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Original article can be found at ��
Originally published on January 11, 2016 By Ed Sealover��

History ����ֱ�� has named a new state historian — one who will operate for the first time in a partnership between the quasi-governmental historical society and the University of ����ֱ�� Boulder.��

Patty Limerick, director of ����ֱ��-Boulder’s Center of the American West, will replace Bill Convery, who retired as state historian last year at the same time that several other top History ����ֱ�� officials took buyouts.��

The duties of the position are undefined but typically have involved doing research into prominent topics, giving presentations on behalf of the historical society and a having a major hand in the structuring of exhibits at the History ����ֱ�� Center in Denver.��

Limerick will continue in her role at the university but will work part-time with History ����ֱ�� in Denver as well.��

A 30-year scholar of Western history and author of “Legacy of Conquest: The Unbroken Past of the American West,” she said she has no particular goals for her new role but hopes to listen to what History ����ֱ�� leaders and historical organizations want to see from her office and find interesting ways to present that history to the public.��

“In a sense, it’s what I’ve been doing on my own for years — going around and talking with everyone under the sun about the value of history,” Limerick said. “This just gives me a better positioning for what I’ve always done and wanted to do.”��

History ����ֱ�� has gone through some major changes in recent years. First, in 2012, it opened the History ����ֱ�� Center, a $111 million, 59,000-square-foot museum in downtown Denver that attracted 400,000 visitors during the first year it was open.��

But after the gambling-tax revenues that provide a significant part of its funding fell over the past few years, the agency lost its top four leaders to buyouts in August as it announced plans to cut$3 million from its budget over the next two years.��

As part of its restructuring, History ����ֱ�� will partner with ����ֱ��-Boulder to provide its state historian’s office staff. In addition to Limerick, Jason Hanson, a faculty member at the Center of the American West, will serve as deputy state historian and will be assisted by Sam Bock, a history PhD student at the school.��

Limerick has shaped her tenure at ����ֱ�� around the idea of exploring important and contentious issues in their historical context. She said she believe her tenure as state historian will have a similar focus.��