elon}
History
Apex, NC
Mentor: Jim Bissett
Project title: Scholars vs. sites: Analyzing interpretations of Revolutionary America at historic sites in Boston and Philadelphia
This semester has had the major focus of writing! I have spent weeks and months working to finish my historiographical essay that I began researching in August. This writing process took a lot longer than I expected, but it feels good to have it somewhat completed. The goal of producing the historiographical essay is to build up my knowledge of the various interpretations of the American Revolution that historians have given over the past two centuries. This historiographical essay will be an important part of my research, and through this process I feel prepared to take on the next section of my research: the travel portion.
I have also begun to do research on the National Park Service this semester. This research is the second important piece I need to complete before I commence my travel in June. Many of the sites I will visit are part of the National Park Service, and it is important that I understand the history and nature of their creation before I go observe their interpretations of the American Revolution. Through this research I have also been able to develop a list of museum curators/contacts that I will hopefully be able to meet with during my travels to Boston and Philadelphia in June.
The final aspect of my research this semester was that Dr. Bissett and I attended the annual Organization of American Historians conference in Milwaukee, April 18-20. This was a new experience for me and it was a great opportunity to see how major conferences are set up. This has begun to ease my mind about possibly presenting at multiple undergraduate conferences next spring. There were various sessions related to the American Revolution, but the most helpful one addressed the conservative interpretations of the founding fathers. The speakers on this panel were studying some of the same concepts and had reached some of the same conclusions that I have over this year’s research process. This experience helped solidify my ideas about the importance of my research to the overall field of American history.
Dr. Ann J. Cahill
Professor of Philosophy
Spence Pavilion 111
2340 Campus Box
Elon, NC 27244
Phone: (336) 278-5703
cahilla@elon.edu
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