About
Our Mission
The Center for Public History (CPH) at Tufts University provides intellectual leadership, practical know-how, and historical expertise, shaping public discourse within and beyond the United States. The CPH serves as a scholarly hub for locally- and nationally-renowned museums, cultural institutions, historic sites, and public projects. In addition to supporting historical research and documenting best practices, the CPH aims to cultivate and convene local and national networks of scholars, writers, artists, public history and heritage workers engaged in related work.
Our History
In 2012, the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy (CSRD) was founded by Professor Peniel Joseph, a renowned scholar in these fields. Founding CSRD projects focused on engaged research and scholarship related to the intersection of race and democracy, aiming to foster dialogue and understanding. Following Professor Joseph’s departure, Professor Kendra Field was named Director. Under Field’s leadership, the center’s focus shifted towards her own areas of expertise and scholarship: public history, family history, and place-based learning. In addition to supporting the Gerald Gill Fellowship, the center became home to the Du Bois Forum, the African American Trail Project (co-founded with Professor Kerri Greenidge), and the SCL project at Tufts (co-founded with the Center for Humanities / Professor Heather Curtis). Today’s newly-named Center for Public History more fully reflects the Center’s activities.