Why Teach? - May 20, 2013
By Kenneth Pomeranz & James Grossman
At a time when many people are wondering, “What jobs does a history degree prepare a student for?” almost everyone would agree that one such job is K–12 teaching. So this article from a Columbia history major who feels that she and her peers are being steered away from teaching should concern us as historians—even if it didn’t also concern us as citizens.
History Problems… - May 19, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
As finals approach and our anxiety levels reach an all-time high, it may be worth having a space for historians and history lovers to grouse and commiserate. I asked a few of my colleagues over social media to sound off on some of the unique (and funny) history problems we face on a daily basis. These are their complaints…
Writing Tips for Summer Break - May 14, 2013
By Jennifer Reut
A few weeks ago, I ran into a senior colleague who mentioned she was off to Yaddo for seven weeks to finish her book. I was delighted to hear that she’d successfully made the case to Yaddo that historians belong at a writer’s colony, traditionally the dominion of poets, playwrights, and fiction writers. Writing history is both an intensely intellectual and profoundly creative endeavor, but this claim often draws quizzical looks from playwrights and other “traditional” creative writers.
Performing History: A PechaKucha Night in Buffalo - April 29, 2013
By Jennifer Reut
In the middle of an inauspiciously cold, wet week in Buffalo, New York, the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) planned something a little different for its annual meeting this April. On Friday night, after a full day of sessions, meetings, and tours, a crowd of academics, architects, local activists, and students munched on tacos from the food truck parked outside and sipped beer from a makeshift bar in the darkened nave of Asbury Hall, a 19th-century church designed by John Selkirk and restored by musician and activist Ani Di Franco.
Grant of the Week: The William and Madeline Welder Smith Research Travel Award - April 25, 2013
The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin announces the 2013–2014 William and Madeline Welder Smith Research Travel Award. Five fellowships of up to $1,000.00 each will be given, and the aid may be used any time from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2014.
TED Talks You Should Be Watching - April 22, 2013
By Jennifer Reut
We know TED as the slightly hipper-than-thou conference of short public talks about ideas and innovation with a high WOW quotient. With its strong focus on science and technology and, to a lesser extent, art and education, it can sometimes be hard for historians to find themselves and their concerns reflected. To help out, we’ve culled the TED archives to find 10 talks that historians should at least know about, and maybe even watch.
AHA Member Spotlight: Allison Scardino Belzer - April 16, 2013
By Nike Nivar
Allison Scardino Belzer is assistant professor of history and the coordinator of undergraduate research at Armstrong Atlantic State University. She lives in Savannah, Georgia, and has been an AHA member since 2002.
Fredrik Logevall Receives 2013 Pulitzer Prize for History - April 15, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
AHA Member Fredrik Logevall, John S. Knight Professor of International Studies at Cornell University, received the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in history for his book, Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America’s Vietnam, which was published in 2011 by Random House.
Available Now at Perspectives Online: A Decline in History Majors - April 14, 2013
By Allen Mikaelian
We are making available, to members and nonmembers alike, Robert B. Townsend’s article for the April issue of Perspectives on History, which analyzes Department of Education research and finds that the number of history bachelor’s degrees awarded has declined for the first time in a decade.
Martin Scorsese Gives the 42nd Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities - April 08, 2013
By Jennifer Reut
Walking into the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts always lends an event a kind of grandeur that can’t be borrowed. The long walk down the capacious Hall of Nations empties out into the Grand Foyer where the giant bust of Kennedy presides, and from there the gleaming Carrara marble of the River Terrace reflects expansive views overlooking the Potomac.
How the "bosses’-eye view" of History is Capturing National Headlines - April 07, 2013
By Kenneth Pomeranz
Sunday’s New York Times has a story on the growing numbers of courses and research projects on the history of capitalism. The article highlights the creativity of a number of historians who have been looking at financiers, industrialists, and other important economic decision makers, with tools that include, but go beyond, economics.
The Most-Visited Sites in the National Park System for 2012 - April 03, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
The National Park Service released its annual numbers on the most-visited sites in the park system for 2012. For a breakdown of the most popular sites, see below. Special thanks to Park Advocate for the data.
AAUP Releases Statement Calling on Higher Education Institutions to Comply with the Affordable Care Act - April 02, 2013
By Jacqueline Jones
Declaring that “access to health care is a basic human right,” the American Association of University Professors has issued a statement calling on colleges and universities to comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and to calculate the hours of part-time and adjunct faculty in a fair and accurate way.
Calling All Historians-Open Casting Call for History Based Reality TV Show - April 01, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
Do you have what it takes to be a reality TV star? I recently received an open casting call for a “history based reality TV show” that will be filmed in the DC Metro area, and thought our readers might be up for a little fun in the lime light.
In April’s Perspectives on History: Tuning the History Major, the Job Market, Historians’ Salaries, Humanities and Workplace Skills, and More - March 31, 2013
By Allen Mikaelian
One year ago, Executive Director James Grossman introduced the AHA Tuning project in the pages of Perspectives. This month, we feature six articles related to the project—four from project participants and two from historians who have been watching closely.
Thirteen New Sites Recognized as National Historic Landmarks - March 24, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
On March 12, the Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Director of the National Park Service Jonathan B. Jarvis announced thirteen new national historic landmarks.
Should I Stay or Should I Go? Aging Workforce Creates a Complex Dilemma for Colleges - March 19, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
Academics have talked about an impending mass retirement of baby boomer professors for decades, but young PhDs continue to wait for full-time, permanent positions to crop up. On Monday night, PBS NewsHour ran a short report on the “dilemmas colleges and universities face as their teaching work force is graying.”
Bancroft Prize Winners – 2013 - March 17, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
Congratulations to the 2013 winners of Columbia University’s prestigious Bancroft Prize. The winners, both AHA members, are W. Jeffrey Bolster (University of New Hampshire, Durham), and John Fabian Witt (Yale University).
History- There’s an App for That?! - March 17, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
After a long hiatus, our series “History- There’s an App for That” is back, just in time to showcase a broad range of new, useful apps for tech-hungry historians.
Is There Any Value in U.S. News Rankings of History Grad Programs? - March 12, 2013
By Robert B. Townsend
The latest iteration of the U.S. News and World Report rankings of history graduate programs appeared yesterday, prompting fresh questions about their value for the discipline.
NARA Investigators Detail Brazen Theft and Daring Capture in the Archives - March 11, 2013
By Jennifer Reut
On July 10, 2011, the stars were aligned. On that day, according to Jim Warwick, assistant US attorney for the Department of Justice, a sharp-eyed employee of the Maryland Historical Society sensed that two researchers, later revealed to be Barry Landau and Jason Savedoff, were acting strangely. Following this hunch, the employee crawled into the rafters and observed as Savedoff stuffed documents into his jacket while Landau distracted another employee.
Now Open and Available at Perspectives Online—MOOCs, Transnational Teaching - March 10, 2013
By Allen Mikaelian
Is this the “year of the MOOC,” as a New York Times reporter put it? Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have been one of the most hotly debated technologies in higher education, having attracted supporters with a nearly evangelical fervor and detractors with visions of catastrophe.
Top Tumblrs for Historians - March 10, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
Tumblr is a virtual goldmine of creative, niche micro-blogs. A few weeks ago, I asked our Twitter followers to recommend their favorite funny Tumblrs, and received a number of endorsements. I rounded up the top recommendations into a short list, guaranteed to distract you for a few hours.
Books by Members - March 06, 2013
By Allen Mikaelian, Jennifer Reut, and Vanessa Varin
As a service to AHA members, we periodically list books by members received in the headquarters office in recent months. These postings are meant to announce their publication and provide short descriptions of the books. These are not reviews.
Is this the Golden Age of Historian Administrators? - March 04, 2013
By Jennifer Reut
Recently, we read an essay in the Nation on the role of university presidents as civic leaders that lamented the way in which the office had become, according to the author, more timid than in the past. “Was there truly a ‘golden age’ of engaged college and university presidents who ‘sculpted’ society?” asked the author, citing James B. Conant, Robert Hutchins, Kingman Brewster, and Clark Kerr as examples.
The Dos and Don’ts of Live-Tweeting at an Academic Conference: An Update - March 04, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
A few weeks ago, I asked our readers to help me tackle an issue raised at the annual meeting—the lack of etiquette for live-tweeting. The response to our working draft was overwhelming, but also intriguing (you can read the conversation in totality here). Many of the topics raised by readers intersect with our own Statement on Standards of Professional Conduct, including issues of privacy, attribution, and professional conduct.
2013 AHA Nominations - March 03, 2013
The Nominating Committee for 2013–14, chaired by Raúl A. Ramos (University of Houston), met in Washington, D.C. on February 9–10 and offers the following candidates for offices of the Association that are to be filled in the election this year.
History and AP: Growing Numbers and a Different Student Population - February 26, 2013
By Robert B. Townsend
The number of Advanced Placement history tests taken by high school students reached an unprecedented level with the graduating class of 2012. According to the College Board, students in the graduating class of 2012 took 580,360 tests in the fields of European, U.S., and world history, and more than half of those tests (300,484 in all) received a passing score of 3 or higher (out of 5).
An Update on the February 2013 Tuning Meeting - February 25, 2013
By Julia Brookins
In the face of wintry weather in some states and a chilly political climate for the humanities in others, dozens of historians shared the warmth of professional community near the AHA offices in Capitol Hill earlier this month.
Report Claims History Discipline Failing in Modern Research Practices—Now Available at Perspectives Online. - February 24, 2013
By Allen Mikaelian
How are historians adapting to the latest research tools and the expanding role of digital archives? In the current issue of Perspectives, Robert Townsend reports on an Ithaka S+R study that seems to suggest, according to Townsend, “that historians are deeply individualistic, and poorly trained in one of the most fundamental areas of their work.
New Report Reveals STEM Doctorates Encounter Similar Job Shortages - February 20, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
Further on the topic of higher education and the job market for doctoral students, Jordan Weissmann has published an article for the Atlantic illustrating (through a series of seven charts) the job prospects for recently graduated Ph.D.’s in the humanities, science, education, and other programs.
AHA Member News - February 19, 2013
By Jennifer Reut
Two AHA Members are among the recently announced finalists for the 2013 George Washington Book Prize, sponsored by Washington College.
AHA to Initiate Departmental Membership for Secondary Education Programs—Send Us Your Ideas! - February 18, 2013
By Dana Schaffer
The AHA is excited to announce the development of a new departmental membership for secondary educators. Through focus groups and individual meetings held in New Orleans at our annual meeting last month, we sought feedback on the needs and interests of pre-collegiate teachers to inform how best to establish this new membership initiative.
The Importance of Humanities and Social Science Education - February 14, 2013
By James Grossman
I recommend this morning’s Washington Post a column by Danielle Allen on the importance of humanities and social science education – not in competition with STEM disciplines but as an essential complement to science and mathematics learning.
Pacific Worlds and the U.S. History Survey: Kicking Off the AHA’s Bridging Cultures Project at the Huntington - February 12, 2013
By Nike Nivar and Robert Townsend
The week-long AHA Bridging Cultures Pacific institute at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, concluded a few weeks back with considerable excitement. The first part of the NEH-sponsored “American History, Atlantic and Pacific” brought together 30 community college faculty members, team leaders, and AHA staff for a busy week of seminars and research.
The Dos and Don’ts of Live-Tweeting at an Academic Conference: A Working Draft - February 11, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
Live-tweeting at conferences is growing in popularity, but should there be limits? While at the annual meeting this year, I had the opportunity to talk with bloggers and self-described “Twitterstorians” who expressed concern over the lack of live-tweeting etiquette. Not sure what live-tweeting is or why historians are concerned?
Black History Month in the Archives and Libraries - February 11, 2013
By Jennifer Reut
Every February, ProQuest, the online subscription service for journals, archives, and other historical delicacies unlocks its African American digital archives for Black History Month. This year is no exception, with open access in the month of February for the following ProQuest products: Historical Newspapers™ – Black Newspapers, Black Studies Center (primary and secondary resources), as well as its Civil War Era (newspapers and pamphlets) and African American Heritage (family-related records) databases.
