[MassHistPres] Renaming your historical society

[Hetty Startup]

I like the trend towards Historic Northampton (as an example) and it seems
to work for them.

By itself, the word 'society' doesn't always represent what goes on because
it is [just] "an organization or club formed for a particular purpose or
activity." So some reference to History (!) has to be in play.
Center doesn't give a sense of the organization's principal responsibility
for preserving collections (of photos, buildings, archives, etc etc)

Names are important, but so too is Mission, Collecting Policy, etc. It is
all part of branding these days. I have been involved in organizations that
have rebranded themselves - it is a lot more work than just a name change.

Hetty Startup
Amherst Historical Commission

On Wed, May 10, 2023 at 10:19 AM SAMUEL R BLAIR via MassHistPres <
masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

> I've seen no such trend. Adding "X" means nothing and you're still stuck
> with "History", like it or not.
>
> Sam Blair
> Fitchburg Historical Commission (retired)
>
> On 05/08/2023 11:33 PM David Temple via MassHistPres <
> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:
>
>
> There's been a trend away from the term "historical society" because it
> seems to connote old and fusty, not a lively, happening place.
>
> If you changed your name to "X History Center"  or "Historic X"  or
> something similar - do you think the change actually accomplished
> anything?  Did making the change create any problems?
>
> In your reply, please include my original message.
>
> David F. Temple
> President, Medfield Historical Society
> https://medfieldhistoricalsociety.org/
> Co-Chair, Medfield Historical Commission
> 300 South Street
> Medfield, MA 02052
> H-508-359-2915 M-508-613-6606
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