Centre for Applied History
Centre for Applied History
We research the global production and consumption of history in the public sphere
Applied history explores the production and consumption of history inside and outside universities. The Centre for Applied History is nationally and internationally distinctive and continues to forge innovative, award-winning collaborations with a range of producers and consumers of history.
Our aim is to reveal the value and significance of history for individuals and society more broadly.
Centre members research how history works in everyday life. They examine the relationship between producers and consumers of history and its impact on people and society.
Our key research topics include:
- The relationship between the theory and practice of applied history
- History in the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums sector and cultural heritage
- Community, local and regional history
- History and games and history in the media – television, radio, print and social media.
The Centre has a particular focus on collaboration, community, family, local and regional history as well as ‘ordinary’ people’s engagement with history. Our international collaborations mark as out as distinctive nationally.
The Centre for Applied History resides in the Department of History and Archaeology. Its internal collaborators are drawn from the School of Education, Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literacies, the Macquarie History Museum and the Faculty of Health and Human Sciences.
The centre builds on national networks with the State Library of NSW, History Council of NSW, Professional Historians Association NSW & ACT, the Irish Famine Memorial Committee, Society of Australian Genealogists, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian Policy and History Network, and the Dictionary of Sydney. We also have strong links with international networks—including the Centres for Public History at Royal Holloway College London, University of Hamburg, International Federation of Public History, Carleton University, Canada, as well as the History and Policy network in the UK.
The research centre draws upon Macquarie University’s nationally and internationally recognised research and teaching strengths in the field of applied history. We focus on family history, digital history and e-research, cultural heritage, museums, oral history, consultancy work for charities and non-governmental organisations, policy, television, radio, community, regional and local history.
The centre is a hub for researchers working in public history. A mentoring program is key, pairing academics and HDR students with writers and researchers. The Centre will build on the excellent internship opportunities already available to MQ’s PACE and MRes students.
