The State of Public Relations History

Integrating Power and Gradual Institutional Change in Public Relations History: The Case of the People’s University in North Carolina After the Civil War

“…Much discussion of public relations history has focused on how U.S. corporations successfully managed their communication function, through professionals from in-house public relations departments or outside agencies (Lamme et al, 2009;L'Etang, 2008;Miller, 2000;Myers, 2015). Criticisms arose that public relations under the corporatecentric and occupational approach (St John III et al, 2014) could be deemed mere reactive corporate maneuvers that neglect diverse actors, time periods, and social issues in public relations history (Brown, 2015;Coombs & Holladay, 2012;Lamme & Russell, 2010;L'Etang, 2008;Miller, 2000;Russell & Lamme, 2016;Watson, 2015).…”

“…The scope of public relations history has substantially expanded over time. Early research offered clarity on what the history of public relations as a modern concept should cover, focusing on U.S. corporations and the 20th century as well as public relations agencies, in-house departments, and professional practitioners (Lamme et al, 2009; Miller, 2000; Podnar & Golob, 2009; St John III et al, 2014; Watson, 2015). Subsequently, public relations history has taken a more expansive view by integrating additional types of actors, ranges of historical periods, and scopes of social issues (Curtin, 2008; Lamme et al, 2009; Lamme & Russell, 2010; Miller, 2000; Podnar & Golob, 2009).…”

“…Early research offered clarity on what the history of public relations as a modern concept should cover, focusing on U.S. corporations and the 20th century as well as public relations agencies, in-house departments, and professional practitioners (Lamme et al, 2009; Miller, 2000; Podnar & Golob, 2009; St John III et al, 2014; Watson, 2015). Subsequently, public relations history has taken a more expansive view by integrating additional types of actors, ranges of historical periods, and scopes of social issues (Curtin, 2008; Lamme et al, 2009; Lamme & Russell, 2010; Miller, 2000; Podnar & Golob, 2009). For example, governmental entities, civic groups, and nonprofessional individuals have been added to public relations history, together with the pre-19th century and the diverse social issues pertaining to gender, race, sexual orientation, and the environment, to name a few (Curtin, 2008; Lamme et al, 2009; Lamme & Russell, 2010; Miller, 2000; Podnar & Golob, 2009).…”

“…Subsequently, public relations history has taken a more expansive view by integrating additional types of actors, ranges of historical periods, and scopes of social issues (Curtin, 2008; Lamme et al, 2009; Lamme & Russell, 2010; Miller, 2000; Podnar & Golob, 2009). For example, governmental entities, civic groups, and nonprofessional individuals have been added to public relations history, together with the pre-19th century and the diverse social issues pertaining to gender, race, sexual orientation, and the environment, to name a few (Curtin, 2008; Lamme et al, 2009; Lamme & Russell, 2010; Miller, 2000; Podnar & Golob, 2009).…”