AFFINITY COMMUNITIES

Our mission

The Field Services Alliance exists to create a forum to share information, provide mutual support and collegiality, and promote scholarship among those who, on a statewide or regional level, offer educational services to local historical organizations and others who practice history.

Who we are

FSA members are paid staff members of organizations that have and promote an organized, ongoing program for delivery of services to small, grassroots history organizations. If your historical organization needs assistance, contact the field services office in your state (link to Agent Listing tab).

What we do

The types of services that individual Field Services offices vary, but can include:

• Workshops and webinars geared toward the operation of museums
• Onsite visits and consultations
• Grant programs
• Technical resources and documents
• Meeting facilitation
• Supply kits
• Assessments
• Network-building opportunities
• And much more

The Field Services Alliance meets twice yearly – once for an annual Spring Training (hosted by a Field Service office at a different location each year) and once at the AASLH Annual Meeting. In addition, the Field Services Alliance offers an FSA Tips session each year during the annual meeting on a topic geared towards small museums.

Our history

In July 1988, a group convened in Chicago by AASLH as the Field Services Task Force agreed to continue meeting to discuss mutual interests and concerns. Born of that decision was a collaboration among a small group of public historians which has evolved into an active group of field services representatives who share ideas, resources, and strategies for their work to support local history organizations and practitioners.