Even Candy and Hot Dogs Have a History

The term “history” means many things besides just wars, political proclamations, dates to memorize, or biographies of mostly aging white men. It encompasses everything from the Norman Conquest, to the European invasion(s) of the Americas, to pickles, ice cream, and hot dogs.

There is a notion among non-historians that history has to be the formal, official record of people, places, and events which have contributed to the rise and fall of nations, significant battles and documents, etc.

To be sure, all those things are history. But if you were fortunate enough to watch “The History Channel” recently, you were reminded that history means everything we know or can know about the past, not just the selected events we are told (usually by someone with an academic degree or political title) are significant or important. Specifically, “The History Channel” broadcast a wonderful series about the history of food. Yes, they focused several hours on the history of food, seeking answers to such questions as:

Where was sliced bread invented?

Who made the first known sandwich?

Who really invented peanut butter?

Where did chocolate come from?

Who invented ice cream and how has it changed over the centuries?

Viewers of this series learned such interesting things as how chocolate was originally made, and why it’s MUCH better now; how soda fountains came about; and the fact that “soda” was condemned in 18th and 19th century America as something sinful and evil.

The point of all this might be: History is living and fascinating, offering a snapshot of everyday people and concerns, once you get past the stuffy demands of academia.

For those of you who already are passionate about history and want to make it a vocation, consider this: Qualified social historians can find careers with everyone from the National Park Service to the world’s largest manufacturing coorporations. If you put in the training and land the right job, you could be the one who writes the definitive history of the rise and fall of General Motors — or even the founding of the Internet.

It’s all history waiting for you to shape it.