Reconsidering the Dissertation - February 10, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
Stacey Patton has written a thought-provoking piece for the Chronicle that touches upon a few conversations currently going on regarding the job market and alternative career training.
Fracture and Reflection: Emancipation Proclamation Sesquicentennial Events Offer a Window into Current Historiography Debate - February 04, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
January 1, 2013, marked the sesquicentennial of the Emancipation Proclamation. Although the general historical consensus is that slavery was at the root of the conflict, questions about the role of the proclamation in defining the Civil War and 19th century race relations continue to dominate the field.
Recasting History? Further Comments on the Ongoing Discussion - February 04, 2013
By Elaine Carey and James Grossman
Editorial note: Responding to a report by the National Association of Scholars (NAS) on reading assignments at two Texas universities, Elaine Carey, AHA vice president, Teaching Division, and James Grossman, AHA executive director, wrote an article for the Chronicle of Higher Education that attracted a response from, among others, Samuel Goldman writing for the American Conservative.
Echoes of Present in the Past - February 03, 2013
By Robert Townsend
For those who enjoy echoes of the present in the past, a brief tour through Frederick Jackson Turner’s papers at the Huntington Library a few weeks ago turned up a few treasures.
Member Services Routine Maintenance February 5 - February 03, 2013
The member services section of the AHA web site will be down for maintenance during most of the business day of February 5 (Approximately 10 AM to 4 PM, EST). During this time access to the job ads, the online American Historical Review and all other member services will not be available for new sessions. We regret the inconvenience this will cause.
AHA Book Prizes to Align with Calendar Year - January 31, 2013
By Robert B. Townsend
Starting this year, the eligibility dates for AHA book prizes will be aligned with the calendar year listed on the book’s copyright page. This decision follows careful consideration by the AHA Council.
Go Tell it on Monticello: New Directions in “Telling the History of Slavery” - January 28, 2013
By Jennifer Reut
Planning was in the works for over a year for the upcoming mega-conference at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, “Telling the History of Slavery: Scholarship, Museum Interpretation, and the Public,” but it may benefit from the more recent public controversies over Jefferson’s character as a slaveholder, produced in part by the dust-up over Henry Wiencek’s book, Master of the Mountain: Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves.
What's in the History Survey? A Roundup of Reactions to the NAS Report - January 28, 2013
By Kenneth Pomeranz
The discussion that follows is important to all historians: whether or not you teach U.S. history (or teach at all, for that matter), or work for a public institution, in Texas or elsewhere. This is not because the NAS report from which it springs is particularly compelling.
“We Need More than STEM:” AHA President Kenneth Pomeranz in Inside Higher Ed - January 27, 2013
By Allen Mikaelian
Reacting to the emphasis on STEM disciplines—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—in Obama’s inaugural address and the White House’s report on “The Future of the U.S. Research Enterprise,” AHA President Kenneth Pomeranz makes the case for history, especially when it comes to the formation of policy.
The Benefits of a Good Story: The BackStory Historians Take on Inauguration History - January 27, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
Although the parade is over, and everyone who attended Monday night’s inaugural ball has hopefully recovered, I still have one more addition to the 2013 inauguration conversation.
From Articles to Advocacy: The Chronicle moves into activism with the launch of the Adjunct Project - January 23, 2013
By Jennifer Reut
After publishing a number of important columns highlighting the pay and working conditions of adjuncts, the Chronicle of Higher Education recently took a step from what one commenter called, “occasional ‘objective’ coverage to activism” with the launch of the Adjunct Project, a new tool for adjuncts and the people who hire them.
Now Available from Perspectives Online: “History Harvests: What Happens When Students Collect and Digitize the People’s History?” - January 21, 2013
By Allen Mikaelian
Responding to the high level of interest in the article on History Harvests in Perspectives on History, we are opening it to all readers ahead of schedule.
Updates from the Tuning Project - January 16, 2013
By Julia Brookins
Nearly a dozen of the faculty members who are participating in the AHA’s Tuning project made presentations at the Workshop on Undergraduate Teaching in New Orleans.
Are Students More Likely to Finish at Elite Doctoral Programs? - January 15, 2013
By Robert Townsend
Over at ActiveHistory.ca, Mark Sholdice notes the predominance of PhDs from a few elite programs in the academic history profession. The elite programs do enjoy higher placement rates—especially in the high-profile world of PhD programs.
Bridging Cultures Institute Underway at the Huntington Library - January 14, 2013
By Robert Townsend
The first of the AHA’s NEH-sponsored Bridging Cultures in Community Colleges institutes kicked off at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, yesterday. The institute gathers 24 community college faculty members and a half-dozen experts in the history of the Pacific and Pacific worlds to discuss the latest historiography on the subject, and how it might fit into U.S. history survey courses.
The NEH Crowdsources Nonfiction Reading List for Kids - January 13, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
The NEH recently announced that they are seeking nominations for a new nonfiction booklist for elementary, middle, and high-school aged children.
AHA 2013: How to Catch Up on the 127th Annual Meeting from Home - January 08, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
Miss anything at AHA 2013? Here are just a few ways to catch up on the main events at the meeting:
Interfolio: The Newest AHA Member Benefit - January 01, 2013
By Vanessa Varin
On the job market and having trouble managing your application materials? On a search committee and overwhelmed with applications? The AHA is happy to announce that we will be offering complimentary Interfolio services as a new member benefit. Interfolio is an online service that streamlines the application process for both job seekers and search committees by delivering and collecting professional dossiers.
Historians and Scholarly Societies: Defining Learning Expectations - December 31, 2012
AHA Council member Anne Hyde (Colorado College) has offered reflections on the role a scholarly society can play in “Defining Learning Expectations” among college students.
A Call for Nominations - December 13, 2012
The Nominating Committee will meet in February to recommend candidates for a range of AHA leadership positions, but they need your help. Please propose yourself or any friends and colleagues who you believe can serve the Association in any open council positions (found here).
AHA Annual Meeting Housing Closes Tonight! - December 12, 2012
Although AHA housing for the 2013 annual meeting closes at midnight, there are still a few rooms available! In addition to the housing deadline, preregistration rates end on Friday, December 21.
Lincoln Links: Historians Debate the New Film - December 11, 2012
By James Grossman
In my November 2012 Perspectives on History column, “Lincoln, Hollywood, and an Opportunity for Historians,” I suggested that Stephen Spielberg’s new film offers historians a golden opportunity to engage the general public on issues central to American history and public culture.
Ithaka S+R Reports Changing Research Practices Among Historians - December 09, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
How have digital resources affected the research practices of historians? What research services do historians need but can’t find? Ithaka S+R recently attempted to find answers to such questions and published a report that provides a deep analysis of the current research practices of historians, and current models for research services emerging on campuses in the United States.
Name that Cocktail! - December 03, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
In celebration of the AHA’s return to New Orleans, we are asking historians to help us name a few cocktails that will be available at the various hotel bars throughout the meeting. In the spirit of the meeting, ideas should relate to history and the profession!
Teaching and Learning History: Teagle Foundation to Support a New AHA Initiative - November 27, 2012
By Julia Brookins
What are the best practices for teaching history to undergrads? How can history departments better work with teaching and learning centers at their institutions? What does a graduate student in history need to know about the latest pedagogical theories, practices, and debates?
A Vital Resource: The Humanities Indicators - November 26, 2012
By Robert B. Townsend
Have you ever pondered job prospects for humanities majors, or wondered about trends in the number of visits to historic sites? The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is currently hosting an invaluable resource, The Humanities Indicators, which holds the answers to these questions and many more.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Global Context: Building a Broader History of Humanity - November 25, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
The History Channel recently sponsored a global teach-in in the hopes of confronting the tendency of textbooks to avoid a global approach to American history-a problem that often leads students to conclude that America’s story is largely separate from a broader history of humanity. The teach-in joined historians Albert Camarillo and Hsin-Mei Agnes Hsu with students from across the globe to discuss key events in world history that link nation-states in a shared history.
Accreditors Consider Academic Freedom in Evaluating Higher Education Institutions - November 20, 2012
By James Grossman
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the American Association of University Professors have offered an intriguing suggestion regarding the relevance of academic freedom to the quality of education. Please note in this recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education their recommendation that accreditors consider how well an institution protects academic freedom as an important criterion in their evaluations.
Reaction to the AHA’s Versatile PhD Annoucement - November 18, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
As someone who recently graduated from a history program and took a “nonacademic” position, I was particularly pleased to see the AHA’s recent move to enable historians to explore jobs outside academia. During my last years in graduate school, I was starved for opportunities to have honest conversations with my colleagues about career options beyond the ivory tower.
History Jobs Update: November 16, 2012 - November 15, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
In an effort to keep our readers informed about the different academic positions trending on the job market, we are offering a breakdown of the job job ads submitted to the AHA each week. A total number of 8 jobs were posted today and below is a look at what fields and faculty ranks are in-demand this week.
Historians React to Proposal from Florida Task Force on State Higher Education Reform - November 14, 2012
By Robert B. Townsend
Should it cost more for a degree in history than the sciences? A preliminary proposal from a task force, commissioned by Florida Governor Rick Scott offers a resounding “yes.” If their proposal goes into effect, it would allow public universities to charge undergraduates differing tuition rates depending on their major. The proposal offers to freeze tuition rates for majors in “specific high-skill, high demand (market determined strategic demand) degree programs,” in an effort to lure such students into the state. Meanwhile, for fields viewed as having less value—history among them—tuition would rise.
Spielberg, Lincoln, and Historians - November 13, 2012
By James Grossman
Spielberg’s Lincoln has already engendered the kind of informed, critical engagement that I have hoped historians would offer upon its release: in this case, Kate Masur (Northwestern University) in the New York Times.
The Real Widows of the 19th Century Revealed - November 12, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
The legacy of the Civil War is rarely considered through the perspective of the widows left behind. Through a crowdsourcing project sponsored by the National Archives and Records Administration, however, genealogists and archivists across the country are working together to reveal the individual experiences of widows after the war ended.
Versatile PhD: The Newest AHA Member Benefit - November 12, 2012
By Nike Nivar
The AHA is happy to announce that we will be offering a free, premium-content subscription to Versatile PhD as a new member benefit. Versatile PhD is a confidential web-based resource that aims to prepare PhDs and ABDs for careers outside academia. It works to identify and demystify nonacademic careers, and reveal interesting professions that require the skills historians cultivated (or are currently cultivating) in graduate school. Versatile PhD is a web-based resource that you can use anytime, from any computer, confidentially. No one will know you are using this website unless you tell them.
Announcing the Latest Robert H. Smith Seminar: The Supreme Court in the Age of Holmes and Brandeis - November 08, 2012
As the U.S. Supreme Court returns for the fall, it is therefore fitting to highlight the latest Robert H. Smith seminar, titled: “The Supreme Court in the Age of Holmes and Brandeis”, co-sponsored by the Institute for Constitutional History and the AHA.
Obama and His Historians: A Suggestion - November 07, 2012
By James Grossman
As a historian, not to mention as the executive director of the AHA, I was pleased to read in the New York Times yesterday that President Obama listens to historians and discusses history but is “no history buff.” He appears to be serious in thinking about the past and how he can learn from it, rather than being merely satisfied with a handful of anecdotes. Moreover, he certainly included distinguished and thoughtful scholars in the sessions described in this article.
Now Available: History and the Digital Image, a Forum in Perspectives on History - November 05, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
A series of articles on how historians are using digital images and imagery has emerged from the members-only section of our website and is now open to all. This forum was the outcome of a few serendipitous submissions to our magazine—one of those cases where it seemed like several authors were approaching the same topic from different angles. We then found a few areas that could be further addressed and solicited articles for those, and the series fell into place.
The AHA Needs Your Input - November 05, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
Today we are excited to start the next phase in the AHA website redesign project, but we will need considerable help from our members and site users. In an effort to understand how our web users navigate our site, we are asking you to participate in a short, 15-minute exercise that will ask users to sort and label content available on our website. Once you are finished, we will use your input to reorganize our website navigation.
