Urban History as a Research Tool

I am currently in the early stages of my thesis research, and already I am reminded of the impact location has on how the past is shaped and history told. Environments impact our identities. Not only does location influence behavior, customs, habits, communication, and lifestyle, where one lives and how they live is a fundamental part of individual identity. The lesson here: urban history reflects social history. 

Last winter, I read Delores Hayden's book, The Power of Place, as part of my coursework. Though the book was written in 1997, it is a good look at case studies for public historians looking to work with minority histories in urban areas. “The politics of identity," Hayden explains, "are an inescapable and important aspect of dealing with the urban built environment, from the perspectives of public history, urban preservation, and urban design." (Hayden, 7) While sociologists look at how urban environments influence people, there is more to the story of a city than its effect on people. 

Maps are one way in which historians can understand how environment shapes the history left behind.
Map from the Washington State Digital Archives

Public historians in particular should look at urban landscapes as clues to the past. As Hayden explains, “identity is intimately tied with memory” as personal identity often connects to collective community memory. “Urban Landscapes are storehouses for these social memories,” argues Hayden, “because natural features such as hills or harbors, as well as streets, buildings and patterns of settlement, frame the lives of many people and often outlast many lifetimes." (Hayden, 9) In other words, urban landscapes are artifacts that historians can include in their research, as it leaves valuable clues to people and their history.


Discovering the ways in which a city is designed and how it is built gives historians valuable insight into the thinking of city officials, the behavior of inhabitants, and the economic and cultural impacts at different periods in time. One of my current projects is developing a tour of Spokane's ghost signs (the faded advertisements still seen on the sides of brick buildings). Only recently did I realize that these signs not only emphasized what they were advertising, they gave clues as to the earlier structure of Spokane's growing city. 

Sometimes looking on a map isn't enough to fully understand the history of a city. Sometimes you have to go exploring, and remember that the environment around you has just as many clues to the past as traditional go-to research sources. 

Say Hello to History

At eighteen, immersed in a new collegiate world, the possibilities seemed endless, and planning for the future seemed so far away. At least for myself, I majored in something fun and interesting, not thinking about my future with that subject. Like many young college students, I changed my major three times— first Theater, then Philosophy, and finally History. It didn’t matter what I studied because adults always came to the same conclusion: “Oh so you want to be a teacher?”

No.

Seeing all the possibilities the humanities had to offer, my eighteen-year-old self cringed at the thought of limiting myself to teaching.

History is not set in stone, it is an evolving understanding
of the past and its relationship to the present

Growing up, I was very passionate about learning. When I was eight my mom bought an illustrated encyclopedia of world history. It was my go to bedtime book, prompting nightmares about guillotines and the black plague. At thirteen, inspired by the movie Evita, I check out every book I could possibly find on Eva Perón at my local library. By my freshman year, I knew more about Greek mythology, culture and history than my teacher. Because of teachers, I was able to say hello to history. 

I was born to be a historian. But I never would have known, had it not been for some incredible teachers who opened my eyes to my own potential. Nearly a decade later, the knee-jerk reaction against teaching has been replaced with a new understanding. 

All historians are teachers. Dedicated to the study and interpretation of the past, historians play an essential role in society. Whether it is a story of triumph or horrific loss, history gives meaning and context to our world today. History goes beyond the classroom. Even if we don't realize it, history shapes the way we see ourselves and our world. 

So let's do it. Let's say hello to history.