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Local history is the study ofhistory in a geographically local context, often concentrating on a relatively smalllocal community. It incorporatescultural andsocial aspects of history. Local history is not merely national history writ small but a study of past events in a given geographical area which is based on a wide variety ofdocumentary evidence and placed in acomparative context that is both regional and national.[1] Historic plaques are one form of documentation of significant occurrences in the past andoral histories are another.
Local history is often documented by local historical societies or groups that form to preserve a local historic building or other historic site. Many works of local history are compiled by amateur historians working independently or archivists employed by various organizations. An important aspect of local history is the publication and cataloguing of documents preserved in local or national records which relate to particular areas.
In a number of countries a broader concept oflocal lore is known, which is a comprehensive study of everything pertaining to a certain locality: history, ethnography, geography, natural history, etc.
Local history tends to be less documented than other types, with fewer books and artifacts than that of a country or continent. Many local histories are recorded as oral tales or stories and so are more vulnerable than more well known issues. Artifacts of local history are often collected in local history museums, which may be housed in a historic house or other building. Individual historic sites are inherently local, although they may have national or world history importance as well. Many however have little overall historical impact but add depth to the local area.
In Australia, local history is focussed on specific cities and suburbs or country towns and regions. In cities, local history might concentrate on aCBD and its bordering suburbs, on a specific suburb ormunicipality, or on an agglomeration of suburbs and municipalities (because local government boundaries have changed over time). Outside the larger cities, local history often examines regional towns and surrounding areas.
Records are typically stored at state libraries,public libraries,historical societies and public record offices. For example, theState Library of Victoria holds extensive local history records forMelbourne and other places inVictoria. Many otherMelbourne libraries have local history collections, along with thePublic Record Office Victoria and theRoyal Historical Society of Victoria. InNew South Wales, theRoyal Australian Historical Society has studied local history as part of its remit since its founding in 1901. It holds local history records along with theState Library of NSW and other state and local libraries and archives.
Historians have examined the ways local history has been written in Australia since the nineteenth century. Early on, the emphasis was on pioneer and settler history.[2] The creative ways that local history contributed to making community has also been argued.[3] Subsequently, local history,urban history,public history andheritage were closely connected in Australia.[4]
TheBritish Association for Local History in the United Kingdom encourages and assists in the study of local history as an academic discipline and as a leisure activity by both individuals and groups. Most historic counties in England have record societies and archaeological and historical societies which coordinate the work of historians and other researchers concerned with that area.[5]
Local history in the UK took a long time to be accepted as an academic discipline. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was widely regarded as anantiquarian pursuit, suitable for country parsons. TheVictoria History of the Counties of England project begun in 1899 in honour ofQueen Victoria with the aim of creating an encyclopaedic history of each of thehistoric counties of England. The project is coordinated by theInstitute of Historical Research at theUniversity of London. The first academic post related to local history was atReading University which appointed a research fellow in local history in 1908. There was a department of local history (but without a professor) atLeicester University from 1947.H. P. R. Finberg was the first Professor of English Local History. He was appointed by Leicester in 1964.[6] Local history continues to be neglected as an academic subject within universities. Academic local historians are often found within a more general department of history or in continuing education.
Local history is rarely taught as a separate subject in British schools. In 1908, a Board of Education circular had urged that schools should pay attention "to the history of the town and district" in which they were situated.[7] In 1952, the Ministry of Education suggested schools should use local material to illustrate national themes.[8] Within the currentNational Curriculum, pupils at level 4 are expected to "show their knowledge and understanding of local, national and international history".[9]
TheAlan Ball Local History Awards were established in the 1980s to recognize outstanding contributions in local history publishing in the UK (both in print and innew media), and to encourage the publishing of such works bypublic libraries andlocal authorities.[10]
Local history can become a crucial component to policy-making and serve as a marketable resource and this is demonstrated in the case ofNorthern Ireland. Aside from its contribution to local development, local history is being used as a non-contentious meeting ground in addressing conflicting traditions by reinforcing shared past rather than adversarial political history.[11]
Local history in the United States examines the history of specific geographic areas, including regions, states, counties, cities, towns, and neighborhoods.[12][13] The field became visible in American academic life in the 1970s, though non-academic historians had engaged in documenting local histories since the nineteenth century.[14][15] Early works focused on settlement, the experiences of settlers, and the displacement of Native Americans. They often described political events, wars, and the contributions of local communities to national developments.[14] Local history in the United States connects the experiences of communities to the broader national narrative. It explores how local responses to national and international events shape the country’s development. The interplay between localism and nationalism has influenced federal-state relations, sectionalism, and regionalism. Many pivotal events in American history are best understood through the lens of local responses to shared issues.[16]
Preservation and Organizations
By the early twentieth century, local historians began to focus on preserving primary materials and oral histories, recognizing the risk of losing irreplaceable records and memories.[14] Historical societies and individual historians collected documents, artifacts, and oral accounts to safeguard community heritage. TheAmerican Association for State and Local History, established in 1940, supports the preservation and interpretation of local history across the country.[17]
Methodology and Trends
The study of local history in the United States uses written records, oral histories, artifacts, newspapers, and visual materials.[12] In the late twentieth century, the field expanded to include more diverse voices and topics, influenced by social and political movements. Community studies and place-oriented research became common, allowing historians to test generalizations about the national experience through local case studies.[16]
In several Slavic countries there is a related study which may be translated from the local languages as "country lore" or "local lore". In addition to history, it also incorporates other local studies, such as local geography, nature, and ethnography.
In Russia local lore is known askrayevedenie (ru:Краеведение). It is taught in primary schools. There are also local lore museums known askrayevedcheskie muzei. In modern Russia the concept of "regional studies" (ru:Регионоведение) is also considered.[18]
InUkraine, the study of local history and regional ethnography is known askrayeznavstvo (uk:краєзнавство). The National Union of Local Lore Researchers of Ukraine is a professional society for researchers of ethnology and local studies in Ukraine. It was founded in 1925 and has 3,000 members in 17 chapters.[19] The society has published its journalКраєзнавство since 1927.[20]
InPoland, the corresponding concept is calledtouring (pl:Krajoznawstwo), the term known since 1902. In modern Poland various organizedkrajoznawstwo activities are carried out byPolskie Towarzystwo Turystyczno-Krajoznawcze, roughly translated as "Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society".
The study of local history in Belgium began with the creation of learned societies. After Belgium became independent in 1830, people developed a stronger sense of national and regional identity. This feeling led to the founding of groups such as circles, academies, and associations focused on local history. These organizations aimed to study the history of specific places and to protect both physical objects and cultural traditions from the past.Learned societies played a key role in researching, recording, and preserving the local history and heritage of communities across Belgium.[21]
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