Public History Initiative

Public history is a dynamic field of study that combines academic history with public outreach. Museums, monuments, books for popular audiences, walking tours, documentaries, and many other artistic and academic endeavors.

If you are interested in studying public history, either as a focus for a major or working on individual projects, then the Public History Initiative is for you! Students and faculty in the program have worked with various historical sites and community members to do oral histories, conduct tours, develop educational materials, and build archives for JSU and the community.

Internships are available to students who are interested and qualify.

Currently, the History Program offers internships with:

• The Freedom Riders’ National Monument in Anniston. 
• The Berman Museum in Anniston.
• Cheaha State Park in Delta.

JSU’s History Program offers the current following courses in the Public History Initiative:

• Introduction to Public History
• Oral History
• Alabama History
• War and Memory
• Race, Community, and Memory
• Internship in Museum Studies

If you are interested in focusing your studies on Public History, taking a course, or have a project in the community you think the faculty and students could assist with, please contact Dr. Wesley Bishop at wrbishop@jsu.edu; Dr. Paul Beezley at pbeezley@jsu.edu; or the History Department at hyflinfo@jsu.edu.