"Examining Narratives and Injustices in Public History”

Past event
Oct 16, 2022, 2 to 3 PM

"History May be Over, but it is not Complete: Examining Narratives and Injustices in Public History", with Dan O'Neil

Who determines "true" history???? On the weekend after Indigenous People's Day, formerly Christopher Columbus Day, the Ethan Allen Historic Museum hosts a social justice presentation about how history is written.

Academic historians typically interpret primary source evidence to construct a narrative of history. Public historians (aka museum historians) condense those narratives even further to make history more easily understood for visitors who usually only stay for 1-2 hours. Both narratives are highly dependent on the perspectives and biases of the evidence available and the interest of the audience. It is inevitable that different historians will weigh different facts according to different criteria and that multiple versions of "true" history will emerge. What forces determine which narratives come to the forefront and which do not? Why are some stories told and others are silenced? What role should museums play in sharing the stories of the commonly unheard?
The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum Sunday Lecture Series is a free monthly community program covering a variety of topics pertaining to the Homestead, early America, and Vermont. To see upcoming lecture topics and find out more, please visit https://ethanallenhomestead.org/programs/lecture-series/

The EAHM would like to than the following for their generous support:
- AARP Vermont
- Vermont Humanities
- HomeLight Investment

Back to Calendar

Event Info

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum and Historic Site, Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington, VT, USA

Get Directions

Other Local Events