Transcripts For CSPAN3 Organization Of American Historians Outgoing President 20140615

For purposes of business and creating a government, they had to get along, and that is what made it work. Please come out to the lobby. [applause] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] during 41812 the war of was really about america reestablishing its independence against the british. This was our second american revolution. This flag is the object for pennedrancis scott key the words which became our national anthem. The image in 1995 the flag is made to look whole and restored. There is a whole edition that was reconstructed. There was a deliberate decision by the curator not to do that again. What we wanted was that the flag would be a metaphor for the country. Its pattern is torn, but it still survives. The message is survival of the country and the flag. Were not trying to make it look pretty. Were trying to make it look like it has endured in history and is still celebrated. This is the 200th anniversary of the British Naval bombardment of ward mchenry during the war of 1812. Learn more about the flag Francis Scott key wrote about when we too were the starspangled banner exhibit at the smithsonian, tonight at 6 00 and 10 00 eastern. Part of American History tv this weekend on cspan 3. Alen kraut is a professor in washington dc and president of the organization of american historians here in atlanta. Thank you for having us. Give us a history of this organization. Why it began. Organization of american historians began in 1907. It was originally a gathering of Historical Associations before individual members. The original name was the Historical Association of the Mississippi Valley, Mississippi Valley Historical Review was the name of our journal before it was changed to the journal of American History. Upis an Organization Made currently of about eight thousand american historians. Both in the United States and abroad, international membership. It is dedicated to the quality scholarship and teaching of American History. A lot of seminars and lectures and discussions and displays on very broad aspects of American History and narrow aspects. This is a big tent. All are welcome. Yes, we do have a Broad Perspective on American History. That dealme sessions with the role of the United States and the world. And a broadbrush approach. Youll also see very narrow papers giving one specific aspect of American History. At a particular place or moment. Why do people decide to study and teach history . Years. E done this for 40 , was aather, harry kraut factory worker. He did not have a high school diploma. He was dedicated to history. He loved history. He raised me to share that love and interest. In the factory were he works, he would often take me along as a little boy. He would give me a choice. After lunch, the choice was George Washington or macys. George washington meant a walk over to federal hall to see the statue of George Washington, with his hand outstretched and making deals. From there, we would go to the tavern where washington said farewell to his troops. We could not afford to eat there, but we managed to get up to the area above the dining room and see some artifacts from his farewell in his life. Macys meant going to macys to oldiers and toly s talk about what worse they fought in and their uniforms and so on. So, my fathers influence was what shaped me and my interest in history. And, that held all through school. Eventually, i majored in history in college. I had a terrific undergraduate advisor. From there, went to cornell university, where he studied. I did work to develop American History and studied the abolitionist movement. Then decided to take the direction i have in my career, which is studying immigration history. Later on, combining that study of the history of medicine and public health. One of your colleagues made the point that you cannot study history without traveling to these locations to fully understand the geography and the culture and people. And all that happened. Can you touch on that . Im in big fan of doing history outside of the classroom. Public history, bringing history to a broader public. But also experiential history. Toave taught a course colleagues on the history of the American People in war in the Greater Washington area. We take field trips. We go to Frederick Douglass home. We visit richmond and Jefferson Davis home. It helps a great deal to go to the location where events happened. It brings them home to students, the reality, sights. And certainly, my own experience as a young man with my father just to visit historic sites. For me, this is something that is absolutely an essential part of how i approach the past. I want to go to the places that have been important historically to the figures that i am setting. One of thewn career, great joys of a career has been my involvement with these statue of liberty, ellis island restoration. And the time i have spent with other historians constructing a museum on ellis island. That is the perfect example of a monument of the masses. The museum is a very poignant, direct way, the history of migration to the United States what did you and others gain from a conference like this . What one gains from a conference like the annual meeting of american historians is people with fresh ideas and scholars who are engaged with work. It is important work, especially young scholars, who bring their energy and enthusiasm to the historical profession. Also, to touch base with friends, collaborators, to see publishers and negotiate the next published contract. And also to do all of the professional work that comes with being an historian in the United States. Is there a sense of peer review . All of the sessions have been vetted by a program committee. One of the things that happens at these sessions is the papers are given and then there is a commentator. The commentator response to the papers with the knowledge that is being presented. So, theres critique. There is give and take. There is a very important scholarly exchange. In my own life and development as a scholar, i could rely on sessions of the organization of american historians to sort of test my ideas. With other scholars, to hear their ideas. I have benefited inordinately from some of the important people in our profession at the end of the 20th century. Benson, and so many others listening to these historians and their ideas has tested my own. There are a number of new books coming out on president eisenhower and a look at the johnson presidency. As a historian, at what point do you look at a time period or individual point do weat reevaluate that individual . I think the reevaluation is almost constant. Once said that our only duty in history is to rewrite it. He did not say how often. I think it is fair to say that every generation writes some lincoln biography. Every generation visits the civil war with fresh questions. Every generation revisits the masses of immigrants. I think that this process of testing ideas and revision and rewriting of history is an ongoing process. What is your job as president of the association . You will be stepping down this weekend. What are the responsibilities . The responsibilities are very largely, to guide the organization to create new policies and set some new priorities for the organization. Theres only so much that you can do in a year, but in my year as president , i am most proud of two achievements. One, the launching of a new magazine, called the american historian. Their preliminary issue is on the convention floor. It will be the First Permanent issue at the end of august or first of september. Back to reality, it is a sprightly publication, dedicated to those with a practicing of history. We think these articles are going to be important features at every level. That has been an accomplishment. The second is a mentorship program, called hey, i know yourr work. I was in an elevator at one of the meetings and i noticed a graduate student on the other side of the elevator staring at my name badge. As i exited the elevator, hell back to me hey, i know who you are. As he did that, i gave him one of my head shakes. I said to him who are you . What are you working on . I realize that going to a meeting or a convention, this and ats very lonely times alienating