Placement Information on History Department Websites - November 05, 2012
By Liz Townsend
As an example of the kinds of public information on placement of history PhDs recently recommended by the AHA’s Professional Division, Liz Townsend, the Association’s coordinator of professional data, prepared the following list of departmental websites that include at least some information on placement. Only three departments report specific statistics; most have only limited lists of jobs obtained by their graduates. If we failed to find other history department web pages that include placement information, please let us know.
This Month in Perspectives on History - November 04, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
In the November issue of Perspectives on History, President William Cronon discusses what our libraries say about ourselves, and Executive Director James Grossman reflects on Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln. Readers will also find a diverse forum on teaching women’s history and innovative approaches to instruction using Skype, student-created websites, student-written biographies, and the AHA’s Archives Wiki. Don’t miss updates and information about the 127th Annual Meeting, an advocacy update from the National History Coalition, and a call for proposals for the 128th Annual Meeting.
A Fresh Look at Careers of and for History PhDs - October 30, 2012
By Robert B. Townsend
Are there career options for history PhDs beyond the academy? In today’s Chronicle of Higher Education L. Maren Wood (a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina) offers an emphatic yes.
Job Center: Reservations Open - October 30, 2012
By Liz Townsend
Reservations are now being accepted for Job Center rooms and tables at the 2013 annual meeting. Rooms will be located in the Sheraton New Orleans and the New Orleans Marriott; tables will be at Job Center Headquarters in the Sheraton, Napoleon Ballroom, Salon A. See the AHA Job Center page for forms and for more information. Contact Liz Townsend if you have any questions.
Update: AHA Offices Now Open - October 30, 2012
The AHA offices in DC have reopened after Hurricane Sandy, but our thoughts are with our East Coast friends who are less fortunate.
Update: AHA Offices Closed - October 29, 2012
Due to hazardous conditions in the Washington area caused by
hurricane Sandy, the AHA’s offices will be closed Tuesday, October 30.
AHA Offices Closed - October 28, 2012
Due to hazardous conditions in the Washington area caused by
hurricane Sandy, the AHA’s offices will be closed Monday October 29.
AHA Roundtable: The Presidential Debate of October 22, 2012 - October 22, 2012
By James Grossman
Last night’s debate began with a reference to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. My inner (or perhaps not so inner) AHA geek immediately jumped to recent efforts to make accessible to the public government documents relating to that event that are still classified. But I also was drawn to recent reflections (here, and here) on whether flawed historical interpretations have yielded equally flawed policy lessons – conventional wisdoms that were on display once again last night. It’s all about manhood and steely resolve, rather then the subtleties and occasional humility of collaboration and negotiation.
Fundraising Begins for Jerry Bentley Prize in World History - October 21, 2012
By John McNeill
The American Historical Association invites donations to endow a Jerry Bentley Book Prize in World History, which will honor Professor Bentley’s tireless efforts to promote the field of world history, and his signal contributions to it, over a career tragically cut short by his recent death.
AHA Roundtable: The Presidential Debate of October 16, 2012 - October 16, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
Anthony Grafton, president of the AHA in 2011, wrote in his inaugural column in Perspectives on History that “Historians of everything from drought in ancient Egypt to the economy of modern China do, in fact, have knowledge that matters—knowledge based on painstaking analysis of hard sources, which they convey to students and readers as clearly and passionately as can be managed.”
Announcing the Latest Robert H. Smith Seminar: The Supreme Court in the Age of Holmes and Brandeis - October 14, 2012
As the U.S. Supreme Court returns for the fall, it seems fitting to highlight the latest Robert H. Smith seminar, titled: “The Supreme Court in the Age of Holmes and Brandeis”, co-sponsored by the Institute for Constitutional History and the AHA.
The Vice Presidential Debate of October 11, 2012: AHA Roundtable - October 11, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
Do Vice Presidential debates matter? That seemed to be the question of the day, the one that dominated the airwaves before and after last night’s debate. From our perspective as historians, we are certain that they do matter, even if they don’t generate a bump in the polls or a defining moment in the campaign. For the historian, they are responses to long-standing trends and further evidence of the importance of understanding the past.
2012 National Book Award Finalists Announced - October 10, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
The National Book Foundation announced the finalists for the 2012 National Book Awards yesterday morning.
Runaway Jury? Mary Todd Lincoln Redeemed at Retrial - October 08, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
One of the more unique events related to the Emancipation Proclamation sesquicentennial involves a retrial for former First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, who was infamously consigned to an asylum in 1875 by her son Robert Todd Lincoln. Last week, the Illinois Supreme Court Historical Society organized the first of two retrials for Mrs. Lincoln in front of a sold-out audience.
AHA Roundtable: The Presidential Debate of October 3, 2012 - October 03, 2012
As a community of historians the AHA believes that public discourse on any topic benefits from historical context and historical thinking. In that vein we have asked a group of historians to comment on last night’s presidential debate as historians. We leave the punditry to the pundits; the partisanship to the politicians. Our role is to offer the benefit of historical thinking and historical context.
AHA Member Among 23 Scholars Recognized for McArthur Fellowship Grants - October 03, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
The AHA is delighted to report that AHA member Dylan C. Penningroth is among the 23 people recognized with grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. These prestigious and munificent grants are awarded to recognize creative accomplishments in varied fields. The $500,000 grants can be used by the recipients in any way they wish, and are awarded as much for the record of accomplishment as for the promise of future contributions.
Coming Soon: AHA Roundtables on the Presidential Debates - September 30, 2012
By James Grossman
The AHA announces a series of online forums featuring prominent historians commenting on the upcoming presidential and vice-presidential debates. This conversation is part of an ongoing AHA Roundtable, arising from the Association’s commitment to injecting historical thinking into public culture. For each debate we have assembled approximately four to five historians working in fields likely to be covered, and asked them to provide us with their responses by the following morning.
Happy Birthday AHA Today and Twitter! - September 27, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian, Robert Townsend and Vanessa Varin
Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning, or just started following the blog recently, thanks for reading!
The PhD Gap: Worrisome Trends in the Hiring of Junior Faculty - September 18, 2012
By Robert B. Townsend
In response to a question from Stacy Patton for her Chronicle of Higher Education article, “Stale PhDs Need Not Apply,” I put together the accompanying chart from my surveys of job advertisers. The trends are quite fascinating, and could have significant implications for the training and preparation of new PhDs and the expectations of those currently in the history job market.
American Historical Association Child Care Grants during the Annual Meeting - September 17, 2012
For the January 3–6, 2013 Annual Meeting in New Orleans the American Historical Association will offer ten grants of up to two hundred dollars ($200 USD) to assist AHA members who are bringing children to the meeting. The grants are intended to help offset the cost of child care, enabling attendees with dependent children to attend the meeting.
Preregister for the 2013 AHA Annual Meeting - September 17, 2012
By Kelly Elmore
Preregistration is now open for the AHA’s 127th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, January 3-6, 2013. Preregister now and take advantage of discounted rates, before they increase on December 18, 2012.
AHA Responds to Georgia State Archives Closure - September 17, 2012
By James Grossman
In response to news that the state of Georgia intends to effectively close its archives in a cost-cutting move, AHA Executive Director James Grossman sent the following letter to Governor Nathan Deal:
Historians and Archivists Mobilizing to Preserve Full Access to Georgia State Archives - September 16, 2012
By Allen Mikaeilian
The National Coalition for History (NCH) has posted Kemp’s announcement on its website and has provided detailed suggestions for action. Readers interested in voicing their opinion about this closing and its consequences are encouraged to review the NCH’s talking points and direct their letters, e-mails, and phone calls to…
Happy Birthday to the US Constitution! - September 16, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
Interested in find out more about this great document? Check out our Constitution Series:
Participants Selected for “American History, Atlantic and Pacific” Project - September 16, 2012
By Nike Nivar
The American Historical Association is pleased to announce the selection of 24 faculty members from across 12 two-year institutions that will be taking part in our “American History, Atlantic and Pacific.” The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is supporting this project through a three-year cooperative agreement with the AHA, as part of their “Bridging Cultures at Community Colleges” initiative.
AHA Seeking New Associate Editor for Perspectives on History - September 13, 2012
The American Historical Association is looking for a historian to join the publications team as associate editor of Perspectives on History, the AHA’s monthly newsmagazine.
AHA and Employment: Recent Activities Concerning the Job Market and the History Student - September 11, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
There’s a possible bright spot emerging in the job market. The October issue of Perspective on History last year included 133 job ads, but this year’s issue will feature 189. This does not in itself constitute a breakthrough, and we should point out that what matters most is how many total ads are placed by the end of the season. Still, we hope that this increase over last year’s numbers is the start of a trend. Over the past year, the American Historical Association has been active in addressing the tough academic job market, the single most important issue faced by history students and recent graduates These efforts have taken place on several fronts.
Books by Members - September 10, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian and Vanessa Varin
As a service to AHA members, we periodically list books by members received in the headquarters office in recent months. These postings are meant to announce their publication and provide short descriptions of the books. These are not reviews. For books to be reviewed in the American Historical Review they must be sent to the attention of Moureen Coulter, 914 Atwater, Bloomington, IN 47401.
More on Voter Suppression and the Historian - September 09, 2012
By James Grossman
The current debate over state legislation establishing barriers to voting – which generally involves raising the bar for documenting identity and residency – has stimulated considerable commentary from historians, most recently this “modest proposal” by David Blight. I suspect this has something to do with the combination of a compelling political history and a specific historical precedent.
Emancipation Nation: A Commemoration of the Proclamation and New Web Portal - September 09, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
On September 17, 2012 the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) plans to honor the 150th anniversary of the proclamation by sponsoring a day-long commemorative festival. The program includes two events that will focus on “the dramatic period leading up to the issuance of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.”
The Aoki Controversy: New Essay in Perspectives Online Offers a Historian’s View - September 05, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
Donna Murch, associate professor at Rutgers University and author of Living for the City: Migration, Education, and the Rise of the Black Panther Party in Oakland (2010), has contributed an essay on the new headline-grabbing book by Seth Rosenfeld, Subversives: The FBI’s War on Student Radicals, and Reagan’s Rise to Power. Many historians have been following the controversy surrounding this book, which burst onto the scene in late August with a series of headlines that were as sensational as they were definitive…
AHA Seeking New Associate Editor for Perspectives on History - September 04, 2012
The American Historical Association is looking for a historian to join the publications team as associate editor of Perspectives on History, the AHA’s monthly newsmagazine. The associate editor serves in a variety of writing and editorial capacities at the Association’s headquarters office, working primarily on content for the newsmagazine, but also social media and press relations work as well as assisting with other print and online publications as time allows. The associate editor will participate in a team effort to revise, plan, and develop an integrated suite of print and digital publications.
AHA History Tuning Update: "History Discipline Core" Now Available - August 29, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
The American Historical Association’s Tuning Project has released the “History Discipline Core,” the result of a collaborative effort by participants to “describe the skills, knowledge and habits of mind that students develop in history courses and degrees.”
Back to School: Digital Resources for Intrepid Teaching Professionals - August 27, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
With the end of summer comes the inevitable return to school and a degree of anxiety, not only for students, but also for teachers—especially for those who put off their preparations until the last moment. The good news: the web offers an abundance of resources that can help teachers experiment with their course content and teaching styles and reinvigorate lesson plans.
The Oatmeal Builds a Museum: Over $1 Million in Crowdsourced Funds for a Tesla Site - August 26, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
Last week in public history funding news was a study in stark contrasts.
The National Park Service (NPS) is facing yet another round of budget cuts and the predictable result will be layoffs, parks falling into further disrepair, innovation stifled, and historical interpretation receiving even less attention as funds flow to maintaining infrastructure. Jonathan B. Jarvis, director of the NPS, remarked to the Washington Post that the steady erosion of public funding has spurred all sorts of entrepreneurial thinking, but at this point, there just aren’t many avenues that haven’t already been explored. Worse still, there does not appear to be any relief in sight.
