Town Hall

At Town Hall we do the business of the Commons: politics, admin, and paying our dues to the community

This is the Commons

Welcome to the Mass History Commons, a portal to all the organizations, institutions, services, and business that together make up Massachusetts local and public history — a directory, map, and knowledge base that we can all use and all build on. The Commons is a project of the Massachusetts History Alliance. (Credits for the site)

The Commons: a very Massachusetts place where cows once grazed communal gras. The Commons: those aspects of life and the world we own or use in common, resources we must all steward. Knowledge and experience are almost as precious as the air we breathe, and here we can share and steward them. Though it’s now open, the Commons isn’t “done” — it will never be done. It will be alive only so long as we work on it together.

The Mass History Commons is envisioned to be the online and year-round counterpart of the annual Massachusetts history conference: a place to network, ask, learn, share, explore, be amazed, get some ideas, laugh, and commiserate. Please explore. And please, also, participate. This will only work if many people bring their little bit of knowledge to it so we can all profit. We emphasize: don’t reinvent the wheel, bring what’s already happening, what you are doing and using.

At the Public Square, which we imagine to be a cafe, you will find all items interactive: Conversations on the Commons, other virtual meetings, webinars, and lectures (we will host yours if you’d like), and the listserv.

In the Library, you will find all things information: curated lists of online resources about any aspect of our incredibly varied field (yes, the Commons will welcome your additions! we have a form for that …), our media archive with Conversations and Webinars, news, and who knows what else in the future.

The Directory is a database of history organizations, institutions, businesses, and services that make up our field. Imagine being able to say, “I need a fife band,” .. and be able to find one, or “I would love to talk to someone about third grade curricula,” and there ya go, not one but three people who have indicated that they are willing to do just that. We can build all of that, together, just fill out the forms…You will even be able to edit your own profile once it’s there.

All those profiles are linked to the Map — where we can explore what’s where, what kind of history is nearby. Again, this will be as strong as the number that sign up. We hope e hope the Map and Directory will be used extensively by the public.

Finally, at Town Hall, right here, you will find the office and admin stuff, as well as politics (that is, advocacy for public history), and also how to join the team!

The Commons team

Sponsors

Add Organization

Add Business

Contact

Contribute by Check

News

Full Conference Schedule Now Available!

Full Conference Schedule Now Available!

Publick Occurrences May 17, 2024   Check out the Mass History Conference Program – At A Glance. This pocket program shows session times in one helpful chart. Quickly double-check which sessions you’ll be attending or plan ahead for snack breaks and coffee...

read more
2024 Session Highlights: Making Space for Everyone

2024 Session Highlights: Making Space for Everyone

Publick Occurrences May 8, 2024   Are you hoping to leave the Mass History Conference with actionable skills? These conference workshops focus on what we can do today to make our spaces and narratives accessible for everyone! In Creating Inclusive Narratives: A...

read more
Don’t Miss Out on Early Bird Registration!

Don’t Miss Out on Early Bird Registration!

Publick Occurrences May 3, 2024   The Mass History Conference is back for its 19th year with the theme History is for Everyone. We couldn’t be more excited to meet with our peers face to face and talk about the ways we can promote public history in Massachusetts!...

read more