HIS 666 Administration of Historical Organizations
Spring Semester 2004

William H. Mulligan, Jr.
Office: Faculty Hall 6B8
Phone: 270-762-6571
Office Hours:  T 9:30-11:00; 1:00-4:30; W 10:00-11:30; Th 9:30-11:00; 1:00-3:00 and by appointment.
Class Meets: Thursday 3:0-5:50 in BB 102 
ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL STANDARD TIME

Bill.Mulligan@murraystate.edu


Catalog Description

A comprehensive consideration of the issues involved in the administration and management of historical organizations, including museums, archives and special collections libraries, historic preservation organizations, and local historical societies. 


Instructor Comments

The course will combine lectures by the instructor and guest lecturers, videos, and in class discussion of assigned readings. There will be several field trips in which all students are expected to participate. Each student will prepare a semester project which will be presented in class. The final examination will be a take home exam, the details will be discussed in class near the end of the semester.

The course is being offerd by ITV for several students at Morehead State University as well. This may require some adjustments as we go to make sure all students have a positive learning experience in thecourse.a

Since much of the course will draw on my experience in the field of public history, I have outlined it for those in the class. 



Texts:
Accountants for the Public Interest. What a Difference Nonprofits Make: A Guide to Accounting Procedures.

Joan M. Hummel. Starting and Running a Nonprofit Organization, Second Edition, Revised by the Center for Nonprofit Management, University of St. Thomas.

Course Bibliography

The Practical Historian, Vols. 1-6. 


Web Resources

Museum Security: http://museum-security.org/

NAGPRA Issues:http://sorrel.humboldt.edu/~nasp/repat.html
 



 


Schedule

January 15     Introduction to the Course 

22     The Anatomy of an Organization

                    Incorporation
                    Non-profit Status (IRS Code)
                    Structure and Responsibilities of a Board
                    Policies and Procedures

29     Organizational Ethics
              Basic Administration 
                    Personnel
                    Finances and Accounting
                    Membership
                    Annual Reports and Newsletters

February 5   Americans with Disabilities Act
        12    Public Relations
              Fundraising 
              Grantsmanship
        19   Professional Organizations and Professional Activities
             Professional Ethics
        26   Collections Management
                    Collection Policies
                    Collection Procedures
                    NAGPRA 
          
March 4   Conservation and Preservation of Collections       

       11  Disaster Planning and Security
       25   Museum Issues   
Historic Preservation Issues
Archival Issues
April   1   NO CLASS - National Council for Public HIstory Meeting

       8  Heritage Tourism

       15   Strategic Planning

22 Oral Presentations

       22   Oral Presentations 
Semester Projects
1. Prepare an annotated bibliography of twenty five (25) items from the course bibliography.

2. Interview one history professional who works in a museum, archive or library, publications program, historic preservation agency, or some other area of public history. The interview should address, at a minimum, what the person does, their training and background, and their sense of purpose in their work. The interview need not be taped and transcribed, but can be presented as a narrative report.

3. Prepare a 15 minute presentation on one of the following topics. The presentation should include slides, overheads, video, and/or handouts as appropriate.  There should also be a formal report submitted in proper professional format. 

A.) An introduction to a historical attraction that would be suitable for an orientation for visitors, or as a preview for potential visitors.

B.) Develop a brief in service program on an important administrative issue such as ADA or NAGPRA.

C.) Develop a fund raising presentation for a specific project, such as an oral history project, museum exhibit, conference, or general support for an institution.

D.) Design your own project with the prior approval of the instructor.

E.) Participate in a group or individual project in cooperation with a historical agency.


GRADING

Annotated Bibliography 100 points
Interview 100 points
Oral Presentation 100 points 
Project Report 100 points
Final Examination 100 points

450 points or above-- A
400 - 449 -- B
300 - 399 -- C 


ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular class attendance is expected of all students. Absence from four classes will reduce the final letter grade by one full letter; six absences by two full letters; etc. Students are responsible on the examination for all material presented in class and all of the assigned readings. If you miss class review someone else's notes and see me during office hours if you have any questions.
Students are also responsible for any changes in the lecture schedule that is announced in class. Absence when a change was announced will not be accepted as an excuse for missing an examination. 


ACADEMIC HONESTY

It is assumed and expected that all students will present only their own work on exams and the written assignment. Any student caught cheating will fail the course and all such incidents will be referred to appropriate University officials for further action, including expulsion from the University. Plagiarism, i.e. copying material verbatim (i.e. word-for-word) without attribution, on the writing assignment is included in the definition of cheating.



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Updated 01-14-04 Bill.Mulligan@murraystate.edu