History on Trial on the Campaign Trail - August 20, 2012
By Vanessa Varin
While it is popular for presidential candidates to mythologize America’s founding fathers on the campaign trail, it is important to pause and put political rhetoric into historical perspective. Recently, The New York Times announced a new online series “Historically Corrected”- a collaborative research project that unites historians, journalists and readers to expose the “uses and abuses of history in politics.”
Did They Really Say That: Getting Our Quotations Right - August 19, 2012
By James Grossman
AHA President William Cronon recently shared a link to an article in the Atlantic that vividly reminds us how many oft-quoted aphorisms are inaccurate, and in some cases bear little resemblance to the original statement.This reminder to check before we quote is especially useful in the age of powerful search engines that make checking so easy.
Jobs, the Humanities, and the Liberal Arts: History “Tuners” See Many Paths to Employment - August 19, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
After the history Tuning project wrapped up its first full meeting in June, two local papers picked up on the efforts of Tuners in their communities.
Copyright and the Historian: How CUP v. Becker Affects You - August 13, 2012
Perspectives Online is featuring an important article on a recent landmark copyright case by Michael Les Benedict, emeritus professor of history at The Ohio State University, and a member of the AHA Task Force on Intellectual Property.
AHA Seeking New Associate Editor for Perspectives on History - August 12, 2012
Given the impending retirement of the editor, the American Historical Association is looking for a historian to join the publications team as associate editor of Perspectives on History.
Changes in the Publications Team at the AHA - August 12, 2012
Pillarisetti Sudhir, the editor of Perspectives on History, has decided to retire at the end of the year. Associate Editor Allen Mikaelian will step up to take his place effective with the January 2013 issue.
Annual AHA Summer Reception - July 22, 2012
Annual AHA Summer Reception invitation for July 31, 2012
Jerry H. Bentley (1949–2012) - July 18, 2012
We were deeply saddened to learn that Jerry H. Bentley (University of Hawai’i at Manoa), a distinguished scholar and leader in the field of world history and long-time friend of the AHA, passed away on July 15.
Choice Seeking Peer Reviewers - July 17, 2012
Our partners at Choice magazine are looking for academic faculty with teaching and/or collection development experience to participate in its peer review process for Resources for College Libraries.
Tuning Project Meeting: Shared Needs among Diverse History Programs - July 12, 2012
By Julia Brookins
The AHA’s Tuning project for history held its first full meeting in Arlington, Virginia, the weekend of June 9–10, 2012. Building on lessons from earlier AHA projects that explored the role of historical study in liberal arts education, history faculty from 65 diverse two- and four-year programs convened to frame a vocabulary to explain how history students are prepared for citizenship and careers.
Historical Thinking in the Present: More on Disenfranchisement, Then and Now - July 08, 2012
We wanted to call readers’ attention to the following, from Jonathan Bernstein at the Washington Post blog, The Plum Line
“Some textbook treatments of the franchise in U.S. history treat voting as a gradual but sustained series of victories, taking the nation from propertied white men in the eighteenth century to, eventually, the vote for all adults eighteen and up. That story is wrong.”
Underpaid and Underappreciated: A Portrait of Part-time Faculty Members - June 19, 2012
By Robert B. Townsend
It will come as no surprise that faculty employed in part-time and adjunct positions are often underpaid and underappreciated, but a new report from the Coalition on the Academic Workforce (CAW) adds some hard numbers to back up the anecdotes.
Council Adjusts Period for the Mosse Prize - June 17, 2012
By Robert B. Townsend
Starting in 2013, the scope of the George L. Mosse Prize will be expanded to cover “the intellectual and cultural history of Europe since 1500.”
Council Revises the Annual Meeting Guidelines - June 10, 2012
By Robert B. Townsend
At its June meeting, the AHA Council made a number of changes to the Association’s guidelines for the annual meeting.
AHA Book Prizes to Align with Calendar Year - June 10, 2012
By Robert B. Townsend
Starting next year, the eligibility dates for AHA book prizes will be aligned with the calendar year listed on the book’s copyright page.
Grant of the Week: American Institute of Indian Studies Fellowship Competition - June 07, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
The American Institute of Indian Studies invites applications from scholars seeking to conduct research in India. There are several types of fellowships: Junior fellowships for PhD candidates for up to eleven months of research, senior fellowships for PhD holders who may seek up to nine months of research support, senior scholarly/professional development fellowships, and senior performing and creative arts fellowships.
Decisions of the AHA Council, June 2012 - June 05, 2012
By Robert B. Townsend
At its mid-year meeting, held in Washington, D.C., on June 2nd and 3rd 2012, the Council of the American Historical Association made the following decisions:
Politics and Political Science Funding: House Vote Launches a Range of Debates - May 28, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
If it’s budget season on Capitol Hill, it’s time, it appears, for attacks on academic research. As early as next week, the U.S. Senate will consider, among many other issues, a gauntlet thrown down by the House on political science funding.
Grant of the Week: Hughes-Gossett Award for Students - May 24, 2012
The Supreme Court Historical Society invites submissions for the Hughes-Gossett Award for the best student paper submitted to the Journal of Supreme Court History.
Matching Donations to Help Save the Joan Kelly Prize - May 20, 2012
By James R. Grossman
We are pleased to announce a matching donation that represents a significant step toward solidifying the endowment for the Joan Kelly Prize.
Herbert Feis Award for Public History - May 13, 2012
By Debbie Ann Doyle
The American Historical Association invites nominations for the Herbert Feis Award for distinguished contributions to public history.
Article By: Debbie Ann Doyle
More on “The Ph.D. Now Comes With Food Stamps” - May 07, 2012
By James R. Grossman
The recent Chronicle of Higher Education article, on the struggles of Ph.D. students and graduates on public assistance, raises a vitally important issue, one that deserves the full discussion now taking place online. I was glad to provide comments for the article, but….
Hiring: AHA Assistant Editor, Web Content and Social Media - May 01, 2012
The American Historical Association is seeking a detail-oriented self-starter to assist in updating and maintaining content on the AHA’s website and social media outlets.
Students of History, AHA members, among new Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellows - April 26, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
Four history graduate students, including two AHA members, are among the 21 PhD candidates who have been awarded the 2012 Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship. The fellowship supports outstanding work being done by “Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences addressing questions of ethical and religious values.” The fellows will receive $25,000 to support a year of writing.
Article By: Allen Mikaelian
Institute for Constitutional History 2012 Fall Seminar: Union, Race, and Nation - April 23, 2012
“Union, Race, and Nation: Creating the Federal Republic, 1776–1801,”will explore the origins of American constitutionalism from 1776 through 1801, from the years of Revolution to the election of Thomas Jefferson.
AHA Members among New Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences - April 19, 2012
By Elisabeth Grant
Earlier this week, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences announced its 2012 class of fellows. Among this list of accomplished individuals are five AHA members.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Apply for the Bridging Cultures at Community Colleges Project - April 16, 2012
The AHA seeks an enthusiastic group of 24 community college faculty for its NEH Bridging Cultures Project, “American History, Atlantic and Pacific.”
Records of the 1940 Census Released Online - April 02, 2012
By Allen Mikaelian
The U.S. Census “gives a gift to the nation twice,” remarked Robert Groves, director of the U.S. Census Bureau, at the unveiling of the 1940 Census records yesterday at the National Archives in Washington D.C.
Article By: Allen Mikaelian
Please Note: AHA Website Briefly Offline Sunday, April 1, 2012 - March 29, 2012
By Vernon Horn
The AHA web site, online services, and job ads will be offline from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday, April 1, while we upgrade our server.
Article By: Vernon Horn
Institute for Constitutional History — 2012 Summer Workshop for Junior Faculty - March 27, 2012
The New-York Historical Society’s Institute for Constitutional History (ICH) and the Stanford Constitutional Law Center invite university instructors (including adjuncts, part-time faculty, and post-doctoral fellows) to apply for a summer workshop on “Assessing the US Constitution: Twenty-First-Century Responses to Eighteenth-Century Assumptions.”
AHA Members, Send Us Your News - March 26, 2012
AHA members are invited to submit news to the AHA about their recent jobs, promotions, publications, fellowships or awards received, and other updates of a professional nature.
History Tuning Project—Application Deadline Tomorrow - March 14, 2012
By Julia Brookins
The application deadline for the History Tuning Project is tomorrow, Friday, March 16, 2012.
Article By: Julia Brookins
Bancroft Prize Winners – 2012 - March 13, 2012
By Elisabeth Grant
Congratulations to the 2012 winners of Columbia University’s prestigious Bancroft Prize. The three historians, all AHA members, are Anne F. Hyde (AHA Council member and professor at Colorado College), Daniel T. Rodgers (Princeton University), and Tomiko Brown-Nagin (University of Virginia).
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Grant of the Week: U.S. Naval History Graduate Research Grant - March 08, 2012
The Naval History and Heritage Command, Department of the Navy, is offering the Rear Admiral Ernest M. Eller Graduate Research Grant to assist a graduate student in the research and writing of U.S. naval history.
100 Years of Cherry Blossoms - March 06, 2012
By Elisabeth Grant
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrating 100 years of cherry trees in the Washington Tidal Basin. Each year around a million people descend on Washington, D.C., to see the signature pink blooms, and this year the centennial makes this event even more special.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
JSTOR Register & Read – Now Live - March 05, 2012
By Elisabeth Grant
Earlier this month, JSTOR announced the impending release of its new Register & Read initiative. Yesterday, the program launched.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Fulbright-Hays: 2012 Group Projects Abroad Program - February 27, 2012
By Elisabeth Grant
The Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program for 2012, part of the larger Fulbright-Hays Programs, is accepting applications until April 23, 2012. This program “provides grants to support overseas projects in training, research, and curriculum development in modern foreign languages and area studies for teachers, students, and faculty engaged in a common endeavor.”
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Apply to be a Part of the History Tuning Project - February 21, 2012
The AHA seeks an enthusiastic group of 60 history faculty who represent institutions of diverse types in terms of size, source of funding (public/private), populations served, curricular emphases, location, and degrees offered to be a part of the History Tuning Project.
Professional Organizations and Political Engagements: An OAH Discussion - February 20, 2012
By Elisabeth Grant
In advance of its upcoming annual meeting, the Organization of American Historians held an online forum on “Professional Organizations and Political Engagements.” Current and former members of the OAH Executive Board discussed the various complex issues related to requests for a scholarly society to support causes that might or might not be part of the mission of their organizations.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Celebrating Presidents’ Day - February 19, 2012
By Elisabeth Grant
Last year on Presidents’ Day we explored the holiday’s beginnings: starting in 1880 as a celebration of George Washington’s Birthday, modified in 1971 to fall on a Monday in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, and finally broadened in the 1980s from Washington’s Birthday to Presidents’ Day (learn more in the National Archives Prologue magazine article, “By George, IT IS Washington’s Birthday!”). This President’s Day, we look back at past president-related posts featured here on AHA Today.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Please Note: AHA Website Briefly Offline This Saturday, February 18, 2012 - February 16, 2012
The AHA website will be offline Saturday morning, February 18, 2012, from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. for scheduled maintenance. AHA Today will not be affected, and will remain available. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
2012 AHA Election Slate - February 16, 2012
The Nominating Committee for 2012–13, chaired by Page Herrlinger (Bowdoin College), met in Washington, D.C. on January 28–29 and offers this list of candidatesfor offices of the American Historical Association that are to be filled in the election this year. Voting will begin on September 1, 2012.
2011 National Humanities Medals Winners Include AHA Members - February 12, 2012
By Elisabeth Grant
This past Friday the National Endowment for the Humanities announced the winners of the 2011 National Humanities Medals, which recognize outstanding achievements in history, literature, education, philosophy, and musicology. Among the nine recipients this year are two distinguished AHA members—former president Robert Darnton and former vice pesident Teofilo Ruiz…
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
History Faculty Begin Nationwide Tuning Project - February 12, 2012
By Julia Brookins, AHA Special Projects Coordinator
The American Historical Association (AHA) is initiating a nationwide, faculty-led project to articulate the core of historical study and to identify what a student should know and be able to do at the completion of a history degree program.
