Independent Historical Societies

In the course of his exploration of independent historical societies, Walter Whitehill has visited private and public institutions throughout the country, finding both a diversity of forms and a unity of purpose. His insights into developing trends will help to define their role and to shape their future course in society.

A fresh, original history of America’s national narratives, told through the loss, recovery, and rise of one influential Puritan sermon from 1630 to the present day In this illuminating book, Abram Van Engen shows how the phrase “City on a Hill,” from a 1630 sermon by Massachusetts Bay governor John Winthrop, shaped the story of American exceptionalism in the twentieth century. By tracing the history of Winthrop’s speech, its changing status throughout time, and its use in modern politics, Van Engen asks us to reevaluate our national narratives. He tells the story of curators, librarians, collectors, archivists, antiquarians, and often anonymous figures who emphasized the role of the Pilgrims and Puritans in American history, paving the way for the saving and sanctifying of a single sermon. This sermon’s rags-to-riches rise reveals the way national stories take shape and shows us how those tales continue to influence competing visions of the country—the many different meanings of America that emerge from its literary past.

Vol. 3: A supplement, edited by Eldon Stephen Branda. Includes bibliographical references.

It has been half a century since the last book that addressed how historical societies can utilize oral history. In this brief, practical guide, internationally known oral historian Barbara W. Sommer applies the best practices of contemporary oral historians to the projects that historical organizations of all sizes and sorts might develop. The book -covers project personnel options, funding options, legal and ethical issues, interviewing techniques, and cataloging guidelines; -identifies helpful steps for historical societies when developing and doing oral history projects; -includes a dozen model case studies; -provides additional resources, templates, forms, and bibliography for the reader.

This guide is essential reading for groups that rely on volunteer labor and a variety of fundraising activities. Discover practical information on organizing, financing, publicity, projects for limited budgets, oral history, site-marketing, and tours. The basic elements for the establishment of historical libraries, the preservation of buildings, restoration, museums, volunteers, and publishing are also covered. This volume is revised and expanded from the classic first edition by Dorothy Weyer Creigh.