Part of the OLLI at Auburn Brown Bag Series
Trees are often viewed primarily as natural resources, yet they also hold powerful places in our cultural landscapes and collective memory. Branching Out: The Public History of Trees, a 2025 essay collection from the University of Massachusetts Press, explores trees through this cultural lens and examines their important role in public history practice.
University of North Alabama historians Dr. Brian Dempsey and Dr. Carolyn Barske Crawford each contributed essays to the volume. In “An Island of Trees Called Old Hickory: History and Place in the Mississippi Delta,” Dempsey examines a small stand of trees on the edge of Cleveland, Mississippi. Though ordinary in appearance, the site embodies deep cultural associations that illuminate how people connect with and interpret their local landscapes.
In “‘The Most Useful Tree:’ The American Chestnut, Stories, and Species Restoration,” Crawford explores how the American Chestnut Foundation leverages memories of the tree’s once-vital economic, social, and cultural role in Appalachia to support ongoing restoration efforts. Her work highlights the potential for powerful partnerships between scientists and public historians. Together, Dempsey and Crawford will share insights from their research and invite the audience to reflect on why trees matter—not only ecologically, but as anchors of meaning in public history and cultural life.