Press Release By: Julia Brookins, AHA Special Projects Coordinator
New Leadership at the National Humanities Alliance - February 06, 2012
The National Humanities Alliance announced last week that NHA Executive Director Jessica Jones Irons will be stepping down.
Transdisciplinary Study Sheds New Light on History of the Mayan People - January 23, 2012
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
Whatever might be the truth about the apocalyptic eschatology of the Mayan calendar and its endtimes forecast for the Gregorian 2012, one thing is clear, it seems: The Mayan people knew about extracting pleasures from their existential present, as they appear to have used tobacco. That the peoples of Mesoamerica used nicotine could be surmised from other evidence, but a study published on January 12, 2012, in Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell, provided material evidence of tobacco use by the ancient Maya.
Article By: Pillarisetti Sudhir
Best History Blogging, Tweeting, and Podcasting: Winners of the 2011 Cliopatria Awards - January 17, 2012
By Elisabeth Grant
The Cliopatria blog at HNN recognizes the best history blogging on the web through its annual Cliopatria Awards (given out since 2005). The 2011 awards were expanded beyond blogs to include the best history Twitter feed and podcast. Congratulations to all the winners, listed below. What are your favorite history blogs, Twitter feeds, and podcasts online? Let us know in the comments.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Petition to the White House to Digitize All Public Government Info - January 11, 2012
The AHA suggests to our members that they consider signing the following online petition: Start A National Effort To Digitize All Public Government Info. This is a petition drive to the White House urging the President to appoint a commission to explore the scope, costs, and benefits of digitizing all federal records holdings.
Members, Send Us Your News - December 26, 2011
AHA members are invited to submit news about themselves, including notices of recent hires, promotions, publications, fellowships or awards received, and other updates of a professional nature for the Members column of upcoming issues of Perspectives on History .
Institute for Constitutional History Invites Applications for Two Robert H. Smith Seminars - December 19, 2011
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
The Institute for Constitutional History (ICH), the nation’s premier center dedicated to the exploration of the historical development of the U.S. constitution, invites applications—to be submitted by January 15, 2012—from advanced graduate students and early-career faculty who are interested in taking part in two Robert H. Smith seminars that the institute is organizing in spring 2012.
Latest News on the Federal Budget and History-Related Activities - December 15, 2011
By James Grossman, executive director of the AHA
The House Appropriations Committee has released its version of an omnibus spending bill for fiscal year (FY) 2012 that would fund the federal government until September 30, 2012. As of Friday morning, Dec. 16, this is what we know…
Article By: James Grossman, executive director of the AHA
AHA Members Included in Choice’s ”Outstanding Academic Titles, 2011” - December 14, 2011
By Elisabeth Grant
Congratulations to AHA members Thomas C. Holt, Louis Hyman, Samuel Moyn, Pauline Maier, and Carroll Smith-Rosenberg, whose books have been included in Choice’s selection of the top 25 “Outstanding Academic Titles, 2011.”
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
2011 Cliopatria Awards – Nominations Due Wednesday - November 27, 2011
Cliopatria, a group blog on HNN, is accepting nominations for its 2011 Cliopatria Awards until this Wednesday, November 30, 2011. Help to “recognize the best history writing in the blogosphere” by submitting nominations in eight categories…
ViewShare: Free Tool for Building Interactive Digital Collections - November 13, 2011
By Elisabeth Grant
This past April, we profiled Recollection, a software platform for digital collections that was under development by the Library of Congress. Two weeks ago the Library announced the relaunch of Recollection under a new name: ViewShare. ViewShare is free for individuals associated with cultural heritage organizations (libraries, archives, historical societies, colleges, and universities). After users request an account, they’re able to upload data to create interactive maps, charts, and timelines that can then be shared or embedded in an existing site.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Upcoming Seminars from the Institute for Constitutional History - November 02, 2011
The New-York Historical Society’s Institute for Constitutional History (our partner on the New Essays in Constitutional History series) is offering the following upcoming seminars.
LGBTQ Survey - October 31, 2011
By Debbie Ann Doyle
The American Historical Association’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Historians Task Force is gathering information, through this survey, from AHA members and other historians who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or queer (LGBTQ) or whose work is on LGBTQ history. We seek to capture information about the experiences of LGBTQ historians (broadly defined) and the treatment of LGBTQ historians in the profession and discipline of history. While other professional associations have generated reports on the status of LGBTQ scholars and scholarship in their respective disciplines (eg. modern languages and sociology) no such efforts have been undertaken within the history profession.
Article By: Debbie Ann Doyle
Contribute to Member News - October 26, 2011
AHA members are invited to submit news about themselves, including notices of recent hires, promotions, publications, fellowships or awards received, and other updates of a professional nature.
Suggest a U.S. History Quiz Question - October 26, 2011
By Julia Brookins
The AHA is working with American Profile magazine, a Sunday newspaper supplement, to publish a cover feature on U.S. history for Independence Day 2012. Submit your ideas for questions and answers through this survey form.
Article By: Julia Brookins
AHA Reiterates Stance on Oral History Review and Cautions on Extension of Privacy Rules - October 24, 2011
The Association reiterated its long-held opinion that oral history research should be fully excluded from institutional review board (IRB) oversight in a letter submitted by AHA Executive Director Jim Grossman to the federal Office of Human Research Protections today.
Update on History Education Funding - October 21, 2011
By James R. Grossman
Update: AHA Still Accepting Applications for Associate Editor Position - October 19, 2011
The AHA is still accepting applications for the position of Associate Editor. The Associate Editor serves in a variety of writing and editorial capacities at the Association’s headquarters office, working primarily on content for the news magazine (“Perspectives on History”), but also social media and press relations work as well as assisting with other print and online publications as time allows.
Oral History and Information Risk: A Response to the Federal Proposal - October 16, 2011
By Robert B. Townsend
As regular readers of AHA Today know, the federal government is offering a significant opportunity to weigh in on rules that cover institutional review boards (IRBs) and often interfere with legitimate history work. The current proposal seems to be a very mixed bag for history—offering both a tantalizing opportunity to address past concerns about the effect IRBs have on oral history and potentially new problems for history under the label of “information risk.” Over the past month, we have been consulting extensively with members of the discipline, trying to identify a set of core principles for a response to the proposal. After careful deliberation, we offer the following “talking points” that will guide our response. We do this to invite comments and concerns from members as we craft our response, and as a guide to historians and related specialists looking to craft their own response to the federal proposal.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Upcoming Events on the AHA Calendar - October 11, 2011
By Elisabeth Grant
The AHA’s online calendar provides a free space for organizations to post upcoming meetings and seminars, research opportunities, awards and fellowships, and exhibitions that may be of interest to historians. Have an event you’d like to publicize? Submit an announcement to the calendar through this online form. Here are just a few items that have been recently submitted to the calendar.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
New AHA Member Benefits - October 03, 2011
We are pleased to announce two new benefits for AHA members: access to Choice Reviews Online, featuring book reviews in history and related fields, and to the AHA’s annual Directory of History Departments, Historical Organizations, and Historians. Not a member? Join today!
Job Opening: Staff Accountant for the AHA - September 29, 2011
The AHA is hiring a Staff Accountant. The Staff Accountant is an integral part of the business office team.
AHA Seeks an Associate Editor to Join the Publications Team - September 28, 2011
The Association is looking for a historian with some knowledge of digital technologies to join the publications team as Associate Editor of Perspectives on History, the AHA’s monthly newsmagazine. The position involves not only working with the editor to manage several of the writing, editorial, and administrative tasks involved in the production of the magazine, but also collaborating with other colleagues to help enhance the Association’s rapidly growing presence in social media and the Web. See the job description for details and for application requirements.
Happy 5th Birthday, AHA Today! - September 27, 2011
By Elisabeth Grant
AHA Today is five years old today! Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning, or just started following the blog recently, thanks for reading!
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Two AHA Members Awarded MacArthur Fellowships - September 19, 2011
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
The AHA is delighted to report that Tiya Miles and Jacob Soll, two of the Association’s members, are among the 22 people recognized today with grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. These prestigious and munificent grants are awarded to recognize creative accomplishments in varied fields. The $500,000 grants can be used by the recipients in any way they wish, and are awarded as much for the record of accomplishment as for the promise of future contributions.
Article By: Pillarisetti Sudhir
Free Access to Online Job Ads - September 06, 2011
On September 1, 2011, the AHA opened up access to the history job advertisements posted on its website to everyone. Until recently these ads were only available to members. Now nonmembers also can access the ads too, after a simple registration process. Coming at a time when searching for history jobs has become increasingly difficult because of a shrinking job market, opening access should prove helpful to all historians.
Oral History Association Seeks New Institutional Home - August 29, 2011
The Oral History Association (OHA), a longtime affiliate of the AHA, recently announced that it is seeking a new institutional home and a new executive director.
Video: AHA Pacific Coast Branch Annual Meeting - August 28, 2011
This past August 11- 13, 2011, the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association held its annual meeting, on the theme of “Horizons of Change: The Unexpected, Unknown, and Unforgettable.” History News Network has posted videos from the conference on its website and YouTube channel. Here are a few…
The Constitution: A Cosmopolitan Examination - August 22, 2011
The Institute for Constitutional History announces its fall seminar, “The Constitution: A Cosmopolitan Examination,” at the New-York Historical Society. Professors Tom Bender and David Golove will lead the seminar.
National Archives Releases Statement on SEC - August 18, 2011
On August 18, 2011, the National Archives released the statement below, addressing an allegation that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had been destroying documents it wasn’t authorized to destroy. Part of the AHA’s mission is to advocate for the proper collection and preservation of historical documents, so we follow situations like this one closely.
Update from the Graduate and Early Career Committee - August 16, 2011
By Aaron Marrs, Chair, Graduate and Early Career Committee
A quick update on some of the material the Graduate and Early Career Committee (GECC) has been working on recently.
Article By: Aaron Marrs, Chair, Graduate and Early Career Committee
What We're Reading: August 11, 2011 Edition - August 10, 2011
In the news this week, discussion continues on proposed changes for human-subject research, Rosa Parks’s archive is up for sale, and the Squeeze Imaging Project goes online. Then, read one historian’s concerns about “culturomics” (a project that analyzes text in the Google Books project), discover 5 reasons to love libraries, and learn about 600 New Yorkers’ experiences in the 9/11 Oral History Project. Finally, check out EDSITEment’s Back-to-School Reading Index and an infographic that tracks U.S. post office expansion from 1700 to 1900.
Are Citations the Best Measure of History Journals? - August 07, 2011
By Robert B. Townsend
The American Historical Review was the most cited journal in history in 2010, garnering one in every eight citations to a history journal in 2010, according to a Journal Citation Reports analysis of references to 1,000 articles from 43 history journals. But does “most cited” equal “best journal”?
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Please Note: Online Member Services Unavailable 8 a.m. to Noon Tomorrow - August 02, 2011
Tomorrow, August 4, 2011 from 8 a.m. to noon, AHA’s online member services will be unavailable while our association management system (AMS) makes upgrades to our membership database.
Members, Send Us Your News - August 02, 2011
AHA members are invited to submit news about themselves, including notices of recent hires, promotions, publications, fellowships or awards received, and other updates of a professional nature.
Getting Free of the IRB: A Call to Action for Oral History - July 31, 2011
By Robert B. Townsend
The federal government is offering a significant opportunity to weigh in on the intrusion of institutional review boards (IRBs) into history work, as part of a major re-evaluation of the rules governing human-subject research. Any historian who uses oral history methods, or supervises students who conduct interviews, should speak out and demand change.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
What We’re Reading: July 28, 2011 Edition - July 27, 2011
In the news this week, possible changes in IRB restrictions, NAEP “report card” shows students’ geography skills are lacking, and Inside Higher Ed looks at specializations in history. Also, read advice for soon-to-be graduate students and thoughts on Twitter at academic conferences. Then, watch an online C-SPAN documentary on the Library of Congress, learn about George Washington’s obsession with counting, remember the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Machu Picchu, and look back at the Historic 11th St. Bridge Construction in D.C.
