Books in the American Association for State and Local History series

The first of its kind, this practical guide to freelancing in museums and historic sites has the tools and resources to help answer common questions and get readers starting and growing a freelance career. Museum Mercenary focuses on how to pursue contract work with museums, historical societies, and other cultural institutions.

This book is a complete guide to interpreting women's history. It connects scholarship with the tangible resources and the sensuality that form museums and historic sites-- the objects, architecture and landscapes-- in ways that encourage visitor fascination and understanding and center interpretation on the women active in them

Case Studies in Cultural Entrepreneurship offers highly focused case studies that demonstrate the critical role entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial thinking play in reinventing cultural organizations.

Much has changed in the fields of museology and folklife during the past 30 years, when Folklife and Museums: Selected Readings was first published by AASLH Press in 1987. Folklife and Museums: Twenty-First Century Perspectives is a brand new collection of cutting-edge essays that combine theoretical insights, practical applications, topical case studies (focusing on particular subject matter areas and specific cultural groups), accompanied by up-to-date "resources" and "suggested readings" sections. Each essay is preceded by an explanatory headnote contextualizing the essay and includes illustrative photographs.

This brief manual is designed specifically for people running the thousands of small museums and historic sites across the U.S. and Canada. These smaller institutions tend to lack funding and professional staff, so this book is meant to help the busy administrators perform their job of fundraising better and more efficiently.

Tracing the revolutionary creation of what art historian Stephen Eisenman calls "a highly individualized, noble portrait of an African man," Art of the Amistad and The Portrait of Cinqué is built around visual and material culture, and thus does not use images merely as illustration, but tells its story through the wide range of images and materials presented. While the Portrait of Cinqué seems to sit quietly behind Plexiglass at a local history museum, the impact of this 175-year old painting is palpable; very few portraits from the 19th century-let alone a portrait of a black man-remain a relevant part of culture as the Portrait of Cinqué continues to be today.Art of the Amistad the Portrait of Cinqué is about the art and artifacts that continue to inform and inspire our understanding of transatlantic history-a journey 175 years in the making.

This is the third edition of a book that has become a classic in the public history field. First published in 1986, revised in 2003, On Doing Local History offers not only discussion of practical matters, but also a deeper reflection on local, public history, what it means, and why it is done. It is used in classrooms and found on the shelves of local historians across the U.S.

In this how-to guide, practitioners at cultural heritage venues share their experiences in building sustainable relationships with their geographic and demographic communities. The volume focuses on the practicalities of starting and sustaining educational, advocational, digital and co-creative activities and programs. The thematic essays and case studies discuss strategies and actions museums can employ to build relationships with their communities, while serving as a community asset and resource. Case studies include candid discussions of successes, challenges, and lessons learned with an emphasis on small-to medium-sized institutions with limited staff and budgets.

Art and Public History: Approaches, Opportunities, and Challenges provides public history practitioners and academics with useful guidance on how art can be integrated into public history initiatives, through critical discussion of tools, strategies, and technologies that contribute to collaboration and engagement across a variety of platforms.

A generational shift is occurring at historic house museums as board members retire and few young people are taking their place. This work provides decision-making methodology as well as case studies of house museums that have made a transition to a new owner to assure the continuing preservation of the landmark for generations to come.

Archives 101 is a guidebook for people who care for historical records, photographs, and collections but do not have the appropriate professional training. Lois Hamill provides practical, step-by-step guidance for managing all facets of archival collections, from acquisition, arrangement, and description to storage and security.

If you're part of the leadership team of a small historic house museum or historical society, you might consider rebranding -- either renaming your organization or developing a new look - to make your organization more appealing to a younger, more diverse audience. Here's a guide to doing that.