The Living History Anthology: Perspectives from ALHFAM

The Living History Anthology brings together twenty-six practical essays on the craft of establishing and running living history museums. Contributions cover all aspects of developing and running a living history site.

Including contributions on strategic planning, human resource management, research programs, collection policies, and engagement with varied audiences, including indigenous groups, the book demonstrates how to approach such tasks from a living history perspective. Topics unique to the sector, such as re-enactment, historic trade crafts, and working with machinery and livestock, are also covered. Each essay is briefly introduced and contextualized by the editors, while the collection is bookended by a new foreword and afterword from Debra A. Reid, and an introduction from the editors.

Representing the collective wisdom of the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums (ALHFAM) members across the decades, The Living History Anthology provides a valuable resource for all living history practitioners. It should also be of interest to students and scholars studying living history.

Martha B. Katz-Hyman is Communications Manager at the ALHFAM, and a member of the curatorial staff at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Williamsburg, VA, USA.

Cliff Jones is Curator of the South Dumfries Historical Society in St. George, Ontario, Canada.

Susan J. McCabe has over thirty years of experience working at historic sites in the USA and as a museum consultant specializing in interpretation and collections.

Mary Seelhorst is a freelance museum exhibit developer, writer, and musician based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA.