PROPOSAL TYPE
Traditional Panel
SEEKING
- Seeking General Feedback and Interest
- Seeking Additional Presenters
RELATED TOPICS
- Government Historians
- Memory
- Oral History
ABSTRACT
The diverse history of the National Parks is widely unappreciated due to the lack of documentation of primary sources. Over the course of the history of the National Parks, there have been integral stories from all different backgrounds and experiences that were not and have not been documented. With modern technology allowing for the widespread availability of oral history, it is more urgent than ever to document the histories of individuals who played roles in the ongoing development of these parks. The longer that it takes the parks to begin the process of documentation through oral history, the more that memories fade or are lost which creates a sense of historical urgency to make sure that these stories can be saved forever
DESCRIPTION
My goal for this paper proposal is to find panelists who would be interested in presenting with me on the National Park Service and public memory. Consideration of the ways that NPS can improve its interpretation through historical documentation could lead to a fascinating conversation and may enlighten people on what ways NPS is lacking and the opportunities it holds. I would like to be able to find other individuals with similar research interests to foster a lively discussion in the session.
This research derives from a joint effort of Colorado State University’s Public and Environmental History Center (PEHC) and Death Valley National Park. The purpose of this project is to further the historical documentation of park history through the use of oral history. The narrators are former park staff and long-time local community members who have stories that may not otherwise be documented. The park has gathered many oral histories, but the task of converting audio files into usable archives is a complicated and lengthy process, so park staff have contracted with PEHC to facilitate that process. Once the interviews are in written transcript form, the materials can be used more effectively for historical research, park resource management, and visitor interpretation.
This type of work has historical urgency because, without it, important stories may be lost. The 2011 report Imperiled Promise urged the National Park Service to improve its historical interpretation by treating history as always unfinished and recognizing that it has a role in shaping every park. In order to interpret ongoing, unfinished history, we need to capture the stories of people who helped create it. Although the parks keep detailed bureaucratic records of impacts on park history, the collection of the human stories that guided management choices can be best related through oral history. Every day that goes by, memories fade, personnel move to other jobs, and people depart from us. We need to document their stories now.
My paper will discuss the process of conducting, transcribing, and archiving these oral histories and share insights about Death Valley history by highlighting the importance of this work for the Park Service and its partners more broadly. I hope you can help me find co-panelists whose research would complement this kind of presentation. I am also interested in receiving any critiques from the program committee that could improve my proposal.
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: Isabella Bartels, Colorado State University, [email protected].
ALL FEEDBACK AND OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 7, 2023. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.
Sigh, I wrote a comment and then accidentally navigated away from the tab and lost it. Let me try again. I think this is a great topic. Have you touched base with Dr. Lu Ann Jones at NPS Park History Program in Washington? She has lead a servicewide NPS oral history effort for many years. Also, it occurs to me that scholars writing park administrative histories often do small oral history projects as part of those; you might review the recent ones posted on the NPS IRMA research portal to see if that leads you to parks or scholars who have done this with good effect. One thing that I see as a member of the NCPH NPS committee is that administrative history project scopes of work that come to us often ask for an oral history component, but many times don’t adequately fund the projects to really make all of that time and transcription, etc., possible. One part of bringing more of the kind of oral history work you’re talking about forward, therefore, is to take seriously the need to provide adequate funding in park history/admin history projects to make this really possible. Sometimes it even makes sense to hive off the oral history component as a separately funded project. Dr. Angie Sirna in NPS in Santa Fe might also have thoughts about this. Good luck!
Hi Isabella,
Several years ago I completed a project for Pipe Spring NM in collaboration with the Navajo Nation. I would be happy to talk with you and see if that might fit your vision for this panel.
Isabella, I am working on putting together a panel on Covid-19. Otherwise, I would submit ideas for your panel, which is a great topic. I have written several admin histories, with many of the early ones done using audiotapes for the oral histories. I wish that those tapes were available now in digital form, but they are not. I agree with Anne that LuAnn and Angie would be helpful people to contact. The NPS History Collection at Harpers Ferry would also be a good place to contact–Nancy Russell is the Archivist there. An even bigger problem for the early NPS oral histories is permissions. The interviews were often done without deed of gifts, so researchers have to track down a way to get that permission–at least that was the situation when I was doing some research. Nancy could tell you more.
I would suggest connecting with folks in the Western Washington area. There are lots of programs that are very well utilized to bring stories to school-age kids and the general public. Documenting the creation or caretaking of the parks is definitely of interest to me. Having worked with Parks over the years, I have found more love for the work than in other sectors. Being able to capture some of those stories would make for an information-rich panel.
This is an important topic! I agree with Anne and Joan that including some NPS employees in this conversation would be helpful in contextualizing both the history and present-day scope of the NPS’s oral history efforts. Their contributions would help us better understand what challenges the agency is facing in implementing oral history projects at the parks, and what opportunities they see for strengthening the collection of oral histories. I also agree with Anne that those of us writing administrative histories have struggled with limited funding for travel, in-person interviews, and transcriptions, and proper funding for these projects is an important part of the discussion. I have found that resources for oral histories vary wildly from project to project.
I know I’m a bit late to the comments here, but if you are still looking for panelists I might be able to contribute (depending on what kinds of perspectives you’re still looking for).
I’m a consultant who has written a couple admin histories and a historic resource study for the NPS. The HRS was co-authored with Angela Sirna, and she can probably speak to these questions from both sides (as a researcher/author of NPS studies, and as an NPS employee). Feel free to contact me if you’d like to discuss this further!
Hi Laura,
I would be very interested in talking about having you join our panel. I am unsure how to contact you, but a good email for me is [email protected]. Thanks!
Hi Laura,
I would love for you to join our panel. I am unsure how to contact you, but a good email for me is [email protected]. Thank you!