Article By: Kelly Elmore, Elisabeth Grant, Vernon Horn, and Robert B. Townsend
Changing the Rules for Three AHA Prizes - July 26, 2011
By Robert B. Townsend
tarting with next year’s competition, some rules for the AHA’s John A. Dunning Prize, Herbert Feis Award, and Roy Rosenzweig Prize for Innovation in Digital History are changing.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Position Available: Special Projects Coordinator for the AHA - July 19, 2011
The American Historical Association is hiring a Special Projects Coordinator who will play a central role in the development of new projects at the AHA, with an emphasis on digital activities and the preparation of grant proposals. The Special Projects Coordinator reports to the Executive Director and shares one direct report. To apply, send a c.v. and cover letter to aha@historians.org.
AHA Membership on the Rise Again in 2011 - July 19, 2011
By Robert B. Townsend
The Association enjoyed a modest increase in membership over the past year. The number of annual dues-paying members increased by 227, alongside the addition of four new Life members. We also modestly increased the number of complimentary memberships we give out, primarily to journalists and others that we hope will engage with and share our work. As a result of these changes, we show a net increase of 250 total memberships over the previous year—an increase of 1.7 percent—to 14,196 total members.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Newest Affiliates of the AHA - July 11, 2011
By Robert B. Townsend
At its meeting in early June, the AHA Council accepted four new applications for affiliation from the Association for Documentary Editing and three research centers at the Newberry Library (the Hermon Dunlap Smith Center for the History of Cartography, the D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, and the Dr. William M. Scholl Center for American History and Culture). The three centers join the Newberry’s Center for Renaissance Studies as affiliates of the AHA. Learn more about each center below…
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Discussions and Community on the AHA’s LinkedIn Page - June 28, 2011
By Elisabeth Grant
When we started the AHA’s LinkedIn group we hoped it would be a place for history professionals and enthusiasts to “interact, connect, and discuss matters of the history profession.” We’re pleased to see that this is in fact taking place. Members of the AHA’s LinkedIn page are reaching out to each other, seeking advice, and forming a community.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Grant of the Week: Ralph Gomory Prize from the Business History Conference - June 23, 2011
The Ralph Gomory Prize of the Business History Conference (made possible by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation) recognizes historical work on the effect business enterprises have on the economic conditions of a country in which they operate. Two prizes of $5,000 are awarded annually, one for a book and second for an article.
Making the AHA and the Historical Profession Accessible - June 19, 2011
By Debbie Ann Doyle
On June 4, the AHA Council accepted the report of the Task Force on Disability, a joint effort with the Disability History Association, an AHA affiliate. The report reflects three years of study and reflection about how to remove barriers to full participation in the Association and the profession. The AHA staff is already at work implementing many of the task force recommendations. In the coming months, look for a new disability resource page on our web site, improved accessibility at the annual meeting, and a campaign to add information about accessibility at various archives to our Archives Wiki.
Article By: Debbie Ann Doyle
National History Day 2011 Winners - June 16, 2011
By Elisabeth Grant and Robert B. Townsend
Every year National History Day engages and inspires thousands of students in the work of history through papers, web sites, documentaries, exhibits, and performances. This year’s competition (centered on the theme of “Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, and Consequences”) culminated this week in national-level competitions at the University of Maryland at College Park. The winners were announced yesterday, through a live broadcast.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant and Robert B. Townsend
Suspending Precirculated Papers at the AHA Annual Meeting - June 13, 2011
By Elisabeth Grant
The idea of offering precirculated paper sessions at the annual meeting seems intuitively obvious. At smaller workshops and seminars it allows for more substantive discussion between authors and audience. Unfortunately, it has not worked out that way at the AHA, and so, as you may have noticed in the list of Council decisions we posted yesterday, the precirculated papers category has been eliminated from the annual meeting.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Items Approved at June 2011 Meeting of the AHA Council - June 12, 2011
The AHA Council met June 4th and 5th, and made the following decisions…
Updated: Historians among 2011 ACLS Fellows and Grant Winners - June 06, 2011
Last week we listed historians among the 2011 ACLS fellows and grant winners, but regrettably left out a number of distinguished scholars, and AHA members, who should have been named. We apologize for this oversight, list them below, and offer congratulations on their achievement.
Farewell, Dear Friend: David Darlington, 1977—2011 - June 05, 2011
By Pillarisetti Sudhir, Chris Hale, and Robert B. Townsend
The death, on the last day of May, of David Darlington, associate editor of Perspectives on History, coeditor of the AHA’s Directory of History Departments, Historical Organizations, and Historians, co-manager of the annual meeting Job Center, and an invaluable colleague, came as a shock to all of us here at 400 A Street. It was a shock even to those of us who knew that behind his stoic smile and exemplary dedication to his work, David characteristically hid the pain and the suffering from the colon cancer that finally took his life at the unconscionably young age of 34.
Article By: Pillarisetti Sudhir, Chris Hale, and Robert B. Townsend
Historians among 2011 ACLS Fellows and Grant Winners - May 30, 2011
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) announced its 2011 fellows and grantees today, Tuesday, May 31st. Almost $15 million is being awarded to the 350 scholars, of which there are numerous historians.
New Report Finds U.S. History Majors Highest Earners in Humanities - May 24, 2011
By Robert B. Townsend
A new report, from the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University, on median salaries for undergraduate majors finds that history majors go on to earn fairly respectable salaries. Looking at the median salary for everyone aged 18 to 64 years old with an undergraduate degree in any one of 171 different fields, the report finds that history majors do the best in the humanities, and better than students in a majority of the other fields.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
British Request for Oral History Records Raises Complex and Difficult Questions - May 14, 2011
An archive of oral history recordings housed at Boston College and focused on the Irish Republican Army has been subpoenaed by the U.S. government at the request of British legal authorities as part of an “an investigation into murders and kidnappings committed nearly 40 years ago.”
Short Blog Hiatus: May 9-13, 2011 - May 08, 2011
By Elisabeth Grant
AHA Today will be on hiatus this week, with no scheduled posts (unscheduled posts, like breaking news, are always a possibility). In the meantime, here are some posts to help keep you entertained…
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
James Percoco Inducted into National Teachers Hall of Fame - May 03, 2011
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
James A. Percoco, AHA award recipient and U.S. history teacher at West Springfield High School in Virginia, has been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.
Article By: Pillarisetti Sudhir
A Historian’s Historian - May 01, 2011
By David W. Blight
This article is an appreciation of Drew Faust on the occasion of her Jefferson Lecture tonight. “A Historian’s Historian” by David W. Blight was first published in the May-June 2011 issue of Humanities magazine, which is published by the National Endowment for the Humanities and can be found at http://www.neh.gov/.
Survey: AHA Online - April 25, 2011
Take our 5 question survey and let us know what you think of the AHA’s web site, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages.
Eric Foner Receives the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for History - April 18, 2011
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
Eric Foner, the DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University, and a former president of the AHA (for 2000), received the 2011 history Pulitzer Prize for his book, The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery.
Article By: Pillarisetti Sudhir
National Council on Public History Meeting: Public Plenary with Tony Horwitz - April 10, 2011
By Debbie Ann Doyle
AHA Public History Coordinator Debbie Ann Doyle’s final report from the National Council on Public History annual meeting is on the public plenary session with author Tony Horwitz who discussed the relationship between academic and popular history.
Article By: Debbie Ann Doyle
National Council on Public History Meeting – International Public History - April 08, 2011
By Debbie Ann Doyle
AHA Public History Coordinator Debbie Ann Doyle is reporting from the National Council on Public History annual meeting in Pensacola this April 6 – 9, 2011. In this post she discusses sessions on public history practice outside the United States.
Article By: Debbie Ann Doyle
Reminder: Brief Planned Outage on AHA Web Site Tonight, April 8 - April 07, 2011
As mentioned earlier this week, to accommodate routine maintenance in our data center, the AHA web site, blog, and all member services will be offline for about a half an hour sometime between the hours of 11:00 p.m., tonight, April 8 and 5 a.m. Saturday, April 9, EST.
NCPH Meets in Pensacola: Report from the Public Plenary on the Coming of the Civil War Sesquicentennial and Public History - April 07, 2011
By Debbie Ann Doyle
The National Council on Public History (NCPH) annual meeting in Pensacola got off to a sunny start on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, with a reception overlooking the bay from the lawn of the 1825 Barkley House in Historic Pensacola Village.
Article By: Debbie Ann Doyle
Historians Among 2011 Guggenheim Fellows - April 06, 2011
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has selected 180 artists, scholars, and scientists to be fellows for 2011. Among these winners are a number of notable historians. We offer congratulations to them all:
Brief Planned Outage on AHA Web Site Friday Night, April 8 - April 05, 2011
To accommodate routine maintenance in our data center, the AHA web site, blog, and all member services will be offline for about a half an hour sometime between the hours of 11:00 p.m., Friday, April 8 and 5 a.m. Saturday, April 9, EST.
Summer Reception for Visiting Researchers - March 29, 2011
The AHA invites historians doing research in D.C. this summer to a reception at AHA headquarters (400 A St. SE) on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Additional Context for the Cronon Affair - March 27, 2011
On Sunday, the American Historical Association released a statement deploring the effort to intimidate AHA president-elect William Cronon. A few members have asked for additional information and context for the statement, so we offer the following:
AHA Deplores Effort to Intimidate William Cronon - March 26, 2011
The American Historical Association deplores recent efforts by the deputy executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party to intimidate William Cronon, a distinguished professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the incoming president of the AHA.
What We’re Reading: March 24, 2011 Edition - March 23, 2011
This week the National Endowment for the Humanities announced that historian Drew Gilpin Faust will deliver the 2011 Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities. In other news, AHA President-elect William Cronon provides historical background to recent events in Wisconsin, a judge has rejected the Google Books settlement, and President Obama seeks to reform No Child Left Behind. We also link to The Chronicle’s new Two-Year Track blog, an interactive 1811 map of Manhattan, a year behind the wheel of a 1930 Model A, and a murder mystery.
Article By: Darlington, Noralee Frankel, Elisabeth Grant, Jim Grossman, and Lee White
Do You Prefer Print or Electronic Publications? - March 22, 2011
By Robert B. Townsend
As part of our current planning for the future of the AHA publications program, we are assessing different options for print and electronic publishing. To help us weigh the potential cost implications of these changes, we are asking AHA members (and nonmembers as well) to answer a very brief survey about their preferences between print and electronic access to AHA publications.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
AHA on LinkedIn - March 20, 2011
Now, along with Facebook and Twitter, you can network with the American Historical Association through LinkedIn, a social networking site for professionals looking to connect with colleagues, share their work history, look for jobs, and more.
Life Member Named Routledge History Author of the Month - March 03, 2011
By David Darlington
Karen Offen, a Life Member of the AHA, has been named Author of the Month for March by Routledge, the academic publishing imprint based in Great Britain. Offen is a senior scholar affiliated with the Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University.
Article By: David Darlington
AHA Members Among 2010 National Humanities Medals Winners - March 01, 2011
By David Darlington and Robert B. Townsend
On March 1, 2011, the White House announced the winners of the 2010 National Humanities Medals. The medals are awarded by the NEH for outstanding achievements in history, literature, education, and cultural policy. Among this year’s winners were several distinguished members of the AHA.
Article By: David Darlington and Robert B. Townsend
Top AHA Today Blog Posts of 2010 - February 07, 2011
By Elisabeth Grant
What are your favorite posts, or types of posts on AHA Today? Do you come for the latest online resources, annual meeting posts, or thoughts from the executive director? Are you a regular follower of our Thursday roundup of “What We’re Reading”? We’re curious as to what you want to read, and so we looked back at our traffic statistics from 2010 to find some of the most popular blog posts. Read on and revisit below…
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
OAH Seeks New Treasurer - February 06, 2011
Applications and nominations are now welcome for the office of Treasurer of the Organization of American Historians (OAH).
