Public History and the Environment includes original essays written by public and academic historians with working experience on topics
which (1) describe and analyze linkages between public history and the environment, with special attention to the ways in which historical modes and methods are and can be further utilized to deal with current environmental issues and problems; and (2) treat some of the ways that historians present environmental issues to the public and suggest new ways to do so. This volume also offers an opportunity to merge the fields of environmental and public history theoretically, thus
providing public historians with a broader perspective on their day-to-day research and writing. It also serves to demonstrate the vast opportunities available to environmental historians who choose to practice their craft in the public realm. | | "This book fills a gap in historical literature, not as an interpretive monograph but as a valuable
handbook for history scholars and their apprentices…the essayists demonstrate a wealth of firsthand experience with administrative and legal details of complicated environmental altercations. They provide insight into why, when, and how public and environmental historians can collaborate to unravel environmental policy difficulties." -- James B. McSwain, The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 71, No. 2, May 2005
"… a valuable orientation to the broad field of
environmental history and its intersections with public history. Fifteen essays explore public historians' role in understanding the history of environmental policy, in ferreting out the influence of class and race in environmental policy making, in understanding changing attitudes towards landscapes, as expert witnesses in environmental litigation, as researchers untangling the history of endangered species, as advocates in grassroots environmentalism, and as specialists who help museums
develop environmental history exhibits. Some essays are provocative, encouraging new perspectives or providing useful approaches to old problems." -- Tom Woods, The Annals of Iowa
"… the fifteen essays of Public History and the Environment offer many thoughtful discussions on both new and standard approaches historians may employ for useful public dissemination of their environment-related research. Together these essays also emphasize how combining the theories
and practices of environmental and public history may help efforts to mitigate current environmental problems." -- Catherine A. Christen, $The Public Historian, May 2006
"This book is an excellent and interesting read. It should be required reading for anyone that wishes to be a historian, historic site manager, or environmental site manager." -- Mike Pierce, AASLH History News, Summer 2006, Volume 61, #3
"Public History and the Environment is ideal for
students of history and the environment but would be helpful to anyone interested in improving public discussions on the environment. With its combination of clear writing, useful contributions covering a diversity of topics, numerous reference, practical suggestions for study and research, and a handy index, this volume makes an excellent contribution to both fields." -- Martha Meyer, IA:Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology, Vol.33, No.1, May 2009 |
