Glen Foerd-Holy Family University Speaker Series Features David Young, Author of The Battles of Germantown
Holy Family University and Glen Foerd will co-host a Speaker Series event featuring David Young, author of The Battles of Germantown: Effective Public History in America (Temple University Press, 2019).
Holy Family University and Glen Foerd will co-host a Speaker Series event featuring David Young, author of The Battles of Germantown: Effective Public History in America (Temple University Press, 2019). Known as America’s most historic neighborhood, the Germantown section of Philadelphia (established in 1683) has distinguished itself by using public history initiatives to forge community.
This live Zoom event will be held on Thursday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. This event is free and open to the public. Join the webinar here.
Young will discuss ways that regional historic organizations shine more light on diverse history in provocative and creative ways with examples from Germantown and Delaware. Recent efforts engaging in whole-place interpretation of the region’s history, especially of undertold histories of communities largely unrepresented in the historical narratives, show how “effective public history” can serve the cause of social justice.
“Public history has been at the heart of our national conversation for the past couple of years, as the country has debated what statues and memorials say about our society and about who and what should be celebrated,” said Mary Carroll Johansen, professor of History at Holy Family University. “Dr. Young's discussion of how public history can help us address the diversity of our region and nation will be a timely and thought-provoking contribution to this conversation.”
The lecture is part of the Glen Foerd-Holy Family University Speaker Series that showcases topics of area cultural and historical interest. The series invites distinguished speakers for a lecture on a topic in American history from the War of 1812 through the 20th century, which is the period of time interpreted by Glen Foerd on the Delaware, the historic house museum located a few blocks from campus. All lectures are free and open to the public.
About David Young
Dr. David Young has led historical organizations in the Mid-Atlantic Region at the Salem County Historical Society, the Johnson House Historic Site, Cliveden of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, winning local and national awards for his work, and currently serves as the executive director of the Delaware Historical Society. Young received his Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and his Master’s and Ph.D. from Ohio State University. The Battles of Germantown: Effective Public History in America was awarded the 2020 Philip Klein Prize for best book about Pennsylvania.