Public History Summer Academy

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania invites undergraduate students to participate in a paid, week-long Public History Summer Academy (PHiSA). This PHiSA will provide an introduction to archives-based public history practice, with a focus on histories of underrepresented communities. Participants will gain research skills, examine and interpret primary documents, and will learn from experienced public history practitioners. Through the PHiSA, students will enhance their communication skills and their ability to identify necessary and relevant information , which will serve a variety of majors and career paths, including Communications, Education, Business, Performing and Visual Arts, as well as those interested in History, African American Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Political Science, and Economics. Non-history majors are encouraged to apply!

Details

Date: Sunday, August 11 - Friday, August 16

Location: Onsite at Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia 19107

Time: Sunday - 2 PM - 6 PM; Monday-Thursday 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM; Friday 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Compensation: $1000 stipend upon completion of the week

Selection process: Fill out the application below and send your resume to HSP's Community Engagement Coordinator, Brianna Quade (bquade@hsp.org) by Monday, May 13. Acceptance will be confirmed by Monday, May 20. Commitment to participate will be due by Tuesday, May 28.

About HSP: The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) commemorates its 200th birthday in 2024! Since our founding, we have collected and preserved an astonishing array of documents that bring the people of the past into conversation with us today. Our collection contains over 21 million manuscripts that hold stories of all Americans, with a particular emphasis on early American history, ethnic and minority groups, science and industry, the arts, and genealogical research.We enter our third century eager to invite you to find yourself in history. To connect with the past and make meaningful discoveries about who you are and who we are together. Join us in this endeavor to explore our shared American history. Learn more at hsp.org/200.

Apply for the Public History Summer Academy

Name

1. What is your area of study and what are your early career interests? (50-75 words)

2. The focus of this PHiSA will be on discovering narratives not always featured in history textbooks. What are some historical narratives you would be more interested in learning about? What prompted this curiosity? (50-75 words)

3. Reflecting on question #2, describe an example of a historical site or museum, or a movie, or book of historical fiction or nonfiction book in which the people, time, and place of the under-represented history were featured. How accurate do you think that depiction was? What elements of it are you curious to learn more about? (150-250 words)

(For example, if I wrote about being curious about Philadelphia's free Black population in pre Civil War Philadelphia, I might describe how that community is depicted in the 2019 movie Harriet and what details were left out that I want to know more about).

4. We value diverse perspectives in the PHiSA. What would you see as your contributions to this Summer Academy cohort, based on your experiences? (150-250 words)

Thank you! We will be in touch shortly. Please reach out to Brianna Quade (bquade@hsp.org) with any questions.

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Public History Summer Academy

Apply for the Public History Summer Academy

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The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit registered in the U.S. under EIN: 23-1352322.

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