Thomas Peace ActiveHistory.ca Posts

Strengthening Community through Digitized Local History

This piece was originally published on ActiveHistory.ca.

The most common question I get when people ask where I live is: “Why are you still living there?” I live near Jane-Finch and York University in Toronto, a neighbourhood better known for its crime and distance from key services than its rich cultural and community life. Over the past five-and-a-half years, however, I have learned that my neighbourhood’s bark is worse than its bite. I like where I live and a recent Toronto Public Library history project does a really great job at demonstrating some of the reasons why. Continue reading “Strengthening Community through Digitized Local History” →

Thomas Peace ActiveHistory.ca Posts

Remembering Francis: Sharing life and sharing the past

This post was originally published on ActiveHistory.ca

On Friday night I sat down at my computer to write out a post for this morning and nothing came.  Last week was a busy week for me and it was filled with a number of surprises (some pleasant, some less so).  One of the major events of the week was the death of my friend Francis. Continue reading “Remembering Francis: Sharing life and sharing the past” →

Thomas Peace Public History

Black Creek Living History Bus Tour

Last week I had the pleasure of joining the Black Creek Living History Bus Tour, which is part of a broader Black Creek oral history project being run by the York Woods branch of the Toronto Public Library.  Below you will find three videos of my contribution to the tour.  In the first video I discuss the Parsons Site, in the second Downsview United Church, and in the third Elia United Church. Continue reading “Black Creek Living History Bus Tour” →

Thomas Peace ActiveHistory.ca Posts

Hands-on History: Are the archaeologists leading the way to a new mode of public engagement?

This post was originally published on ActiveHistory.ca

I have a confession.  As much as I love being a historian, I am not a huge fan of spending most of my day sitting at a desk reading.  Some days I am pretty sure that I can feel my fat cells multiplying and the muscle cells slowly decaying.  Most days I long to literally practice active – blood-flowing – history.  About seven ago, I tried to remedy this challenge by becoming involved in archaeology.  After a couple of brief glimpses into an archaeologist’s world, I found myself challenged by the practices of the discipline and increasingly by the way in which the programs of which I was a part engaged the public. Continue reading “Hands-on History: Are the archaeologists leading the way to a new mode of public engagement?” →

Thomas Peace Uncategorized

I went to the doctor’s and came back with a canoe!

I spent this past August locked up at my folk’s cabin north of Huntsville working on my dissertation.  I got a lot accomplished (hopefully only a couple more weeks before a full draft appears).  Near the end of the month I ended up with a bit of an ear infection.  After a few days of pain, I went into Burks Falls to see the doctor.  It was a pretty simple visit.  I told her that I had an ear infection, she looked in my ear a confirmed my suspicion.

Now, I haven’t had an ear infection since I was a kid.  Back then, a trip into the doctor while at the cottage was rewarded with a small surprise (usually a small toy of some sort).  So… after leaving the doctor, I decided that I should reward myself with a trip to the local flea market (it’s worth the trip if you are in Burks Falls area)… and look what I found! Continue reading “I went to the doctor’s and came back with a canoe!” →

Thomas Peace ActiveHistory.ca Posts

Historical Preservation in Comparative Perspective

This post was originally published on ActiveHistory.ca

Last week, two media items caught my attention.  The first story was the discovery of remains from an 18th-century ship found during construction at the World Trade Centre in New York City.  The second was a short debate on CBC’s Metro Morning between Toronto City Councillors Mike Feldman and Adam Vaughan on heritage designation of historic homes. Continue reading “Historical Preservation in Comparative Perspective” →

Thomas Peace ActiveHistory.ca Posts

Conversation, Contradiction and Conflict in ‘The Historical Present’

This post was originally published on ActiveHistory.ca

A couple of days ago Christopher Moore posted British historian Richard Overy’s “The Historical Present” from The Times Higher Education on his blog.  This short reflection captured my attention because of the dichotomy that Overy makes between academic, policy-oriented and popular histories.   Splitting history up into these categories misrepresents the value and purpose of practicing history and fails to acknowledge many of the contributions that shape the discipline as a whole. Continue reading “Conversation, Contradiction and Conflict in ‘The Historical Present’” →

Thomas Peace ActiveHistory.ca Posts

Street History

This post was originally published on ActiveHistory.ca

Recently, I was stopped at the entrance to the Eaton Centre by a man selling a short pamphlet on Black history.  I bought a copy.  Flipping through the pages, the pamphlet shared short stories about the contributions of key Black individuals, the racism they experienced, and important moments where Canadian and American communities were open to racial and ethnic difference. Continue reading “Street History” →

Thomas Peace ActiveHistory.ca Posts

Active History and learning from the early-Canadian past

This post was originally published on ActiveHistory.ca

Two weeks ago the  Telegraph in the United Kingdom ran a story announcing that due to government cutbacks the department of history at the University of Sussex has decided to end research and in-depth teaching on topics related to pre-1700 English social history and pre-1900 European history.  Under the new paradigm, topics such as the English Civil War, French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars would no longer be a focus of study. Continue reading “Active History and learning from the early-Canadian past” →