I’m considering pursuing a second massa’s degree in either Public History (my preference) or Historic Preservation (a synonymous discipline, except for when it’s not). I have a MLS (Library Science) that’s a good “safety degree” and which compliments Public History, and career-wise I’d like to move from general reference/instruction into archives and non-traditional libraries. I probably would not pursue PH/HP as a sole master’s degree, but in conjunction with Library Science (where many of the better jobs are coming more and more to require a second master’s) it seems to enhance employability.
Has anybody here studied either PH or HP at the graduate level? If so,
where?
did you like your school (most of the best programs seem to be in North Carolina)
what was the coursework/internship like?
generally speaking, would you recommend it?
Also, could anybody give a bit more info on the difference between Historical Preservation and Public History? I’m particularly curious if the emphasis in HP is more on the “hands on” facets of restoring/securing funds for the restoration of old buildings (which I have limited experience in and less aptitude for) or if it delves as much into preservation of artifacts and ephemera as well. I’m far more interested in the latter than the former.
I got my MA in public history at North Carolina State University. It’s a very good program. I focused on the museum side of things, though I knew several folks who already had their MLS and wanted to work in archives or were planning to get their MLS after completing their MA.
The coursework was split about 50-50 between theory-based, more academic courses and more hands-on, practical application type stuff. The people who taught the more practical courses tended to be adjuncts who worked full-time at the state archives or the state museum of history. They were often better teachers than the cull-time NC State profs.
My one complaint about the courses is that we never had the opportunity to take a course dealing with the financial and management side of things. “This is how you write a grant.” “This is how you come up with a budget.” “This is how you run a capital campaign.” It would have been immeasurably helpful, since those were all things I was expected to do in subsequent jobs. Nobody likes dealing with money, but it’s an inescapable aspect of the job.
My internship was great. I worked as the education coordinator at a local history museum in the Triangle. On paper, my job was to promote and teach a variety of programs for school groups. In practice, I did that, plus collections management, fundraising, exhibit research and design (my favorite!) and oral history collection. Once the internship ended, they offered me a regular staff position, which is fairly common with the NC State program.
The people I know who have stayed in the Raleigh-Durham area have managed to stay in the field. Since the state capitol and flagship universities are in that region, there are more jobs available in the field than in other parts of NC. Hpwever, once I moved to the mountains, I realized that there was no way I could support myself by working at a museum. When I left the field, I was making $17,000 a year with no benefits.
I’d recommend the program, if you’re not tied down to living in a particular area. I don’t regret getting my MA, but if I had to do it again, I’d probably study something like non-profit managment instead.
Historic Preservation is concerned with the identification, documentation, preservation, and, in some cases, the adaptive reuse of architecturally or historically significant buildings. It generally doesn’t get into the ephemera associated with the particular building (or group of buildings), even though such material can help fill out the picture of why the structure is worthy of preservation.
For instance - I’m working on the rezoning and development of a 550 acre tract of land that is the site of a house dating from the 1770s, several out-buildings associated with the house, a dairy barn from the 1920s, and associated agricultural buildings. All of the structures tell the story of the place, but only some are going to be used within the development (either for commercial space, civic space, or some mixture of uses). Many of the buildings are just vernacular farm structures that aren’t particularly unique from an architectural point of view and can’t be reused for anything else. They’ll be torn down.
As my Historic Preservation professor used to point out, “Just because something is old, doesn’t mean it’s historically significant.”
I obtained an MA in public history from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The program has you specialize in one of three tracks: Museum Studies, Historic Preservation, or Archives Administration. The Archives track requires more credits, but allows you to obtain a joint MA/MLS degree. I was in Museum Studies. In retrospect I would have definitely gone after the MA/MLS degree instead, because as you stated, those jobs are much more plentiful.
Half of your graduate credits come from general history courses, which include two public history courses on theory and research methods. The other half of your credits come from electives within your specialty.
What I liked about the museum track at UWM was that the museum studies classes were all taught by curators at the Milwaukee Public Museum. And the classes themselves took place at the museum. So we really got a “behind-the-scenes” look at how the museum is run and what the curators are doing. We got plenty of practical experience in designing exhibits, conservation, registrar work, and things like that. We also had to complete two internships at museums of our choice.
My chief complaint about the program was that it was focused more towards anthropology rather than history. Milwaukee Public Museum is a natural history museum and most of the curators are anthropologists. It was a little frustrating for the history students. Also, I didn’t find the graduate-level history courses in general to be very, well, challenging. They have some great professors, but the kind of writing they expected was not the same caliber of writing the professors expected when I was an undergrad at another university.
Based on plnner’s description, I’m definitely far more interested in Public History than in Historic Preservation. (Both terms seem to be flexible and depend largely on the state.) UWM and NCSU are actually both on my short lists for application as both have excellent reps.
If you don’t mind a couple of personal questions:
Burundi- was your inability to find higher paying work based upon geographic limitations, or not having a second masters, or were there just not that many positions available?
Sahara- do you work in the field (museums/archives/etc.) currently?
Unfortunately no. After I graduated I was not able to find a curator position in the area. I was also not able to move across the country for a minimum-wage job! It’s quite amazing to be competing against 500 other people who all have the same degree and experience, all for a salary you can’t even live on! Now I’m sort of bitter and jaded with the whole museum world in general (heh). But my advice to you is that even if you can’t find a full-time job right after graduation, try to stay in the biz by volunteering or working part-time if possible. The longer you are out of the museum world, the worse it looks on your resume. And make as many contacts as possible. It’s all about who you know.
It was a combination of geographic limitations and lack of positions. It’s important for me to remain geographically close to my family, so I wouldn’t consider a job that required me to move more than 2 hours away from them. Not to mention the fact that I couldn’t in good conscience ask my husband to quit his job and move to a new city so I could take a job that would pay 25K. Museum work is just not high-paying work. I also entered the field at a time when state and local governments were cutting funds to museums and historic sites, so there weren’t as many jobs going begging.
Me too, sister. Working at a museum is great, if you don’t have to support yourself. Everyone I know who has stayed in the field long-term has a spouse who makes significantly more money than they do.
Sampiro, I hope someone comes along who can speak to the archives end of things. I think that if you do go for your MA, you’ll be in a very different boat from SaharaTea and me. Not only do there seem to more jobs in archival administration, you already have your MLS and years of experience in university libraries.