Local Identity Worksheet

What’s Your Local Identity? Active Collections is founded on the principle that collections must either advance the mission or they must go. For most local historical societies, the mission is straightforward: collect objects that illustrate the history of your town or region. This worksheet is from a conference session that aimed to help participants clearly define the identity of their community, both now and in the past. While discussing these questions, think about the objects you already have (and objects you wish you had) that can tell stories reflective of the people and events that shape your local identity.

Questions to Ask About Local Identity (PDF)

Created by Hannah Kirkpatrick for the “What’s Your Local Identity?” Session at the 71st Annual LLHSM Conference - Vermont Historical Society, 2025