Planning the Future of History
The future of our museums, historic sites, and local history groups depends on their success in connecting with and engaging audiences to participate in that future. It depends on history institutions getting involved in the community, and getting people talking and thinking about issues that matter, small and large, local and larger than local. It's a tall order, and audiences are used to high quality programs. But it happens successfully every day in Massachusetts. I provide planning support for organizations and towns looking to increase their viability and/or engage in public dialogue, including reports about programs and historical resources such as buildings and landscapes. If your town/historical organization/group is desperate about the burden of historical conservation or preservation, overwhelmed with the needs of your collections, or faces serious questions of how to build a future, you need to make a plan for moving forward. Ignore it and it will go away while everyone waits for someone to act. In philosophy, that is a form of the "tragedy of the commons, " and it is besetting our common philosophies as much as our barns. And yet change must be, we can't keep everything in mothballs and we don't have the resources to save it all. I may be the consulting historian/builder you're looking for, as I am passionate about figuring out how to move forward. Contact me.
Photography and history workshops
Archival photo management, scanning, enriching family albums with narrative history, creating eye-catching fundraising pieces that don't cost an arm and a leg. Check out my workshop list. You can bring me in to work with your staff and volunteers, or as a friend- or fundraiser. Contact me.
Exhibits and Walking Tours
Got Ideas? I've created exhibits, walking tours, and programs ever since that first "Women in Science at Harvard and Radcliffe" exhibit I researched, curated, and installed for Women's History Week when Harvard didn't know that subject existed. While at Mass Humanities, I advised hundreds of projects. I will work with you on concept, thematic structure, research, content, text, and layout of real and virtual exhibits, walking tours, programs. Together we plan for funding and implementation of your vision. Click the "Public History" tag in the sidebar and maybe check out some testimonials. Then contact me.
Light in a barn that once was
Building Maintenance Planning and Work Parties
I am a licensed and insured Construction Supervisor (MA CS 094102) and Home Improvement Contractor with ample experience in addressing the problems of old buildings. Our company is called Measure Twice Renewal (MA HIC 174309) and while I have a mere fifteen years in of dealing with old buildings, my partner Tee O'Sullivan has been dealing with the ravages of water, time, and neglect wreak on historic wood-frame construction for more than forty. Whether your buildings have had preservation work done or not, maintenance by committee can be a sure road to rotting sills. Show us your site and we will help you develop a straightforward building maintenance plan. Also, I will train and guide work parties in skills that can become routine with a bit of practice, including ladder safety, gutter maintenance, water management, ice dam prevention, window unsticking, pest prevention, and best practices in painting. More...