I have always found that local history is rich in experience and reward, giving us context and perspective across time, geography, and community. I like to help others us it as a learning and teaching tool, as well.

What biases do different individuals, or communities or generations bring to the history they understand and espouse? And what do we learn about ourselves as a result In any understanding of history, are there elements that are clearly fact-based, others that are folklore or allegory or simply created? And what do we learn about us, we human beings, as a result?

One of my favorite quotes: [We] map what we see, marking some features, ignoring others.  History is not the past, but a map of the past, drawn from a particular point of view to be useful to the modern traveler.~Henry Glassie, Professor of Folklore.