Applied History

Field trip at Colorado Springs

What Is The Applied History Initiative?

Patty Limerick has been “turning hindsight into foresight” by conjuring up innovative strategies to convey deeperunderstandings and reflections, on Western issuesto a wide range of public audiences.Afterdecades of field-testing these strategies and techniques, she is well-positioned to invite emerging scholars into a promising and expansive domain of historical practice.

The Applied History Initiativeoffers young historians the opportunity to cultivate new skills andbuild a community of support.

  • Do you want to find new and innovative ways to apply your academic skill sets beyond the classroom? If so,look into ourAppled History opportunities (Mellon Foundation support ends in August, 2024).
  • Are you looking for guidance in maximizing the scholarly impact--AND the public impact--ofyourdissertation? OurMaverick Thinkingalliance could advance that cause.
  • Does your researchfocus on Indigenous History and are you interested in working with experts in the field? If so, please look into our SummerIndigenous History Workshopwhich will be offered for Summer 2025.

The time has come to positionApplied History, the practice of bringing historical perspective to bear on current dilemmas and conflicts, into a career opportunity for every emerging historian who wants to make a difference. The following two problems are driving forces of our mission:

I. American society has stuggled with a persistent case of historical amnesia. When the interpretation of history has beenlodged at the center of public disputes, the amnesia persists, placing the disputes beyond the reach of productive discussion and resolution.

II. Emerging scholars with PhDs in history are enter a discouraging job market and arefacing a stark scarcity of academic positions.

The relationship between these problems presents the Applied History Initiative and affiliated scholars with an open arena for creativity and innovation.

Join the team!!!

We are located in rooms C224/C225 on the 2nd floor of the SEEC building which is located on CU Boulder's East Campus at the intersection of Foothills Parkway and Colorado Avenue.is available in the lot in front of the SEEL building.is available from Main Campus.