Reminder: Member Services Routine Maintenance January 29-30, 2011 - January 28, 2011
As stated earlier this week, the AHA web site and member services section will be down for routine maintenance for about half an hour somewhere between the hours of 11 p.m. tonight (Saturday, January 29, 2011) and 3 a.m. in the morning tomorrow (Sunday, January 30, 2011).
Robert Griffith (1940-2011) - January 27, 2011
By Debbie Ann Doyle
Robert Griffith, American University, died on January 25, 2011. A gifted administrator and scholar, he served the American Historical Association as co-moderator of the department chairs’ listserv and as chair of the Local Arrangements Committee for the 2004 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. The Organization of American Historians has awarded him the Roy Rosenzweig Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions as treasurer from 2008–10.
Article By: Debbie Ann Doyle
Please Note: Member Services Routine Maintenance January 29-30, 2011 - January 25, 2011
The AHA web site and member services section will be down for routine maintenance for about half an hour somewhere between the hours of 11 p.m., Saturday, January 29, 2011 and 3 a.m. in the morning, Sunday, January 30, 2011.
History as a Subject Matter - January 24, 2011
By Noralee Frankel
CNN addresses history education in its article, “Subject Matters: Why students fall behind on history.” Raising issues that have concerned the AHA Teaching Division, the article mentions the role of “No Child Left Behind” in the decline of time that teachers spend on history in the classroom.
Article By: Noralee Frankel
50th Anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s Inauguration - January 19, 2011
By Elisabeth Grant
Fifty years ago today, on January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy delivered his inauguration address and spoke the now famous and widely quoted words: “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Watch video of the full address below…
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Twitter at the 125th Annual Meeting - January 03, 2011
Attending the 125th Annual Meeting in Boston? Have a Twitter account? Use the hashtag #AHA2011 for tweets about sessions, events, and other AHA annual meeting related topics.
Tweets containing #AHA2010 will be featured in a continuously streaming Twitter widget now appearing on the right side of the AHA blog.
Books by Members – December 2010 - December 27, 2010
By David Darlington
As a service to AHA members, we are listing books by members received in the headquarters office in recent months. These postings will only constitute an announcement of their publication and provide short descriptions of the books.
Article By: David Darlington
Books by Members – November 2010 - November 29, 2010
By David Darlington
As a service to AHA members, we are listing books by members received in the headquarters office in recent months. These postings will only constitute an announcement of their publication and provide short descriptions of the books.
Article By: David Darlington
2010 AHA Election Results - November 17, 2010
The winners of the 2010 AHA Election will begin their terms of office following the 125th Annual Meeting in Boston.
On Sessions, Methods, and the Counting of Beans - November 16, 2010
By Robert B. Townsend
While I hate to quibble with Patricia Cohen of the New York Times, her report yesterday included the observation that “Just one of the nearly 300 main panels scheduled for next year’s annual meeting of the American Historical Association covers digital matters” is not quite true.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Linda Kerber: Sexing Citizenship - November 11, 2010
Past AHA President Linda Kerber recently co-authored the Slate article “Sexing Citizenship” with Kristin Collins. In the article they point to Flores-Villar v. United States and argue that the “Supreme Court should strike down an old citizenship law that discriminates against fathers.”
Why Midterms Matter - November 03, 2010
In an article for the December 2010 issue of Perspectives on History, Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, discusses the historical significance of the November 2, 2010, U.S. Election. Because of the immediacy of the topic, a digital preprint of the essay is being offered now on the Perspectives Online web pages.
Designing Tomorrow at the National Building Museum - October 12, 2010
By David Darlington
The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. (401 F Street, NW) launched a new exhibition on October 2, 2010, called Designing Tomorrow: America’s World’s Fairs of the 1930s. On display until July 10, 2011, Designing Tomorrow is the first exhibit to consider the impact of the six American expositions of the 1930s (Chicago, San Diego, Cleveland, Dallas, San Francisco, and New York) on the popularization of modern design and the creation of a modern consumer culture.
Article By: David Darlington
Task Force on Disability Survey - October 04, 2010
The American Historical Association’s Task Force on Disability is gathering information about the status and concerns of historians with disabilities in order to propose concrete, practical solutions for as many of them as possible.
Historian Named MacArthur Fellow - September 28, 2010
By David Darlington
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation named 23 new MacArthur Fellows for 2010 on September 28th. Among the winners of these “genius grants” was historian and AHA member Annette Gordon-Reed, who also won the Pulitzer Prize and received a Guggenheim fellowship in 2009.
Article By: David Darlington
Calling All Contingent Faculty: We Want to Know More about You - September 26, 2010
On behalf of the Coalition on the Academic Workforce (CAW), the AHA invites all historians and other faculty employed in the contingent academic workforce in U.S. colleges and universities to participate in a survey about course assignments, salaries, benefits, and general working conditions.
Call for Applications for the 2011 Decolonization Seminar - September 06, 2010
By Miriam Cunningham, assistant director of the National History Center
The National History Center is accepting applications from early-career scholars to participate in the sixth international summer seminar on decolonization, which will be held for four weeks, from Sunday, July 10, through Saturday, August 6, 2011, in Washington, D.C.
Article By: Miriam Cunningham, assistant director of the National History Center
Executive Secretary/Directors of the American Historical Association, 1884 to present - August 31, 2010
By Robert B. Townsend and Matthew Keough
James R. Grossman officially begins his term today, as the 18th executive director of the American Historical Association. Below, we list the previous directors of the association. Please note, the position was executive secretary, rather than executive director, until 1974.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend and Matthew Keough
National Book Festival Returns to D.C. - August 29, 2010
By David Darlington
Less than a month from now—September 25, 2010—the Library of Congress will hold its 10th annual National Book Festival on the national mall between 3rd and 7th streets. Notable historians participating this year include Nell Irvin Painter, a former member of AHA Council, and Gordon S. Wood.
Article By: David Darlington
David Weber, Vice-president of the AHA’s Professional Division, Dies at 69 - August 22, 2010
By Debbie Ann Doyle
David J. Weber, historian of the Borderlands, the American West, and Latin America and vice-president of the American Historical Association’s Professional Division, died on Friday, August 20, after a long struggle with multiple myeloma.
Article By: Debbie Ann Doyle
Paul Longmore, Professor of History, Advocate of the Disabled, Dies at 64 - August 12, 2010
By Debbie Ann Doyle
Paul Longmore, a member of the AHA Task Force on Disability, passed away on August 9, 2010. Longmore was professor of history and director of the Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University. He specialized in early American history and the history of people with disabilities.
Article By: Debbie Ann Doyle
Teaching American History Grants: 124 Grants and $115.3 Million Awarded - August 09, 2010
Last week, on August 6, 2010, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the most recent recipients of Teaching American History grants. 124 school districts—in 40 states as well as the District of Columbia and American Samoa—are recipients, being awarded $115.3 million in total, funded for a three-year period.
Big Money for Digital Humanities - July 20, 2010
On July 20, 2010, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft or DFG) announced they have awarded $1.67 million to five international digital humanities projects.
Construction History Society of America – Newest AHA Affiliate - July 19, 2010
The AHA welcomes the Construction History Society of America as its newest Affiliated Society.
Wondering what to do with your B.A. in history? - July 11, 2010
By Jessica Pritchard
Editors Note: Jessica Pritchard has conducted interviews with historians in a variety fields for AHA Today’s “Jobs and Careers in History” series. She is now currently working on a pamphlet for the AHA called What to Do with a History Major. The content for this blog post is based on some of the research she has done for that soon to be released pamphlet.
Article By: Jessica Pritchard
Books by Members – July 2010 - July 05, 2010
By David Darlington
As a service to AHA members, we are listing books by members received in the headquarters office in recent months. These postings will only constitute an announcement of their publication and provide short descriptions of the books. These are not reviews.
Article By: David Darlington
AHR Still Has Highest “Impact” in History - June 29, 2010
By Robert B. Townsend
The American Historical Review continues to have the highest “impact factor” among history journals, according to the new Journal Citation Reports from Thomson Reuters.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Senator Robert C. Byrd, Dies at 92 - June 27, 2010
We note with sadness the passing of Robert C. Byrd…
Is There an E-book in Your Future? A Report from the University Presses - June 20, 2010
By Robert B. Townsend
A sense of optimism pervaded the annual meeting of Association of American University Presses (AAUP) this past weekend, even as the staff at those presses grappled with budget cuts and rapid changes in the way scholarship is disseminated.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Recession Takes Toll on AHA Membership - June 20, 2010
By Robert B. Townsend
The economic hard times rocking the discipline took their toll on the AHA this past year, as membership in the Association fell 7.4 percent from the year before. This erased gains made over the previous five years and dropped membership down to 13,946 active members.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Public History: Recognition and Reward in Promotion and Tenure - June 17, 2010
By Debbie Ann Doyle
“Tenure, Promotion, and the Publicly Engaged Academic Historian,” a report offering best practices for evaluating public history scholarship in history departments, was adopted by the OAH, NCPH, and AHA.
rticle By: Debbie Ann Doyle
Please Note: Online Member Services Unavailable June 20–July 4, 2010 - June 13, 2010
All online membership services will be unavailable between June 20 and July 4, 2010.
A reminder to all AHA members: On July 1, 2010, the AHA will flip the switch on a new association management system (AMS), which will allow direct member interaction via the web site in many crucial and time-sensitive areas
Help Us Update the Directory! - June 08, 2010
By David Darlington, Directory co-editor
Summertime is when the AHA updates its annual Directory of History Departments, Historical Organizations, and Historians. We request the assistance of both individual members and history departments/organizations to help complete this task.
Article By: David Darlington, Directory co-editor
Historians among 2010 ACLS Fellows - June 07, 2010
By David Darlington
The American Council of Learned Societies recently announced the winners of its 2010 fellowship competition. Over $15 million was awarded to more than 380 scholars, including many historians. ACLS fellowships and grants are awarded to individual scholars for excellence in research in the humanities and related social sciences. The complete list of winners is available on the ACLS web site. Among the winners are the following historians…
Article By: David Darlington
Discussions on the AHA Facebook Page: We Want to Hear from You! - May 16, 2010
One of the features of the new AHA’s Facebook page is a discussion board with various questions for you to weigh in on. Today we offer ask a new question: Do you use new media in the classroom?
Discovering the Civil War at the National Archives - May 03, 2010
By Elisabeth Grant
The National Archives‘ new “Discovering the Civil War” exhibit reexamines this well-visited topic through primary documents presented in new ways, like through videos and interactive touch-screens.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Sharing Perspectives on History Articles - May 02, 2010
By Elisabeth Grant
Ever read an article in an issue of Perspectives on History online and wanted to pass it along to a friend or colleague? Well, now doing just that has gotten even easier.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Seeking Nominations for 2012 Program Committee - April 27, 2010
The AHA Research Division invites anyone interested in serving on the Program Committee for the 2012 annual meeting to submit their names for consideration.
Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants from the NEH - April 19, 2010
By Elisabeth Grant
The NEH’s Office of Digital Humanities (ODH) has listed the 18 awards being given within the Digital Humanities Star-Up Grants category. The variety of projects being funded is fascinating, including development of mobile phone applications, a number of archives and databases (of images, research notes, flap books, genealogical data, to name a few), and more.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Books by Members – April 2010 - April 18, 2010
By David Darlington and Pillarisetti Sudhir
As a service to AHA members, we are listing books by members received in the headquarters office in recent months. These postings will only constitute an announcement of their publication and provide short descriptions of the books. These are not reviews.
