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?

·      National Council on Public History, Consultants List

·      Northwest History Network, Associate Directory 

·      Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, Consultants List

·      American Cultural Resources Association Business Toolkit

·      Business Oregon: Starting a Business in Oregon

·      Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division

·      Portland State University Business Outreach Program

·      Small Business Development Center

·      Small Business Legal Clinic, Lewis & Clark College

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

·      Business Oregon: Contracting Opportunities

·      Federal Business Opportunities

·      Multnomah County Bids & Proposal Opportunities

·      Onvia Proposals and Bids

·      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