The NHN workshop, “A Future in Historical Consulting: Is It for You?” brought out some twenty historians on June 20 at the Architectural Heritage Center. Four panelists, orchestrated by NHN board member Val Ballestrem, responded to queries about practical business advice, networking and marketing, pricing and project fees, and the downsides and the benefits of self-employment. Workshop participants then joined the panelists in a discussion that expanded on those topics and brought up some specific dilemmas and situations.

The panelists were Richard H. Engeman, principal of Oregon Rediviva, LLC, a regional historian and a consultant on historical photographs and collections care; Donna Sinclair, an independent historian with a special expertise in oral history projects; William Willingham, a consulting historian who has emphasized power resources and architecture in his work; and Morgen Young, owner of Alder, LLC, who does museum exhibit preparation and architectural history.

The workshop was recorded and is available here as an audio file.

Handouts included a summary of pay rates in the cultural resources field, as compiled by the American Cultural Resources Association, and this compilation of online resources prepared by panelist Morgen Young.

A Future in Historical Consulting: Is It for You?

NHN Professional Development Program

Consultants Lists

·      National Council on Public History, Consultants List

http://ncph.org/cms/consultants/

·      Northwest History Network, Associate Directory 

http://www.northwesthistory.org/p/associate-directory.html

·      Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, Consultants List

http://egov.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/publications.shtml

Business Resources

·      American Cultural Resources Association Business Toolkit

http://acra-crm.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=5

·      Business Oregon: Starting a Business in Oregon

http://www.oregon4biz.com/Grow-Your-Business/Starting-a-business-in-Oregon/

·      Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division

http://www.filinginoregon.com/

·      Portland State University Business Outreach Program

http://www.pdx.edu/business-outreach/

·      Small Business Development Center

http://www.bizcenter.org/

·      Small Business Legal Clinic, Lewis & Clark College

http://law.lclark.edu/centers/small_business_legal_clinic/

·      U.S. Small Business Administration, Portland District Office

http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/2/3140

RFPs, Contracts

·      Business Oregon: Contracting Opportunities

http://www.oregon4biz.com/Contact-us/Contracting-Opportunities/

·      Federal Business Opportunities

https://www.fbo.gov/

·      Multnomah County Bids & Proposal Opportunities

http://web.multco.us/purchasing/bids-proposal-opportunities

·      Onvia Proposals and Bids

http://www.onvia.com/b2g-resources/proposals-and-bids

Other Resources

·      American Historical Association: Historians as Consultants and Contractorshttp://www.historians.org/pubs/careers/chapter7.htm

·      National Council on Public History, History@Work Blog, Consultants’ Corner

http://publichistorycommons.org/consultants/

Val Ballestrem, Greg Weber, Greg Shine

Come celebrate Northwest History Network’s Fifth Anniversarythis month at Fort Vancouver. We’ll have a picnic, a cake, and vintage baseball!

On Saturday, July 21, NHN associates and their families and friends will gather near the baseball game area on the Parade Ground at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, beginning at 5:00 PM. NHN will provide drinks and a commemorative cake, so bring a potluck item or two for a picnic supper, eating utensils, and blankets or chairs. Free! Do come!

At 6:00 PM, a group of Fort Vancouver employees and other volunteers, clad in period uniforms, will  face off for a baseball game played by 1860s rules. Wooden bats for sure, and no fancy-pants gloves for these stalwarts. Free! Do come!

Pictured are scenes from the NHN gathering in 2011 at Fort Vancouver.
You may contact NHN executive director Morgen Young if you have questions: 503-333-4914; morgen.young@gmail.com.
Seated at right, Bill Willingham. Morgen Young photo

The combined national conferences of the National Council on Public History and the Organization of American Historians took place April 18-22 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Northwest History Network received some publicity as one of the sponsors of the Consultants Reception. NHN executive director Morgen Young is a member of the Consultants Committee; other NHPC consultant members include Bill Willingham and NHN board member Richard Engeman.  All three will be participating in the NHN program on historical consulting on June 22, along with oral historian Donna Sinclair.

Morgen Young also participated in a working group discussion at the Milwaukee conference on valuing and pricing the work of historical consultants.