March 9, 2014

Thanks to all who made History Camp yesterday possible, including IBM, for making their space available; the organizations and individuals who supported the event financially, making sure that the event was free to all who wanted to attend and that everyone was well-fed throughout the day; the designers of the logo (above) and the t-shirt; the presenters (below); the volunteers who came early, worked throughout the day, and stayed late, as well as the volunteer who baked the brownies and kept the food coming throughout the day and the volunteer who put together a great press page and did press outreach; and, most importantly, everyone who attended.

It was quite a gathering and historic, as this was the first barcamp or unconference dedicated to all things history.  Not all the pages here will be maintained, but you'll find immediately below important links, and below that, where people have posted their presentations you'll find links to those presentations.

You can also look for Tweets using #HistoryCamp and presentations on SlideShare, also using #HistoryCamp.

-- Lee Wright

     Founder, The History List

Materials distributed or posted at History Camp

• Schedule (on Scribd and on Google Docs)
• Description of the sessions, with presenters (on Scribd)
• Floorplan (on Scribd)

History Camp will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2014, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

IBM Client Center Cambridge (pictures)

One Rogers St, (One Charles Park) - 2nd floor

Cambridge MA 02142

(Note: IBM is graciously providing the space to make this event possible; they are not organizing the event or endorsing the content, presenters, or participants.)

Based on the early initial response, we may run out of tickets.  To ensure that you have a spot, register as soon as you know you will attend.  Note that to ensure you have wi-fi access, we need your registration by 2/27, assuming tickets are still available.  (The folks at IBM need to set up each account separately and have asked for some lead time.)

E-mail sign up, volunteer sign up, communications resources and tasks

--> New color flyer with logo, institutional and individual supporters listed  (2/15/14)

--> New flyer aimed at students (1/29/14)

--> The History Camp t-shirt -- Register by 11:30 pm (Eastern) on February 25 if you want the shirt.

--> Press Kit

Presenters and topics

These are committed presentations, assuming that we get a critical mass of people interested in helping organize and in attending, and that we can nail down a space.  As you can see, we're just getting started.  If there is a presentation you'd like to give, please add the title (or topic area), your name, and a link to your e-mail address or to your site or blog.  (Click on the "Edit" tab, directly above "BarCamp Boston History Camp.")  Please also sign up for updates. 

Note that presentations must be non-commercial.  In practical terms, that means that people should feel that the information they got was useful and that they benefitted from attending even if they have no plans to later buy your book, take your tour, buy your product, or attend your class.  

Sessions will run concurrently.  We'll draft the schedule in the morning and revise, as needed, during the day.  If you want to speak, add your information below and we'll update the schedule.

If you would like to present, add your name and topic with a link to your Twitter handle or blog or site.  Sessions will run concurrently, so there are many slots open.

Sessions are currently scheduled to be 45 min. long, including Q&A and discussion, and time to move to the next session.  If you want to present but feel you have something that may be about half that length, note that below or present jointly with a colleague.

• "Making Your History Museum a Magnet for Groups" from Christina Inge, EdTrips 
• "How Google Books Changed My Life, and You Can, Too!" from J. L. Bell, Boston 1775
• "The Boston Bankruptcy That Led to the American Revolution," from J. L. Bell, Boston 1775 
• "Account Books Reveal the Darndest Things: Accessing a Ubiquitous and Opaque Source to Reveal Untold Stories about the American Revolution," from Sam Forman, Dr. Joseph Warren. 
• "John Singleton Copley in America: What is Real and What Imagined in the Iconic Portraits of Patriots and Tories?" a profusely illustrated lecture from Sam Forman, Dr. Joseph Warren.
• "The Second New England: New York and the post-Revolution New England Migration, 1783-1830," from Liz Covart, Uncommonplace Book
• "How the Patriots Almost Lost the Battle of Saratoga: Yankee-Yorker Jealousy in the Commissary Department," from Liz Covart, Uncommonplace Book
• "From 'Folly' to Great Idea: The History of the Erie Canal and How it Transformed America," from Liz Covart, Uncommonplace Book   
• "Becoming a Historian: How to Apply to and What to Expect in Graduate School," from Liz Covart, Uncommonplace Book  
• "Attracting visitors and guests: Tools to help your history organization establish and maintain a website and social media presence," from Lee Wright, The History List 
• "The Folklorist: An Emmy Award-winning TV program devoted to iconic, yet relatively obscure moments in history," http://www.folklorist.tv (johnhorrigan@hotmail.com)
• “Bring History to the Classroom: Marketing your Historical Society or Museum to Teachers" (view slides) from Colleen Janz, the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum
• “The Temperance Movement: A Doorway to Suffrage" (view slides) from Colleen Janz, the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum  
• "Becoming a published author: Panel discussion with authors and publishers on different mediums and models." -- Moderator: Lee Wright, The History List.
• If you are the author of a widely-read blog, a self-published book, or a book published by a traditional publisher (regional or national, popular press or academic) and would like to participate, please add your name, a brief description, and a link to your book or site.
• J.L. Bell, author of Boston 1775 (blog) and commissioned research, contributor to books from mainstream and academic publishers  
• Liz Covart, author of Uncommonplace Book (blog), is working on a book and is a contributor to two journals.
•  Jeanne Munn Bracken, editor of several books on history (American Waterways: Canal Days; Iron Horses Across America: The Transcontinental Railroad; The Shot Heard ‘Round the World: The Beginnings of the American Revolution; Women in the American Revolution; Orphan Trains; Life in the American Colonies: Daily Lifestyles of the Early Settlers; Life in the Southern Colonies: Jamestown, Williamsburg, St. Mary's City and Beyond) and author of a non-history book.
• Leah Thompson, marketing manager for history books at Wiley Blackwell; MA in publishing from Emerson College
• Marilynne K. Roach, author, most recently, of "Six Women of Salem: The Untold Story of the Accused and Their Accusers in the Salem Witch Trials" 
• Steve Gladstone, self-publisher, author of books and mobile apps. 
• Charlie Bahne, among other things, the author of "The Complete Guide to Boston's Freedom Trail"
  
