|
Home About Us Membership Commissioning History Resources |
COMMISSIONING HISTORY
A history is a way of sharing the story of your
group, government department, school, church, union,
family or area with the wider community.
PHA (WA) and the Australian Council of Professional Historians
Associations (ACPHA) advocate the engagement of people for history
projects whose qualifications and experience meet the National
Accreditation Standard established by ACPHA.
Professionally qualified historians bring a broad historical knowledge,
strong research skills, an independent outlook and effective writing
skills to a history project. Trained historians have the skills and
experience to identify, collect and interpret research materials,
conduct oral histories, research pictorial collections and other media,
and produce an engaging and lively end product which locates your story
in a wider historical context.
The outcome of a commissioned history varies widely and be anything from a more traditional print publication, a collection of oral histories, an
exhibition through to a website or digital archive.
HOW TO FIND A PROFESSIONAL HISTORIAN
There are a number of ways that PHA (WA) can assist you with
finding the right professional historian for your project:
ASSISTANCE TO COMMISSIONING BODIES
From time to time individuals from outside the Association; for example businesses,
local government authorities, schools to sporting groups, will request
advice from PHA (WA) about starting a history project.
PHA (WA) offers the following services:
- PHA (WA) Inc., Commissioning History: A practical guide to engaging consultant historians. Occasional Publication (2011).
These guidelines are useful, if not essential, for people who are
planning to engage a consultant historian. They outline the issues
that need to be considered before work starts on a history project;
that is, finding the appropriate person, defining the work, the scope
of the manuscript, responsibilities of the commissioning body and the
historian, project time and costs, historians’ credentials and
fees, framing an advertisement, the contract, management of the
project, and copyright/ownership of any associated working papers.
Available as a free download here.
- PHA (WA) can arrange for a historian to provide professional advice on project scope and development as well as to assist a
committee responsible for selecting a historian. For this service,
the consultant historian would require a meeting fee, plus
reimbursement for any travel or other reasonable expenses. Contact the Convenor of the Commissioned
History Sub-Committee about this service.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For further assistance contact the President or the Convenor of the Commissioned History Sub-Committee. For more information about Commissioning a History see
ACPHA’s website.
ACPHA has also devised a National Standard and Scale of Fees
recommended for professional historians, which is available here.
PHA (WA) members can contact the Membership Secretary for
documents relating to the Model Contract or Memorandum of Agreement
& a check list and Information on fees, on-costs and
travel costs. |
