In the January 2013 issue of the Organization of American Historians Magazine of History published an issue dedicated to “History Wars.” The issue focuses on the periodic, and quite distinctive, conflicts concerning history that breaks out in the seemingly broad contours of the public sphere. It discusses among other subjects the textbook fight in Texas, museum exhibit conterversies across the nation, the debate over the nature and meaning of the Civil War sesquicentennial, and other contested issues in American history.
The entire issue is quite stimulating and I recommend it to anyone remotely interested in this subject. The table of contents is located here. Two of the articles are free for download. I wrote on the articles in the issue and my contribution, “Public History Wars, the ‘One Nation/One People’ Consensus, and the Continuing Search for a Usable Past” is one of those available in both html and pdf formats. In addition, special issue editor Keith A. Erekson’s article, “Seeing through the Culture Warfare to Teach Students about Historical Change,” is also available for free download.
I would very much be interested in hearing from those with opinions about this subject.
Thanks for this. I’ll read it and respond as time permits. Donald M. Scott, George R. Stewart Biographer, etc.