The Public History Institute has offered a slew of programming since it was first created in 2009 within the School of Arts and Humanities, including presentations from visiting speakers, conferences, exhibitions and oral history projects through the Historical Research Center.
The goal of the institute is to collect, explore, preserve and promote the history of Kern County and the entire region, including the wider San Joaquin Valley. It is led by Dr. Vivian and a committee that includes CSUB and Bakersfield College faculty as well as members of the community.
“We exist to explore topics in the history of our region and to try to create programming that engages the community in that exploration,” Dr. Vivian said.
Past events have focused on topics such as the Dust Bowl, Delano grape strike and the Bakersfield Sound. The institute has worked with several community partners on its programming over the years, including the Kern County Museum and the Kern County Historical Society.
“The Public History Institute has provided an invaluable bridge between the history and heritage of our region and the scholarship and resources of a public university,” said Mike Warner, president of the Historical Society. “Because of the PHI, we now have a place where sources and documents can be preserved, stored and made available for future research. The PHI has offered our community an invitation to become a part of the university in a new and exciting way.”
Strengthening the connection between the university and the wider community is a big part of the institute’s mission, according to Dr. Vivian.
“We want members of the community to recognize that there’s a really rich history in this region and that we care about it,” she said. “Through our programming, we hope they gain a better understanding of the importance of the culture and the history here and that they share that with others.”
Dr. Vivian said the institute works hard to make sure that all its programming is open to the public for free so that there are no financial barriers to entry.
“We’re proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish and we’re excited about the projects we have going forward,” she said.
For more information about the Public History Institute, visit phi.csub.edu. To learn more about Tyree Boyd-Pates, visit tyreebp.com.