Dull or Dynamic?

Besides the artist's obvious inability to spell, this poster reveals a stereotypical perception of the archivist - a dull, dusty person dealing with dull, dusty documents.  Historians do not fare much better in the imaginations of those beyond (and occasionally within) the discipline - bespectacled professors locked away in their offices, never venturing far enough away from their stacks of books to have relevance in the "real" world.

It is with these (mis)conceptions in mind that I look forward to my year in the public history program.  Exploring what the discipline has to offer beyond the realm of traditional practice better equips us as students to challenge the stereotypes and contribute to a new defining image of the historical craft.  As we seek interdisciplinary collaboration, engage with diverse communities and embrace digital technologies, our own notions of historical boundaries will be broadened.  As a research assistant with the Promised Land Project, I have already been tasked with getting quotes from bus companies for an upcoming site visit.  Somehow I missed the History & Finance course during my undergrad, but carrying out this seemingly non-historical task is part of making history accessible to a class of students.   Whether we work in museums, archives, government agencies or universities, we will continually grow, learn and innovate.  This will allow us to move beyond the books and actively participate in the communities around us.

Here's hoping that in the future when people feel the need to draw posters of archivists or historians, we will be seen as multi-faceted, dynamic, tech-savvy individuals. I for one am looking forward to learning how to become such an individual.