THE ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY has members from various fields, including but not restricted to journalism, law, libraries, museums, archives, publishing, and academia, and this does not include the many individuals simply passionate about Illinois history outside their professional lives. Many of us, however, have had experience in the classroom, whether at the primary, secondary, or higher education levels or as full-time or part-time teachers. In fact, engagement with the public about the past, whether at the local history society, through documentary filmmaking, historical reenactments, or presentations of historical markers, represents an act of teaching—proffering an important interpretation of the past with a larger community. In the classrooms, these moments often take on a fundamentally personal and intimate perspective as instruction becomes bound up with issues of personal growth and development, educational advancement, and career aspirations.
Public engagement with history in the past few years has become increasingly challenging for...
