THE NPS/SEAC PUBLIC INTERPRETATION INITIATIVE PROGRAM


Workshops and Conferences, 1990-1993:

  • National Association of Interpretation (NAI) National Interpreters' Workshop Concurrent Session: Interpreting Archaeological Sites, Charleston, S.C., November 28, 1990:
    • "Digging for the Whole Truth: Problems and Suggestions for Interpretation at the Ninety Six National Historic Site," by John H. Jameson, Jr., National Park Service (Chair)
    • "Interpreting Ocmulgee Archaeology," by Sylvia Flowers, Ocmulgee National Monument
    • "Time and the River: Backdrop to the Human Story," by Sharyn Kane and Richard Keeton
    • "Seeing What Isn't There: Interpretation and Reinterpretation of Archaeological Resources at Old Dorchester State Park" by Daniel J. Bell, South Carolina State Parks
    • "Interpreting Archaeology at Custer's Last Stand," by Douglas D. Scott, National Park Service
    • "The Pinckney Perplexity: A Challenge to Management," by Ruthanne L. Mitchell and Ellen Kathleen Foppes, National Park Service
  • Society for American Archaeology (SAA) Symposium: Public Interpretation of Archaeological Sites: Problems and Issues, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 26, 1991:
    • "The Role of Public Participation in Protecting, Promoting, and Interpreting Cultural Resources," by Teresa Hoffman, Arizona Historic Preservation Office
    • "A Strategy for Developing Successful Public Education and Interpretation Programs," by Diane E. Gelburd, Soil Conservation Service, USDA
    • "Public Interpretation of Archaeological Sites Through Hands-on Experience," by A. Alicia Hughes-Jones, Tabor College
    • "Conflicts and Resolutions: Public Archaeology and Private Funds," by David T. Hughes, Wichita State University
    • "The Evolution of Interpretation at the Charleston Place Site," by Nicholas Honerkamp, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga and Martha Zierden, Charleston Museum
    • "Stories of the Past: Comparisons from Great Britain," by Deborah Osborne, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
    • "Interpreting and Preserving Rock Shelters for Climbers," by Cece Kirkorian and Betsy Kearns, Historical Perspectives, Inc., and Robert Ewing, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
    • "Compliance Archaeology and Interpretation in Alaska," by Paul Gleeson and Teresa Shirakawa, National Park Service, Alaska Region
    • "Making the Past Public from a National Perspective: The Public Archaeology of the French Paleolithic and the Urban U.S.," by J.W. Joseph, New South Associates, Inc.
    • "Sharpening the Focus: Reactions and Revelations from the 1990 National Interpreters Workshop," by John H. Jameson, Jr., National Park Service, Southeast Region
  • Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) symposium: The Archaeologist's Role in Public Interpretation, Kingston, Jamaica, January 11, 1992:
    • "Problems and Processes: The Archaeologist and Public Interpretation," Karen Lee Davis, American Association of Museums
    • "Keys to Success: Archaeologist's Involvement, Quality of Research, Experiential Education, and Ethical Imperatives," Margaret A. Heath, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center
    • "What Makes A Successful Public Interpretation Program?" Diane E. Gelburd, Soil Conservation Service, USDA
    • "Give The People What They Want: An Example from Arkansas," Charles R. Ewen, Arkansas Archaeological Survey
    • "Archaeological and Archival Investigations and a Proposed Program for Interpretation at Hassel Island, Virgin Islands National Park," John H. Jameson, Jr. and Paul H. Hawke, Southeast Region, National Park Service
    • "Fort Loudoun, Tennessee: Archaeology, Reconstruction, and Interpretive Exhibits," Carl Kuttruff, Louisiana State University
    • "Presenting Archaeology at Steamtown National Historic Site: Between a Rock and Industrial Slag," Kristen L. Stevens, Applied Archaeology Center, National Park Service
    • "Billy the Kid, the Lincoln County War, and Archaeology: The Interpretation of Myth and Fact," David T. Kirkpatrick, Human Systems Research, Inc.
    • "Interpreting a Seaport: Archaeology at the South Street Seaport Museum, New York City," Diana diZerega Wall, South Street Seaport Museum
    • "The Archaeologist's Versatile Role in Public Interpretation: A Dynamic Approach." Jordan E. Kerber, Department of Anthropology, Colgate University

