Developing comprehensive and conscientious interpretation of slavery

Posted September 16th, 2014 by James DeWolf Perry
Category: Public History Tags: Public history, slavery

This year, Tracing Center staff wrote a “technical leaflet” on interpreting slavery for the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH).

“Developing Comprehensive and Conscientious Interpretation of Slavery at Historic Sites and Museums,” by Kristin L. Gallas and James DeWolf Perry, outlines the strategic guidance and major lessons for interpreting slavery which are featured in our forthcoming book on interpreting slavery, due out by the end of the year from Rowman & Littlefield.

We’re pleased to say that this technical leaflet was included as an insert in the most recent issue of History News, the magazine for AASLH’s membership, and is now available to the general public through the AASLH web site.

We have also organized a series of three panels based on the technical leaflet and the book at this year’s AASLH annual meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota this week:

• “Institutional Investment and Community Involvement in the Interpretation of Slavery” (Thursday, Sept. 18, 8:30am)
• “The Role of Racial Identity in Interpretation” (Thursday, Sept. 18, 1:30pm)
• “Redefining Success: Tips and Techniques for Training Interpreters to Talk about Slavery” (Saturday, Sept. 20, 9:00am)

If you’ll be attending the AASLH conference, please consider attending one of our panels, or stopping by to see us in the exhibition hall (booth #217). If not, please check out the technical leaflet, or sign up for our mailing list (at the bottom left of this page) to be notified later this year when the book has been published.