On Doing Local History by Carol Kammen

Abstract

On Doing Local History, second edition By Carol K?mmen AltaMira Press, Walnut Creek, Calif., 2003. Notes, index. 192 pages. $70.00 cloth, $24.95 paper. Reviewed by Kevin Britz TheHigh DesertMuseum, Bend, Oregon The documentation of local history has always been a challenge to those seek ingtopractice it.Local historians are commonly besieged with problems related to incomplete records,unorganized and incompletedata, and a perpetual lackof funding and resources.Where does one begin to startthinkingabout practicing localhistory?Carol K?mmen, a longtimepracti tioner of the craftof local history and a profes sional historian, offers an answer. K?mmens new edition of On Doing Local History is a practical guide foranyone contem plating the startof a local history project. It is also a helpful volume for those alreadyworking inthefield.K?mmen beginsbyproviding thegen eral historic context of local history,describing the ways nineteenth-century Americans began chronicling theircommunities toprovidemoral lessons, boost business, and document historic significance, working toward a goal of contribut ingtoa greaternational story. Unfortunately, the author argues, these localhistorians oftenoffered narrow, skewedperspectives because of theirde siretobuild community solidaritybypresenting storiesof economic and social progress.This ten dency, she notes, is still apparent. Explaining how localhistorians canbreak out of the rutof boosterism and expand theircraft forms themain thrustofK?mmen s book. The author challenges local historians to adopt Carl Becker's concept of "everyman his own histo rian" andMarc Bloch's belief that we need toun derstand thepresent inorder tounderstand the past. Both historians, she points out,were firm believers in thepower of localhistoryand itspo tential to reach and informeveryday citizens by illustratingtheirrole in thegreaterhistoric pic ture. With thisin mind, K?mmen provides a laun dry listofways thataspiring local historians can expand theirpractice. Raising questions about sensitive issues,social and class conflict,race and gender relations, and recent events can allow lo cal practitionersa greater fieldof inquiryand add depth to their works. K?mmen also underscores theneed for local historians to assume profes sional responsibilities and assist futureresearch ersby carefullyusing footnotes. She also believes community chroniclers should consider adopt ingalternativemethods ofpublication and pre sentation of theirfindings ? such as newspaper columns, articles, and theatrical presentations ? to fostergreateraccessibility fortheirefforts. On Doing Local History is an indispensable resource fororganizations and individuals dedi cated to recording and publishing local stories. By followingK?mmens advice, local chroniclers can enhance the credibilityof theirworks and provide resources for future generations of re searchers.Readers should note that thebook is directed atwritten recordsand theiruse. Perhaps ina futureedition,K?mmen will tackle the more challenging taskofusingmaterial culture?such as artifacts, architecture, and photographs ? to roundout thepresentationof communityhistory. Correction The caption forthephotograph thatappeared above the tableof contents in the Winter 2002 issue incorrectlyindicated thatthe imagewas takennear Thurston,Oregon. The photograph shows the Malheur Valley of easternOregon andmay have been takenby a photographer named Thurston. Reviews 277 ...