Why study History?
Choosing to pursue a degree I have a genuine passion for has continued to motivate me throughout my studies, even through the wobbles of self-belief during exam season! The exceptional student support offered and the well-being facilities available are just some of the many benefits that make York such a great place to study. York also provides the perfect backdrop for studying History, as the city’s past is everywhere you turn.
History can often be branded a degree for those who are unsure about what they would like to do as a career. I think that’s completely unfair, even if it was somewhat true for me. Now more than ever, History’s importance as a discipline is vital in navigating the moral obligation to understand and learn from the past. Also, there can be such a wide range of job opportunities available to history students. The transferrable skills we gain throughout our learning, from communication to critical thinking, help in a diverse range of careers.
My Public History Project
In the first semester of second-year, my public history module completely changed my understanding of my History degree, and what I could do with it. It was quite daunting starting the Public History Project as it was a change of gear to active learning, where we became more responsible for independent work in small groups. We had to take all the skills we had gained from first-year and apply them in a real-world setting by engaging with a historical figure. To present their life and meaning to the public through our work, which I published on the HERstory website.
During semester 1, to guide our learning in the module, I attended a Q&A session with Greg Jenner, creator and host of the ‘You’re Dead to Me’ podcast, where he offered advice to understand how to step into the shoes of a public historian. After the session, I realised that Horrible Histories, one of the reasons I found fascination with the subject (like most people), is itself a form of public history, and its success relied on accessibility. This was a massive help in navigating my research, as when my group and I went to visit the York Castle Museum, we understood all thee particular work and details behind presenting the history of the place and the people associated with it.
At the end of the module, my group and I presented a project that uncovered stories of the darker and more complicated history of women of York. We built on the skills we gained in first-year, particularly in utilising archival sources at the City Archives and the Borthwick. This also boosted our independent research and analysis skills.
Future Plans
The public history project was an amazing opportunity to apply my knowledge and practically present the past in the public sphere. It’s easy to feel removed and in a sort of bubble when studying history. However, it shapes the world we live in through how it’s shared and experienced, from museums to media, in the modern day.
Now, because of the second-year module, I’m really keen to pursue a Masters in public history. My engagement with it focuses on the aim to reduce the space between the archaic historians, in their ivory towers, who look down at a large public audience eager to learn about the past. Its significance in constructing personal identity and the implications of the commercialisation of the past show how it is constantly relevant.
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