• "Employment options for history lovers: A panel discussion." -- Moderator: TBD
• If you would like to participate on this panel, please add your name, title/role, organization, and a link to your e-mail address or Twitter handle. 
• Erik Bauer, Archivist, Peabody Institute Library (@hipster818) 
• Alli Rico, Grad Student, Harvard Museum Studies program; Volunteer, Waterworks Museum (@alli_rico) 
• Mark Gardner, Archivist, Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society; History Teacher, Chariho Regional High School
• Thomas Ketchell, co-founder of Hstry, with an undergrad in History from the University of Nottingham and a Masters in Business & Development from the Vrije Universiteit of Brussels
• Matt Wilding, former Freedom Trail Foundation guide and currently content director
• J. Lincoln Hallowell, park ranger, Gateway National Recreation Area
• "Provenance: Objects As A Source of History" from Alli Rico (@alli_rico) (view slides) and Adriene Katz (@appleandthebee)
• "Institutional Memory: Using Oral History to Capture an Organization's History and Culture" (view slides) from Erik Bauer (@hipster818) 
• "Slavery and the Marlborough Town Common: Not just the John Brown Bell" from Paul Brodeur
• "The Peculiar History of Democracy in Rhode Island: 1636 - 2004" From Mark Kenneth Gardner (@HistoryGardner), Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society Archive
• Political Music Through the Years -- mini-lecture and singalong (led by @tegankehoe, but I am actively seeking collaborators/ co-leaders! I don't know that I"ll have time to put this together without collaborators, so please tweet at me or otherwise get in touch.)
• "NodeXL Workshop: Using Social Network Analysis in History" -- demonstration of NodeXL and a discussion on how to use network analysis tools in everyday research from Matthew Williamson (@dhperson)
• “An Overnight Sensation 30 years in the Making: Researching Women on April 19, 1775” from Jeanne Munn Bracken  
• "Crowdsourcing Possibilities Relating to a Collection of Revolutionary-era Newspapers: Help us Gauge Interest in Annotating the Annotated Newspapers of Harbottle Dorr" -- Nancy Heywood and Kathleen Barker, Massachusetts Historical Society.   http://www.masshist.org/dorr
• "Bringing the Past to Life in Six Women of Salem," from Marilynne K. Roach
• "How mixing social media & history can create an online audience for your institution, organization or historical work" from Thomas Ketchell, Hstry
• "Frenemies and Bromances of the Founding Fathers," from Christina Frei.
• "Free Advertising: Popular Magazines and World War II Bond Drives," from Matt Wilding
• "Lace in the 18th Century," from Sue Felshin

 Requests

• Anyone interested in co-leading a mini-lecture and singalong with me? I'm looking for people to present for five or ten minutes on the history of one or several songs, and/or lending your voice to leading songs. I am planning to present the many faces of "Yankee Doodle," "John Brown's Body" / "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", some union movement songs, and "Charlie on the MTA," and possibly a few more. Let me know your thoughts! Tweet at me @tegankehoe
• I received this comment: "I'd love to see some more presentations touching on how to make a career out of history. . . . I find myself spending more and more time on the job-search, which generally ends with frustration and disappointment, and suggestions/advice is always appreciated."

