Come Along! Exploring Agricultural History and the Public History of Biotechnology

Agricultural historians conveyed their knowledge to the public in various ways over the first one hundred years of the Agricultural History Society (1919-2019). Some invested their expertise in developing archival and museum collections. That work emphasized mechanical more than biological innovations (biotechnology), even though some also argued that biological innovations far outpaced the mechanical. Agricultural historians saw an opportunity as living historical farms began to flourish during the 1960s. These required authentic plants and animals to realize fill educational potential, but propagating living collections required talking across disciplinary divides. The 1967 and 1970 AHS symposia included plant geneticists, horticulturalists, and historians who affirmed the historic context and the agricultural science necessary for a public history of biotechnology. Public interest continues to grow as genetic modcation thrives, and museums remain a popular and trusted source for information that helps audiences gain perspectives about current debates.