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ABSTRACT
“Slavery is the ground zero of race relations,” declared James and Lois Horton in their groundbreaking book, Slavery and Public History. Engaging the history and legacy of slavery is a crucial step in understanding current U.S. society especially race relations. Historic sites that have connections to slavery have begun to explore how they can more fully engage visitors in the narrative of American slavery and subsequently, inspire and enhance the conversation of race relations among contemporary visitors. Reflecting best practices, evolving scholarship, shifting audience demographics, and expanding guest expectations, three well-known historic sites – Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, George Washington’s Mount Vernon and President Lincoln’s Cottage – have developed new programs and enhanced popular offerings to interpret slavery in a more nuanced manner. These public programs, educational offerings and interpretation strategies provide audiences with a deeper understanding of the institution of race-based slavery and its legacy in the present U.S. society.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
About the authors
Linnea Grim, the Hunter J. Smith Director of Education and Visitor Programs at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, leads a team of over 100 dedicated interpreters and managers. Together, they aspire to engage all visitors in conversations about Jefferson’s ideas. Previously, Ms. Grim held positions at the Supreme Court of the United States, the Loudoun County Heritage Farm Museum, the Fairfax County Park Authority, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, and the Museums of Old York. Her formal education is from the Cooperstown Graduate Program where she earned an M.A. in history museum studies and from the Seminar for Historical Administration.
K. Allison Wickens joined the Washington Library at Mount Vernon in the summer of 2014. She is the Vice President for Education and oversees the Professional Development offerings for teachers, online and distance learning materials for classroom application, and other national education initiatives. Before that she served as the Director of Education and Visitor Services at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum. She received her Master’s Degree in History and certificate in Museum Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Jackie Jecha, Manager of Library Education Programs, graduated from the UW-Milwaukee with degrees in history and international studies. Following her graduation, she received her M.A. from American University in history, specializing in public history. From there, she pursued a teaching certification from Marquette University. She taught for three years until deciding to go back into the museum field in 2013.
Linda Powell, Director of Interpretation at Mount Vernon, oversees the departments of History Interpretation, Character Interpretation, and the Education Center. Before joining the Mount Vernon staff in 2013, Linda served as Director of Interpretation and Visitor Experience at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art and Design. She has also directed education departments in several museums in Washington, D.C. and Texas, including the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. Linda’s academic experience includes teaching museum studies and a variety of art history classes at Texas Christian University and the University of Texas at Arlington. Linda received a Master of Arts in art history from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art history and studio art from the University of Texas at Austin.
Callie Hawkins is the Associate Director for Programs at President Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, DC. A staff member since 2009, Hawkins develops education programs and professional opportunities for an international audience of students and teachers. Additionally, she supervises the front-line interpretive staff, develops the site’s public programs and exhibits, and has spearheaded projects that won national and international recognition, including awards from the American Association for State and Local History and the American Alliance of Museums. Before her tenure at President Lincoln’s Cottage Ms. Hawkins worked for the education departments of the National Park Service, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation.
Candra Flanagan is the Coordinator of Student and Teacher Initiatives at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
ORCID
Linda Powell http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7611-6016
Notes
1 Bunch (Citation2016).
2 The Value of History, History Relevance Campaign, 2015.
3 Gallas and Perry (Citation2015).
4 Colby Itkowitz, “A C-SPAN Caller Asked a Black Guest How to Stop Being Prejudiced. Here’s How She Responded.” 24 August 2016. Washington Post. Accessed 5 September 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2016/08/24/a-c-span-caller-asked-a-black-guest-how-to-stop-being-prejudiced-heres-how-she-responded.
5 In Arao and Clemens (Citation2013), “From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces,” the authors argue that “authentic learning about social justice often requires the very qualities of risk, difficulty, and controversy that are defined as incompatible with safety.” Safety is defined as being free of discomfort and difficulty. By their very nature, the conversations around identity, diversity and social justice are rife with discomfort. Creating spaces where individuals can engage in the unsettling, difficult conversations requires creating space where people can be brave in the face of discomfort.
6 Colby and Ortman (Citation2014).
7 Thomas Jefferson Foundation (Citation2016).
8 Interpreting Slavery Timeline (20th Century Main Text Panel), Lives Bound Together exhibition script, Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, 2016.
9 Rose (Citation2016).
10 Teacher evaluation comment, Mount Vernon, Summer (2015).
11 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa (Chairperson Archbishop Desmond Tutu) (Citation1998).
12 Teach evaluation comment, Mount Vernon, Summer (2016).
13 Rose (Citation2016).
14 Townsend (Citation1846 and Citation1847).
15 Libby, “This Citation1846 Pamphlet Wants Your Kids.”
16 Faden, “Museums and Race.” (Citation2013).