Dear Travelers,
With the rise of the internet and social media, the definition of community history has changed. Everyone could join a group based on research interests, past experiences, etc. In contrast, local history focuses on a geographic region, and in the United States, that normally consists of a town, city, or county. So now we know what community and local history are, why is it important?
The goal of these histories is to create a narrative or understanding of the community or locality. Examples of these are the Printing Museum located in Houston, Texas, which focuses on the history of printing, and the Texas City Museum, which gives a full history of the city of Texas City, Texas, home to many of the Texas oil refineries. By creating and sharing these histories, we are able to gain a better understanding of the community and the challenges it faced.
Community history projects rely on the goodwill and help of those who donate to the museum/history centers. These donations can consist of oral testimonies of members of the community or the donation of physical items.
I recently visited the Denton Museum on the Square. This museum is located in the historical courthouse that was originally built in the late 19th century. When speaking with the curator of the museum, she explained that there are many issues with being located in a historic building.
Because the building is protected by the Texas State Historical Association, they are unable to make changes to the building (such as putting holes in the walls or painting) without the consent of the TSHA. Another prominent issue is that the storage space is extremely limited, and it is difficult to regulate the temperature for the artifacts housed within the building.
Community history centers often have a small that has experience in many different fields, with the Denton County Museum having people with experience as artists, professional historians, and educators. The center has four full-time employees: the exhibit creator, the curator, the education program director, and the tour lead. With each person wearing many different hats, they are able to ensure that the museum runs smoothly.
Local and Community histories are impactful for the community that they serve. I would encourage you to look in your city to see if there are any museums! We can learn a lot!
Happy Travels!
Hannah ❤
Hannah Pullen 
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