PublicHistory History in the Federal Government: Careers Serving the Policymakers and the Public

AHA Session 137
Friday, January 6, 2017: 1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Mile High Ballroom 1C (Colorado Convention Center, Ballroom Level)
Chair:
Carl Ashley, Office of the Historian, United States Department of State
Panel:
Eric William Boyle, United States Department of Energy
Kristina Giannotta, Naval History & Heritage Command
Jessie Kratz, National Archives and Records Administration
Chris Tudda, Office of the Historian, United States Department of State
Zack Wilske, United States Immigration and Naturalization Service

Session Abstract

The federal government is one of the largest employers of historians in the world, with professionals working in almost every government agency, from the National Park Service, the Department of Defense, the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, the Library of Congress, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Archives, NASA, and the list goes on and on. �Many federal historians are by definition public historians, serving to educate people about the history of the United States and to make the workings and actions of the government more transparent to the public. At the same time, federal historians serve policymakers in their respective institutions, providing background information and historical context for informed governmental decisions. This session will explore some ways in which you can apply your training as a historian to areas outside the academy and to call your attention to the fact that there are many rewarding, interesting, and downright fun ways, you can be a historian in government.
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