The 2016 National Council on Public History book award is presented to Susan Ferentinos for her groundbreaking work, Interpreting LGBT History at Museums and Historic Sites. This volume is published by Rowman and Littlefield as part of the new American Association of State and Local History (AASLH) series, Interpreting History. Ferentinos bases her work in sound scholarship, providing a concise history of the subject matter--quite an achievement when she clearly argues that there is not one lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) history, but many. Following the historical overview, Ferentinos introduces three well-chosen case studies, which are authored by practitioners in the field. The first case study by Jill Austin and Jennifer Brier focuses on LGBT exhibits; the second, by Kenneth C. Turino, on interpretation at LGBT-related sites; and the third, by Kyle Parsons and Stewart Van Cleve, on a museum education program for high school students. Each offers insight for public history practitioners and students on the ways to find and implement such programs at their sites and museums. Following these case studies, Ferentinos offers considerations and recommendations for those interested in interpreting LGBT history. Given the long history of denial, criminalization, and homophobia related to LGBT individuals, it is not surprising that most museums and historic sites ignored or lacked resources to address the topic in their collections and interpretation. Ferentinos demonstrates that these histories can be unearthed, explored, and presented to enrich our understanding of the past and fulfill the goal of inclusive, relevant, and valuable public history. The work serves not only as a history, but as a guidebook for archivists, curators, and interpreters, and a resource in academic public history programs
This book has something for everyone interested in history, museums, and historic site interpretation. The historical overview should be required reading for all who think they know the history of the United States. Curators, historic site managers, archivists, and librarians, among others, will discover many ways to challenge any preconceived ideas of the lives documented and interpreted in their collections or at their sites. Equally important, they will find myriad resources to answer their questions in this well-written and provocative volume.

This groundbreaking work thoughtfully documents seminal projects in the interpretation of LGBT history and also lights a path forward for those committed to a more inclusive approach to public history.

Timely and well-crafted, Interpreting LGBT History at Museums and Historic Sites is a must-read not only for professionals working with collections in museums, archives, libraries, and other cultural heritage institutions, but also for anyone in the communities they seek to engage. Ferentinos provides a convincing rationale for why LGBT history and interpretation matters, as well as a clear framework for how it can - and should - be shared. Readers will find much to consider, reference, and, perhaps more importantly, apply.