Starting today, I will be writing a monthly column for ActiveHistory.ca.
My posts will primarily explore history and the internet by drawing on some of the more recent debates, services, sites, and web trends that might be relevant or particularly useful to the historical community in general.
My first post, for example, explores how short URLs could potentially rein in run-away links in things like course materials, endnotes/footnotes, and finding aides both online and off.
I’ve been keeping up with ActiveHistory.ca since they started following me on Twitter a while back and jumped at the chance to join them because I respect their approach and identify with their purpose:
We define active history variously as history that listens and is responsive; history that will make a tangible difference in people’s lives; history that makes an intervention and is transformative to both practitioners and communities. We seek a practice of history that emphasizes collegiality, builds community among active historians and other members of communities, and recognizes the public responsibilities of the historian.
Building community is why projects like ActiveHistory.ca are important and the reason I’m excited to work more closely with them over the coming months.