This is well-suited to a panel or Q&A session, or simply an open discussion where everyone who is employed in history tells how they got their job and provides specific recommendations (other than, "keep at it" and "network").  If someone wants to create this session, please do so.  I'm sure it would be very popular.  --  Lee 

Other topic ideas

Here are some broad topic areas.  They're offered as a way to stimulate ideas and interest.  Would you like to present on one or more, or collaborate with someone else to present?  If so, please add it above.  If it's a topic of interest and you're looking for a co-presenter, add that note.  Maybe someone else will see the topic and contact you to discuss presenting with you.

• Historic eras and events, trends, battles and wars, historic figures, little-known history.
• Historic sites: Background, preservation, generating attendance. 
• Material Culture studies: Objects as a source of history. 
• Careers: Becoming an interpreter or Park Ranger (full time or for the summer), working in a history museum.
• Education: Getting a masters or PhD. 
• Preservation of artifacts, such as caring for old books or clothing that has have been passed down in your family.
• Historic preservation: Sites, commercial and industrial buildings, homes. 
• History organizations: Starting, growing, fundraising, programming, community engagement. 
• Teaching history: In grade school and high school, in college, educating the public broadly.
• Digital history/humanities. 
• History books and blogs: Popular and enthusiast publications, getting published, creating and maintaining a site or blog.
• Genealogy: Research tools, recommendations for specific techniques or overcoming specific hurdles 
• History games and gaming
• Reenacting: How to get involved, putting on a large-scale reenactment 
• please add more . . . 

---

What's it called?

History Camp.  (The name above follows the convention here on the BarCamp wiki (BarCamp[city]), but of course there is a very successful BarCamp Boston, and this is intended to be focused on history, so the clunky URL and page name.)

When is it?

Saturday, March 8 

Where is it?

IBM Client Center Cambridge at One Charles Park at One Rogers Street in Cambridge.  Note: IBM and the folks in their Innovation Center in Cambridge are graciously supplying the space.  They are not producing the event or endorsing any content, presentations, or presenters.

Do I have to register in advance?

Registration is closed; all of the spots have been taken.

Who is organizing this?  How can I help?

Thanks for asking--especially that second question.  Here's the page for volunteers and information on how to support History Camp financially through a donation.

How can my organization secure a table or show our support for the event?

          See this information on supporting History Camp.

I've got a book out that I'd like to sell.

          Add your name and the amount you'd like to donate to that section of the page for supporters.

Where do I sign up for e-mail updates?

Add your name and e-mail address to this mailing list.

What is a BarCamp or Unconference?

• It's a self-organizing conference.  People who share a common interest get together and create the framework for the event.  The on-scene volunteers, presenters, and everyone else who attends make it happen.  The topics that are presented are the ones of interest to the presenters.  The sessions that are well-attended are the ones that are of interest to the attendees.
• It's free, though there is an individual sponsor level that includes the t-shirt and helps cover the cost of lunch.  However, no one is required to pay anything and no one should feel that they shouldn't attend because they can't chip in financially.  They may want to consider volunteering a little time to help organize, set up, or clean up at the end.  
• Read more about BarCamps on the home page and other pages linked from it. 
• There is a great annual barcamp in Boston.  Browsing their site gives you an idea of what a large, well-run barcamp looks like.  Note that, since we're just starting out and since there is a specific topic area, we expect that we'll have a much smaller group, but the approach is the same.

What is History Camp? 

• History as broadly defined, across geographies and over time.  Yes, it's Boston, but this isn't intended to be limited to the Revolutionary War--or on the United States, for that matter.  Ultimately, it's the speakers and attendees that will define the scope.  Hopefully it will be broad in a way that is of interest to many people.
• What about genealogy?  Sure.  
• Has this been done before?  Not that we know of.  There's a very successful program from George Mason University called THAT Camp, The Humanities and Technology Camp.  History Camp is envisioned as being a true BarCamp, open to all.  No need to apply.  No advance screening of topics and presenters.  
• In short, History Camp is what we make it.  Please join in.
• It is not the place for a sales pitch.  In other words, if you are an expert at preserving very old books, do not come and give a talk about how you provide a great service and why people should hire you to repair and preserve their old books.  Rather, give a talk that has useful information, perhaps tips and techniques, so that, regardless of whether the person listening hires you or decides to undertake the work themselves, they walk away with new information that they value.

Who is this for?

You, if you're interested in history.  We hope that students of all ages, teachers and professors, authors, reenactors, interpreters, museum and historical society directors and board members, genealogists, and, most of all, history enthusiasts come.

Okay.  Now I get it.  Sounds fun.  How can I help?

Great!  Here's the page for volunteers. 

FAQ

• What if I can't get there at the beginning or stay until the end?  Come whenever you can and stay as long as you like. 
• My son/daughter is in junior high and likes history.  Can I bring them with me?  Definitely! 
• Can I come in my reenactor attire?  Definitely!
• How will I know if this ever gets off the ground?  Sign up for e-mail updates. 

And thanks to . . .

. . . these individuals and organizations