Applied History
What Is The Applied History Initiative?
Patty Limerick has been “turning hindsight into foresight” by conjuring up innovative strategies to convey deeper understandings and reflections on historical legacies to a wide range of public audiences. A substantial grant from the Mellon Foundation made it possible for her to identify and encourage emerging scholars who aspire to reach wider audiences. After decades in a rewarding career as an Applied Historian, she is well-positioned to guide younger colleagues into a promising and expansive domain of historical practice.
Image: Applied History Fellows visiting sites that reveal the complicated relationship between military and Western American History.
In an unsettled era of national life, the Applied History Initiative offers dedicated scholars the opportunity to cultivate new skills and build a community of support.
- Are you looking for innovative ways to apply your academic skill sets beyond the classroom?
Are you looking for guidance in maximizing the scholarly impact--AND the public impact--of your research?
If these questions are on your mind, Patty is eager to get acquainted.
Image: On-site visits to contested sites in Boulder, Colorado (Valmont Power Plant and Historic Fort Chambers Site)
The time has come to position Applied History, the practice of bringing historical perspective to bear on current dilemmas and conflicts, into a career opportunity for every emerging historian who wants to make a difference.
Applied History responds to two urgent problems:
- American society struggles with a persistent case of historical amnesia. Even when the interpretation of history lodges at the center of public disputes, the amnesia persists, placing the disputes beyond the reach of productive discussion and resolution.
- Emerging scholars with PhDs in history enter a discouraging job market and face a stark scarcity of academic positions.
These problems present the Applied History Initiative and affiliated scholars with an open arena for creativity and innovation.
Image: Applied History/Indigenous history meet with leading Native American Journalist Mark Truahant.
Patty Limerick can be reached at patricia.limerick@colorado.edu
We are located in rooms C224/C225 on the 2nd floor of the SEEC building which is located on CU Boulder's East Campus at the intersection of Foothills Parkway and Colorado Avenue. Visitor parking is available in the lot in front of the SEEL building. Bus service is available from Main Campus.
