History belongs to everyone. It is not the exclusive possession of scholars nor of local residents who have already investigated the past. Those of us who have written histories have only begun the process of discovering local history. We cannot do it all alone. Everyone can participate by becoming curious about what has happened before our time, by exploring old sources, and by sharing findings with each other.

History is not simply about national events or the activities of great men. History includes people like ourselves. Local history gives us our sense of who we are, where we have been and what is happening around us. It helps us understand those with whom we share our city. In addition, local history places us in the context of our world. As James Malin, famous Kansas historian, has pointed out, we understand national events and developments better when we see how they affect us locally and individually.

In Kansas City, Kansas, local history is particularly important because the story of this city is a complicated mixture of people and events--a mixture which can only be understood when more and more people from differing backgrounds get involved in recapturing their own pasts. Each group in the city has experienced events differently. Those who have been excluded from traditional history need to learn the skills for recovering and telling the stories of their own people. By exploring what we share and do not share, the whole story of the city’s history will be told.

This section of the guide will give some advice and suggestions for those who are interested in getting started doing local history or in improving their research skills. It also contains suggestions for genealogy and family history, for including local history in the classroom, and for conducting oral history projects.

Good historians carefully analyze their sources and do not assume that everything written down or printed is true. They consider the viewpoint of the author of a source and the ways in which his or her opinions may color a story. Understanding this, good historians strive to find and compare as many different versions of a story as possible.

Good historians also understand the need for accuracy. Although they realize that no one can ever know exactly what happened in the past, they are committed to searching all available sources honestly and thoroughly. In the process of their search, they keep careful notes and records so that they are able to return to sources they have consulted and to refer other historians to them.

But good historians do more than simply collect information, however interesting that information may be. They also make connections: connections between causes and effects, between different groups in their story, between the past and the present. They try to connect their own particular stories to developments occurring in the region, nation, and world.

Connections often result from asking questions, and good historians ask lots of questions. Some questions are factual, and some are interpretive. Even when questions cannot be fully answered, they can help a person focus research and writing and not get overwhelmed in a flood of information.

And good historians share their findings with others in a variety of ways. In order to insure that their work is not lost, they regularly give copies of their research and of their source materials to institutions like the Wyandotte County Museum or other historical collections. They may also present programs, create displays, or publish their findings. Given the time and money necessary to produce books, they send articles to newspapers or to historical journals like Kansas History. Realizing that no one can ever re-create the past exactly as it once was, they accept the fact that other historians may tell the story of an event differently than they themselves do.

If you want further advice on how to engage in historical projects, take a look at the following books:

Felt, Thomas. Researching, Writing, and Publishing Local History. Nashville: American Association for State and Local History, 1982. Anyone researching and contemplating publishing should read this book. It is full of practical advice and information on everything from finding sources and taking notes to marketing a published volume.

Gardner, James, and George Rollie Adams, editors. Ordinary People and Everyday Life: Perspectives on the New Social History. Nashville: American Association for State and Local History, 1982. This anthology is the best place to start understanding the social context in which local history took place. It includes overviews of recent scholarship and suggestions for further reading.

History News. 1941 to the present. The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) publishes this general magazine on local history projects across the country. They also publish numerous other materials for local historians, including books and "Technical Bulletins" on many aspects of local historical research and preservation. These materials are available at the Wyandotte County Museum.

Kyvig, David, and Myron Marty. Nearby History: Exploring the Past Around You. Nashville: American Association for State and Local History, 1982. These authors offer an innovative approach to doing local and family history. Their book is full of questions to explore and suggestions for using a wide variety