MARK SPELTZ, WELLS FARGO
Proposal Type
Traditional Panel
Seeking
- Seeking Additional Presenters
- Seeking Specific Expertise
- Seeking General Feedback and Interest
Related Topics
- Public Engagement
- Reflections on the Field
- Social Justice
Abstract
Scores of public historians attribute their budding interests that led to studying, interpreting, and preserving the past to the iconic American Girl books and dolls. I am interested in exploring and collaborating on a panel that explores any of the following ideas, or more importantly, your insightful reflections and questions. How has the brand influenced your career choices, impacted the public history world, changed consumption of the past positively or negatively, or failed you or others? How have you used the characters to engage with other groups and audiences? How has American Girl changed girlhood, reflected the times, or evolved or not, over time?
Description
During the past decade I have met a diverse group of scholars and passionate fans interested in the brand and related subjects. I am very keen to learn from others about their interests and ideas, especially from potential collaborators who want to create a dynamic and engaging panel. While the brand often engenders nostalgia and fond memories, I am hoping this topic proposal will encourage discussion, collaboration, and a critical approach to the three-decade-long impact of the brand in public history and beyond.
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly: Mark Speltz, [email protected]
All feedback and offers of assistance should be submitted by July 1, 2019. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.
Mark, did you see there is another session that seeks to explore the history and interpretation of girlhood? I think you two should talk!
Thanks, Rebecca. I appreciate you pointing us to each other! Lots of good material to work with.
Hi Mark, I love this idea and imagine it is appealing to many others in this field! Have you considered opening up beyond the American Girl brand, perhaps to include other similar product lines like the Dear America series? Pretty sure I can 100% attribute my desire to be in this field to products like these engendering a historical imagination.
Hi Caroline, Thanks for your note and I am glad you think this may be of interest. I am open to broadening the focus to doll play and historical fiction in general, and welcome any and all ideas for collaboration. Please feel free to reach out via-email should you want to discuss further. Thanks!
You know I’m interested! The Felicity stories and associated material culture was what drew me to history. I would be happy to share about the impact it has had on my career.
Yes! Let’s chat. I reached out on LinkedIn.
Hi Mark – Interesting idea but you might want to broaden this topic out a bit. I don’t know any public historians indebted to the American Girl books and dolls (and I know quite a few). However, I think a focus on material culture and the meanings of the dolls sounds fascinating. I look forward to learning more.
Good luck!
Thanks for your feedback, Tanya. I really appreciate you taking the time to offer some insights.