follow this blog to view a detailed introduction to the roundtable, consider pre-circulated case statements, and offer your comments and contributions.

Attend the roundtable prepared to discuss your experiences with revisionist public history, either as a patron or a staff member of institutions that have undertaken efforts to align their interpretations with historical revisions.

Attend the roundtable, and be willing to informally engage participants and fellow audience members about the topic.

Simply attend the roundtable and listen.

What is “revisionist public history?” 

Loosely defined as an effort to revise interpretation at a historic site, recent examples include:

The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum’s 2007 interactive exhibit “Was Jane Addams a Lesbian?”

Mount Vernon’s recent emphasis on slave life at its historical site

The City of Chicago’s redesignation of the “Fort Dearborn Massacre” as the “Battle of Fort Dearborn”

Do you have other examples?  If so, post them in a comment here, or bring them to Roundtable on November 3rd. We warmly welcome you to join us!