All About Objects: Artifact Care, Description, and Management January 21, 2022, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. *new time* With Valarie Kinkade, Principal of Museum and Collector Resource, LLC, and Stacen Goldman, Curator at the Framingham History Center Filigree or verdigris? Crazing or cracking?  There’s a lot of talk about archival processes, but what about object care […]

What is Community History? What formats does it take? What is the difference between local history and community history?  How can we embrace both? how does it ask historical organizations to change their understanding of history? What are the challenges and rewards? Has your organization participated in projects that gather and share history from the local community? Are you interested in doing so? Join us for a conversation on the necessity, joys, and rewards of engaging with community members in doing history.

Sharing Your Stuff: Working with the Digital Commonwealth February 18, 2022, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. With Jake Sadow, Statewide Digitization Project Archivist at Boston Public Library, and Betsy McKee, Secretary and member of the Collections Committee at Longmeadow Historical Society Have you considered working with the Digital Commonwealth to digitize any of your collections and […]

The Community Preservation Act: In Your Backyard March 4, 2022, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. With Massachusetts History Alliance Advocacy Committee Chase Mack, Communications Director, Community Preservation Coalition Jason Molina, Chair of Shrewsbury's Community Preservation Committee Linnea Servey, Chair of Lancaster's Community Preservation Committee What is the Community Preservation Act? How can it be used to […]

Filmmakers and Historical Organizations March 18, 2022, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. We're taking public history to the silver screen in the next Conversation on the Commons! In our latest topic, "Filmmakers and Historical Organizations" we'll welcome twice Emmy-nominated producer Andrew Giles Buckley, and New York Times best-selling author, award-winning documentary producer, and long-time history enthusiast Rick Beyer to present on […]

Casting A Broader Net: Telling New Stories for the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolutionary War April 8, 2022, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. A Conversation with Patrice Todisco, Executive Director of Freedom's Way National Heritage Area; Jonathan Lane, Coordinator of Revolution250; and Juliet Jacobson, Board member of the Pioneer Valley History Network We’re hard by […]

Join the American Association for State and Local History awards representatives to learn more about this opportunity for recognition.

Historical organizations are sitting on that rare and valuable beastie on the internet: interesting content. This makes blogging an attractive option for sharing local history, what you have, and issues concerning history and society.

Museum people are talking a lot about whether their organizations should be politically, “neutral” in their presentation and interpretation of history. But what is neutrality?

Join us for a conversation about how history organizations can broaden their base of support through programming that moves well beyond the traditional tours and exhibits.

As historical organizations increasingly take on the role of relevance to a wider audience, we need to collect different "stuff" from a more diverse population. Perhaps your town has changed over the past century and your collections do not reflect the local histories of people and groups who are now a vital part of your community. How do you go about enriching your collections with their stories and connecting them to older histories? What are the obstacles and successes you have met with?

What is it about reviving an historically accurate event or person that inspires living history practitioners to endure itchy, ill-fitting clothes, weather events, long marches, and endless practice? Is it the thrill of public performance? Fulfillment from teaching accurate interpretations? Camaraderie amongst the avid? Join two local reenactors as we explore their long-time allegiance to bringing the past back to life.