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I am passionate about history -- as a source of information, inspiration, AND ways to benefit your business or organization.
That's what we do at History Smiths: We help you find meaningful ways to embed history into your marketing and PR to benefit you AND the communities you serve.
Check us out, be inspired, and be in touch!
-Bonnie Hurd Smith, CEO
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If your business or organization is about to celebrate an anniversary, please don't just throw a party! We'll show you how
to really leverage this important event.
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Can a history trail benefit your business economically?
Absolutely! And it will
also benefit your historical nonprofits, community,
and everyone involved. Here's a "done for you" process to follow.
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Greetings!
During the past two weeks three people, on three separate occasions, have, well, pleaded with me to "do more" with young people, especially girls. One friend said to me after a talk, "Bonnie, you have got to bring your passion and your stories to girls. You can reach them, and they need it." After another talk, a woman approached me with her very shy 10-year-old daughter and essentially said the same thing. "Would that be okay with you?" I asked the daughter. She nodded. So, okay, after hearing the same thing three times, I am paying attention. Stay tuned for some announcements! And so this issue of Connections is devoted to young people, and the role history can play in their lives. Naturally, that also means that YOU have a role to play! I focus a lot on how such an involvement can benefit your business or organization, but it can also benefit you personally -- and profoundly. I would love to hear your thoughts on these articles!
Be well, and be in touch!
Bonnie
P.S. First walk on the beach this past weekend. Sand in toes. Heavenly!
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A Historical Revolution, and You Can Join In!
 | | Students learn powerful life lessons when they study history, and they have fun! |
by Bonnie Hurd Smith
I recently read a wonderful letter to the editor of my local newspaper trying to rally everyone around supporting the town's schools. Like everywhere else, school funding is being cut, valuable programs are disappearing, and parents are stepping into the void with creativity, time, and money. However, the author of the letter went a step further. She made a compelling argument about the value of good schools to everyone in the community, not just to students and their parents, and she was spot-on. Good schools produce better citizens, keep kids engaged and out of trouble, AND they attract businesses to town. There is a huge economic and social impact on a community when schools perform well. This letter made me think about history education, and the fact that it's also time to rally everyone around supporting local history and history education. David McCullough, one of my heroes, is quite eloquent on this subject - and even angry at times, because he sees how much we, in America, are falling down on the job of history education. It can't be left to the schools, because history education is often not done well - sorry, but we know this is true. Even when it is, history in the classroom and in textbooks doesn't necessarily excite students. It can't be left to historical societies because too many of them don't have professional education staff or any paid staff at all, they are underfunded, overwhelmed with other responsibilities, or not interested. Instead, I think it's time for a community-wide, team approach -- revolutionary change in how we teach history. (continued here)
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How an 18th-Century Woman Changed the Life
of a 20th-Century Boy
 | | Judith Sargent Murray's story of overcoming obstacles really |
by Bonnie Hurd Smith
"Judith Sargent Murray is my role model." This is what an eighth grade boy proclaimed a few years ago in public in front of his friends, parents, neighbors, town officials - "everyone" in town. A boy mind you, named Chris. I was stunned, and I still tear up when I remember that moment. His life had been forever changed for the better by Judith's story of courage, overcoming obstacles, and succeeding at a time when expectations for women were painfully low. He saw in Judith Sargent Murray that all things were possible - and he brought her into his life. He said, "That's what I want, too." I happen to know that his family life was difficult, that they struggled economically, and that his parents' expectations for his success nowhere near reached his capacity. Judith Sargent Murray changed all that for him. How did this happen? A quick story. (continued here) |
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Do you have a question about how history can benefit your business? I would love to hear it, and I would love to answer it!
I might even feature your business or organization here, because others could benefit from the information!
If you're a nonprofit, you are also a business. Ask away! And if you're a historical nonprofit, do you have questions about how what we do can provide you with new revenue streams?
Please be in touch with your question!
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