Cleveland Cultural Gardens

Historical Research & the Gardens

For those interested in performing historical research on the Cleveland Cultural Gardens — especially students of History 400, the Local History Seminar here at Cleveland State — we offer the following thoughts about history as an interpretive discipline. For a quick outline of some of the resources available on this subject, visit the Resources Page of this site.

History is an interpretive discipline, examining not just what happened, but exploring how, why, and when it happened. As such, historical research involves more than just gathering information, it involves analyzing source materials and developing theoretical perspectives on the past. Toward that end, we offer the following guides and links to studying the history of the vernacular landscape, parks, and the Cultural Gardens.

How to use “primary sources”: Toolkit at DoHistory
How to makes sense of oral history: Linda Shopes at History Matters
Some approaches to oral history: Step-by-Step Guide to Oral History by Judith Moyer at DoHistory