National Council on Public History

PROPOSAL TYPE

Roundtable

SEEKING

• Seeking Additional Presenters
• Seeking General Feedback and Interest

RELATED TOPICS

• Archives
• Public Engagement
• Social Justice

ABSTRACT

This roundtable invites public historians, museum professionals, librarians, archivists, and artist-scholars to explore how theatrical methods can “hold the line” in public history under social and political pressures. Through practical examples and interactive discussion, we’ll examine how embodied storytelling and collaborative authorship can reimagine the archive as a dynamic, community-centered site. Presenters will explore how performance-based approaches foster connection, address contested legacies, and sustain ethical, resilient public history, especially in times of conflict or uncertainty. Participants are encouraged to share experiences, raise questions, and imagine new models for community care.

DESCRIPTION

Theme and Goals:
This roundtable, grounded in the 2027 NCPH theme “Holding the Line” and the context of St. Louis—a city marked by repression and resistance—asks: What does it mean for public historians to uphold ethical responsibility and community care in a politically charged environment? Are our current practices enough, or do we need to rethink our methods? By treating the archive as a site of rehearsal and possibility, this session aims to surface care-centered, participatory strategies for activating archival materials in public history; reflect on the power dynamics, risks, and rewards of performance as a tool for interpretation; and co-create new models for community accountability and creative resilience in times of crisis.

We seek 3-5 panelists—practitioners, archivists, and others experimenting with creative public engagement or the “archival turn.” We especially welcome those with experience in performance-based public history, community-centered archives, or social justice practice in libraries, museums, or grassroots organizations. Our goal is a panel reflecting diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Prospective panelists should bring hands-on experience or curiosity about activating archives, navigating ethical challenges, and care-driven or participatory public history.

Intended Audience:
This session welcomes anyone interested in the intersections of performance, history, libraries, museums, and social justice—artists, educators, curators, or scholars. While designed for public historians and community-facing practitioners, it is open to all. No prior theatre or archival experience needed—just curiosity and openness. Those passionate about amplifying marginalized voices, challenging traditional authority, and sustaining ethical practice are highly encouraged to attend.

Why Attend?
Participants will engage with care-centered approaches for revitalizing public memory and ethical practice during crisis. Together, we’ll explore how performance-based methods can “hold the line” against repression, foster community care, and navigate multiple truths in contested environments. Attendees will examine co-authorship, ethical risk-taking, and distributed leadership, discovering ways to activate archives that foster connection and resilience. We invite feedback, panelist suggestions, case ideas, and offers of assistance as we co-create a dynamic, participatory session modeling equitable public history.</p>

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:
Jamey Grisham, Stephens College, [email protected]

All feedback and offers of assistance should be sent by June 5, 2026. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.

Discussion