Session Abstract

(Session 2 of 2 roundtables on this subject) These roundtables bring together scholars in the various fields that together make up urban history–the history of urban planning, urban geography and geopolitics, and architectural history–to talk about methodological and pedagogical issues. As scholars, their research ranges from American and European cities to Japan and Indonesia, but they share a common belief that present-day city officials and citizens should try to learn from similar experiences in cities in the past. They bring to the classroom lessons about overcoming wartime or environmental damage but also about efforts to preserve or improve normal dimensions of urban life. Several of the participants have made a special effort to help students pursue civic and community engagement; others advise city officials or participate in contemporary planning. Hence these roundtable discussions will consider not only what and how urban historians have learned from the past but also the pedagogical challenges of adding history to engagement with current urban affairs.

These roundtables have also won the co-sponsorship of the Urban History Association, an affiliate organization of the AHA.