    • "Public Interpretation at the Cahokia Mounds Interpretive Center," William R. Iseminger, Cahokia Mounds Historic Site
    • "Meditations on the Messenger," Parker B. Potter, Jr., New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources
  • Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History (ASALH) Annual Conference Invited Session: Projects in African American Cultural History, Kansas City, Missouri, October 10, 1992
    • "The Public Interpretation Initiative and a Proposed Sensitive Interpretation Symposium," John H. Jameson, National Park Service, Atlanta, GA
    • "Insights into the History of the Black British West India Regiments and Ramifications for Interpretation," John H. Jameson, National Park Service, Atlanta, GA
    • "In Those Days: African American Life Near the Savannah River, An Oral History Account," Sharyn Kane and Richard Keeton, Writers & Editors, Marietta, GA
  • American Anthropological Association (AAA) 91st Annual Meeting Organized Session: Close Encounters: Interpreting Cultural History for Children, San Francisco, California, December 6, 1992
    • "Did Indians Eat Pizza?" John E. Ehrenhard, National Park Service, Southeast Region
    • "Bringing the Past to Life: Teaching Heritage Through Archaeology," Debi Hacker and Michael Trinkley, Chicora Foundation, Inc.
    • "Experiencing a Prehistoric Culture at Crow Canyon Archaeological Center," Marjorie R. Connolly, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center
    • "Diaries in the Dirt," Peter B. Tirrell, Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
  • Society for American Archaeology (SAA) symposium: Toward Sensitive Interpretation of Cultural Resources in a Multicultural Society, 58th Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri, April 16, 1993
    • "Rural Pasts for a Multi-Cultural Present," Peter J. Fowler, Department of Archaeology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne (U.K.)
    • "Interpreting Aztec and Taiwanese Culture in a Multicultural Environment," Robert B. Pickering, Department of Anthropology, Denver Museum of Natural History
    • "Fort Ross: A Cooperative Effort in the Interpretation of a Multi-Ethnic Russian-American Company Settlement," Sannie Kenton Osborn, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
    • "Ethnicity and Land Use in the Chama Valley," John D. Schelberg, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District
    • "Spanish Mission Policy and Practice," Charles W. Polzer, Arizona State Museum
    • "The Importance of Being Earnest: Cultural Cooperation in Archaeology," Jonathan Leader, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology
    • "Public Interpretation of Western Plains Archaeological Sites: A Commentary on Native American Perspectives," Charles A. Reher, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming
    • "Native American Perspectives," Chester Ellis, Heart of the American Indian Center, Kansas City
    • "In Their Own Words: African American Life Reflected Through Oral History," Sharyn Kane and Richard Keeton, Writers & Editors
    • "Unearthing Colonial Black History in New York City: The Process and the Products," Sherrill Wilson, Urban Anthropology Consultant
    • "'Political Correctness' and Problems of Interpreting Gender in West African Art and Archaeology," Flora S. Kaplan, Museum Studies Program, New York University
  • National Association for Interpretation (NAI) 1993 National Interpreters Workshop: Conveying the Past to the Future: Interpreting Cultural History for Young Audiences, Washington, D.C., Nov. 17, 1993
    • Session A: Programs in the U.S.A.:
      • "Close Encounters: Interpreting Cultural Heritage for Young Audiences," John H. Jameson, Jr., National Park Service
      • "It's About Time: Youth Encounter the Past," Karen Lee Davis, American Association of Museums

      • "Archaeology in Action: Interpreting Archaeology for Elementary School Students," Beverly A. Mitchum & John Giblin, Penn. Historical and Museum Commission
      • "In Search of the Perfect School Program: One Museum Lesson - Eight Activity Sheets Later," Joanna Moyar, Alexandria Archaeology
      • "Bring the Past to the Present," Debi Hacker, Chicora Foundation, Inc.
      • "Remember the Children: Presenting the History of the Holocaust," Ann W. Lewin, Capital Children's Museum, National Learning Center
    • Session B: Programs in the U.K.:
      • "Giving the Best to Children; Getting the Most Out of Adults," Dan Hillier, Centre for Environmental Interpretation
      • "Stonehenge Demystified: Interpreting for Young Audiences at English Heritage Sites," Peter Stone, English Heritage
      • "Archaeology in the Curriculum, 5 - 18," Peter Halkon, Council for British Archaeology and York Archaeological Trust
      • "Educational Programmes and Initiatives of the National Trust," Gareth Binns, National Trust
      • "Bede's World: Reconstructing an Anglo-Saxon Landscape," Peter J. Fowler, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

       

        The 1993 Sensitive Interpretation Symposium

                A symposium entitled: "Toward Sensitive Interpretation of Cultural Resources in a Multicultural Society," was organized for the 1993 Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) in St. Louis, Missouri. The session addressed topics on sensitive interpretation that effectively communicate the actual experiences and perspectives of defined ethnic/cultural groups relating to archaeological, ethnographic, and historical subjects and materials. These presentations represented experiences relating to a diversity of ethnic or minority groups, including blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, and others. 

        The 1993 British-American Archeology Education Workshop

                In an increasingly multicultural and technological world, how can we effectively interpret historical and cultural information for tomorrow's adults? This question forms the theme of a one-day pre-conference workshop during the 1993 annual conference of the National Association of Interpretation. 

                The workshop, entitled: "Conveying the Past to the Future: Interpreting Cultural History for Young Audiences," dealt with the assumptions that: (1) Children and young people have special learning needs that challenge writers, educators, interpreters, and exhibit designers; (2) Since museum exhibits and other public interpretation programs are often a child's first encounter with exotic objects and concepts, they must be interesting and stimulating, yet informative and uncomplicated; and (3) Presentations must also be culturally and developmentally sensitive. Workshop discussions focused on participant experiences and proven strategies for overcoming the special problems and challenges of presenting and translating ethnographic, historical, and archaeological information for younger audiences. 

                Because of the expected high level of interest in this subject, and because of the participation of several notable presenters from the United Kingdom, the workshop was divided into two separate, but closely related sessions. The first session covered contributions and discussions on topics in the United States, while the second session concentrated on-going programs in England. Presentations in the second session covered a number of exemplary programs presented by Peter Stone of English Heritage, Gareth Binns of the National Trust, Dan Hillier of the Centre for Environmental Interpretation (Manchester Polytechnic), and Peter Halkon of the Council for British Archaeology and York Archaeological Trust, and by Professor Peter Fowler's of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (Figure 2). One observation to emerge from the workshop was the difference of approach taken in Great Britain due to mandatory requirement for public programs to conform to a formal national archaeology curriculum. 


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