Last weekend (the weekend before Thanksgiving) I returned to Cincinnati to give a presentation of my research findings to the community at the Bond Hill branch of the Public Library. About 25 people came to hear my talk and to ask questions. One woman even bought a copy of my book! Thrilling. Hopefully, I’ll be asked to give the presentation again to other audiences. I do think Bond Hill’s history is of interest to urban historians and neighborhood planners, but really, if this book isn’t well disseminated, my work will have little impact and I’d like a greater legacy for the hard work I accomplished these past two years.
Regarding the presentation itself, this was the first time I had given a public talk before strangers and I was a bit anxious beforehand. This anxiety motivated me to prepare many slides to elucidate my story and to challenge the imagination of my audience. Admittedly, and hour and twenty minutes is a bit long for most people and I didn’t even cover everything. In future presentations I will cover less material, and harp on the absolutely relevant details I want my audience to remember.