Making History Digestible

Myrtles Plantation, December 2015

This week’s readings focused on public memory and spatial erasing as well as historical fiction’s contribution to the historical narrative. In the Tiya Miles reading, The House on Diamond Hill she discusses The Chief Vann House. The history behind this house is long and difficult. As this house shares its cultural history with many different backgrounds it is no surprise that this site has been called to be preserved and utilized as a way to educate the masses.

As Miles continued to talk about her experiences visiting and researching The Chief Vann House I was reminded of my time spent researching at Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana. Myrtles Plantation also has a rich and sorted history filled with many of the same trials and tribulations as The Chief Vann House; however, the actual history that is commemorated at Myrtles Plantation (during my time there) is completely white-washed. I can not say if things have changed but by visiting their website and clicking the link labeled “History & Haunting” I still was unable to find anything other than links to sign up for their tours. Even their tour information was devoid of historical information. During my stay at Myrtles I was able to be a part of several of these tours. Instead of focusing on the robust history of the land and those who spent their lives caring for it, the tour guides glossed over the hard history and focused on those who lived in the “big house”. As historians we have to be very careful when looking at celebration vs. commemoration of history. It’s sad that so many historical sites are still focused on the celebration of “white” history. Through this practice so many important histories are being ignored, erased and forgotten. As historians it is our responsibility to make sure this does not continue.

Cauvin’s chapter speaks to history that is easily read and cultivated specifically for the ‘every man’. It is unlikely that historians are presented with all the facts when researching a place or time. More often then not historians are asked to connect the dots. These details added by historians are their way of storytelling. Creating these stories and bringing them to life for the masses is so important. Miles’ book The House on Diamond Hill is a perfect example of historian storytelling. Her blend of details mixed with her extensive research presents these hard histories to the general public in an easily digestible way. It’s an elevated historical fiction.

Bibliography

Cauvin, Thomas. “Making Public History: Media and Practice.” In Public History. 107-122. 1st ed. New York: Routledge, 2016.

Miles, Tiya. The House on Diamond Hill: A Cherokee Plantation Story. North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 2010.

Tomahawk. “History and Hauntings at The Myrtles: Louisiana Plantation.” Myrtles . The Von Mack Agency, 2023. https://myrtlesplantation.com/history-and-hauntings.