Article By: David Darlington and Pillarisetti Sudhir
What We’re Reading: April 15, 2010 - April 14, 2010
Happy Tax Day! In 2007 we took a look back at the history of the American tax tradition, but other than that the rest of today’s What We’re Reading is tax-reference free. Instead, we bring you news on the recent OAH annual meeting, deregulating oral history research, the most recent issue of Common-place, and the launch of the LOC’s redesigned online image catalog. Then, learn of new bloggers and blogs (covering NARA, the New York Times, and the dinner menu of the past), reviews of new books (on U.S. states that might have been and the African Diaspora), and a new album from the band Titus Andronicus that centers on a Civil War theme.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant and Robert B. Townsend
Member Benefit: Scholar Saver 2009-10 - April 13, 2010
The 2009-10 edition of Scholar Saver, available to AHA members, features 53-pages of discounts on journals, books, and instructional materials in political science and history.
AHA on Facebook & Twitter - April 12, 2010
The AHA has joined Facebook and Twitter!
History Doctoral Programs Site Updated - April 05, 2010
By Robert B. Townsend
The AHA’s History Doctoral Programs web site has now been updated to include current information on students, faculty, and departments as a whole. In addition to department-level fixes, the site has also been updated to include links to a wealth of additional information about universities in the United States.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
What We’re Reading: April 1, 2010 - March 31, 2010
Beware, beware, today is April Fools’ Day! Check out Wikipedia for a look back at some well known pranks. But while the pranksters are going to be rampant today (especially online), know that the following links and news are all legit. In the news this week, the NEH announces $16 million in available grant money, the BBC reports on the Connected History project, Eric Foner weighs in on the Texas textbooks debate, and a new report finds students retain print information better than material read online. It seems fitting to recognize other notable dates on a day like today, so check out articles on Ada Lovelace Day, Easter at the White House, and the anniversary of lasers. We also take a look at the lives of two people: a former slave/possible saint and a 106 year old woman and her look back on history. Finally, read about the future of Wikihistory, a look at public historians, and maps through time.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant, Jessica Pritchard, Pillarisetti Sudhir, and Robert B. Townsend
Bancroft Prize Winners Announced - March 21, 2010
By David Darlington
Columbia University announced the 2010 winners of the prestigious Bancroft Prize on March 17. The three historians named were Linda Gordon (professor at NYU and AHA member), Woody Holton (Univ. of Richmond), and Margaret D. Jacobs (Univ. of Nebraska).
Article By: David Darlington
New AHA Executive Director: Jim Grossman to Succeed Arnita Jones - March 18, 2010
The American Historical Association is pleased to announce that Dr. James Grossman, currently Vice President for Research and Education at Chicago’s Newberry Library, will succeed Dr. Arnita Jones as the Association’s Executive Director. Dr. Jones will retire at the end of August.
HistoriansTV - March 15, 2010
At the 124th Annual Meeting this past January, the AHA once again partnered with WebsEdge of London, U.K. to produce HistoriansTV. All of this video content is now available online.
Name That Decade – Results - March 15, 2010
Late last year we asked AHA members and the public to name the decade. Well, the votes have been tallied, and the winner is…
Council Approves Establishment of Interest Groups within the AHA - March 14, 2010
By Robert B. Townsend
Members of the American Historical Association will now be able to create interest groups (organized bodies of history specialists), under a policy approved by Council in January.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
New Salary Report Shows Little Growth in History - March 08, 2010
By Robert B. Townsend
Average faculty salaries in history were essentially unchanged from the previous year, as average salaries for regular full-time faculty at most ranks grew by less than one percent. This represents the smallest average increase in salaries for historians in 15 years.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
New Survey of Humanities Departments Puts History in Context - March 02, 2010
By Robert B. Townsend
Before the present economic crisis, history departments were hiring more tenure-track faculty than they were losing by attrition, and they were conferring tenure on their faculty at a much higher rate than counterparts in other humanities fields. These are some of the key findings of interest to historians in a just-released 2007-08 survey of departments in eight humanities disciplines by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS).
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Name that Decade – Voting - March 01, 2010
On November 29th of last year we asked AHA members and the public to name the decade, “offer[ing] their suggestions…for a catchy phrase that can wittily sum up the decade.” Vote now for your favorite submission.
Member News Wanted - February 28, 2010
The Members column, which is published in Perspectives on History as space permits, is designed to recognize and honor the accomplishments of AHA members.
Most Snowfall since 1899 Shuts Washington and the AHA Down - February 15, 2010
By Elisabeth Grant
Last week’s winter weather conditions in Washington shut down the government for a record four days in a row. But it was with good reason, Washington’s 2009-2010 snowfall numbers have broken the 1899 record…
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
AHA Office Closed Due to Inclement Weather - February 08, 2010
The AHA headquarters office will be closed again tomorrow, Wednesday, February 10, as heavy snows have shut down Washington area roads and public transportation. The Association follows the federal government’s operating status for the Washington, D.C., area.
Heroic AHA Member Helps to Save Lives in Haiti - February 01, 2010
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
Dwelling as they usually do in dark and dusty archives or hallowed halls of academe, historians are not often linked to deeds of derring-do and bravery. But AHA member James Coll was recently in Haiti after the devastating earthquake there, and helped to save at least six lives, it has been reported.
Article By: Pillarisetti Sudhir
Howard Zinn, Paradigmatic People’s Historian, Dies at 87 - January 27, 2010
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
Howard Zinn, the historian who translated his pioneering vision of the past—seeing it from the perspective of ordinary people—into progressive and radical political action, died of a heart attack on Wednesday, January 27, 2010, at the age of 87.
Article By: Pillarisetti Sudhir
Louis R. Harlan, former president of the AHA, dies January 22, 2010 - January 24, 2010
Louis R. Harlan, historian, former AHA president, and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Maryland, College Park, passed away this past Friday, January 22, 2010 after a long illness. He was 87. Below we reprint the biography marking his presidential address from the 1989 AHA Annual Meeting. Look to a future issue of Perspectives on History for an expanded remembrance.
Council Approves Name Change for Rosenzweig Prize - January 07, 2010
By Robert B. Townsend
AHA Council unanimously agreed to rename the Roy Rosenzweig Fellowship for Innovation in Digital History, making it the Roy Rosenzweig Prize for Innovation in Digital History
Members’ Books Received—December 2009 - December 28, 2009
By David Darlington
As a service to AHA members, we are listing books by members received in the headquarters office in recent months.These postings (see the September and October posts) will only constitute an announcement of their publication and provide short descriptions of the books. These are not reviews. Books for review by the AHR need to be sent to the attention of Moureen Coulter, 914 Atwater, Bloomington, IN 47401.
Article By: David Darlington
2009 Cliopatria Awards: Nominations Due Today - November 29, 2009
Cliopatria, an HNN blog, is accepting nominations through midnight tonight for its Cliopatria awards.
2009 AHA Election Results - November 23, 2009
Announcing the winners of the 2009 AHA Election. These individuals will begin their terms of office following the 124th Annual Meeting in San Diego.
David Ferriero Sworn in as Archivist of the U.S. - November 12, 2009
By Lee White, Executive Director of the National Coalition for History
On November 13, David Ferriero, the former Andrew W. Mellon Director of the New York Public Libraries, was sworn in as the tenth Archivist of the United States…
Article By: Lee White, Executive Director of the National Coalition for History
LGBTQ Taskforce Statement - November 09, 2009
By Leisa Meyer, Taskforce co-chair
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Taskforce of the AHA was created by AHA Council at the January 2009 annual meeting. The Taskforce is composed of five members (with the vice president and a member of the Professional Division and AHA serving as co-chairs), one additional AHA member appointed by the Professional Division (PD), and two appointed by the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender History (CLGBTH), an affiliate society of the AHA. The Taskforce has a three-year charge and meets once a year always during the AHA annual meeting with several conference calls during the year for discussion of ongoing business.
Article By: Leisa Meyer, Taskforce co-chair
AHA Launches Drive to Endow New Prize for South Asian History - November 09, 2009
Following a recent Council decision, the AHA has launched a drive to endow a new annual prize—the John F. Richards Prize—for the best book South Asian history, and invites all interested in the region’s history to contribute generously to the fund.
New Member Category for Early Career Professionals - November 03, 2009
By Elise Lipkowitz and Robert B. Townsend
We are pleased to announce the establishment of and Early Career Member category, to assist junior members of the profession in their transition from graduate school into long-term employment in the profession.
Article By: Elise Lipkowitz and Robert B. Townsend
AHA’s Two-Year College Task Force Begins Work - October 26, 2009
The ad hoc Two-Year College Task Force, which was established by the AHA’s Council in January 2009, has begun its work of exploring various issues relating to history faculty at two-year colleges. At the end of its three-year tenure, the task force is expected to present a set of recommendations to Council.
Members’ Books Received at the AHA – October 2009 - October 25, 2009
By David Darlington
As a service to AHA members, we are listing books by members received in the headquarters office in recent months. These postings will only constitute an announcement of their publication and provide short descriptions of the books (as described by their publishers). These are not reviews. Books for review by the AHR need to be sent to the attention of Moureen Coulter, 914 Atwater, Bloomington, IN 47401.
Article By: David Darlington
Directory of History Departments and Organizations Now Online - October 20, 2009
We are pleased to announce that a searchable edition of the Directory of History Departments and Organizations is now available online, and we are offering a special trial preview through October 31 to anyone with a web browser.
New Books in History Podcast of Atlantic World Book - October 13, 2009
By Miriam Hauss Cunningham, Administrative Officer of the National History Center
The National History Center has entered into a partnership with New Books In History, which audiocasts interviews with historians discussing their latest research and writing. The first in the series offered in conjunction with the New Books in History focuses on the “Reinterpreting History” books, published by Oxford University Press.
Article By: Miriam Hauss Cunningham, Administrative Officer of the National History Center
Happy 3rd Birthday AHA Today! - September 27, 2009
Three short years ago AHA Today joined the blogosphere to share “the latest happenings in the broad discipline of history” as well as to “serve as a clearinghouse for interesting, and perhaps useful information about the profession.” Since that time AHA staff members have produced over 850 blog posts, which have been viewed by more than 200,000 visitors.
Bureau of the Census Seeks Nominations for Census Advisory Committee - September 22, 2009
The Bureau of the Census in the Department of Commerce is seeking ten nominations for organizations willing to participate on the 2010 Census Advisory Committee (2010 CAC).
Members, What’s New? - September 21, 2009
By David Darlington
The Members column, which is published in Perspectives on History as space permits, is designed to recognize and honor the accomplishments of AHA members. News of recent hires, promotions, publications, fellowships or awards received, and other news of a professional nature are welcomed. Some recent member achievements include…
Article By: David Darlington
AHA Establishes Technology Advisory Committee - September 20, 2009
The Association has established a Technology Advisory Committee, to provide guidance to the AHA Council and staff on how the organization’s electronic publishing program might do better today and where it should be five years from now.
Members' Books Recently Received at the AHA - September 07, 2009
By David Darlington
As a service to AHA members, we are initiating a new listing of books by members received in the headquarters office in recent months. These postings will only constitute an announcement of their publication, and provide short descriptions of the books (as described by their publishers). These are not reviews.
Article By: David Darlington
Moving Ahead with Retirement - August 25, 2009
By Arnita A. Jones
After ten years of service to the AHA, Arnita Jones will be retiring from her post as Executive Director effective September 1, 2010. In this post she reflects on retirement and the pleasures of the post.
Article By: Arnita A. Jones
Applications Are Invited for the Position of Executive Director - August 23, 2009
The American Historical Association invites applications for the post of executive director, the Association’s chief executive position, responsible to the elected AHA Council. The executive director assists the Council in forming policy, oversees the work of all AHA divisions and committees, coordinates the Association’s collaboration with its affiliates and with other professional organizations, engages in advocacy for history and the humanities in conjunction with other professional organizations and works with Council to represent history before the general public.
Short Blog Hiatus - August 09, 2009
By Elisabeth Grant
AHA Today will be on hiatus this week, with no scheduled posts (unscheduled posts, like breaking news, are always a possibility). We’ll be back next week with new online resources, articles from around the web, and the grant of the week. In the meantime, feel free to revisit (or check out for the first time) these past AHA Today posts…
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Myron Gutmann Appointed Head of NSF Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences - July 28, 2009
By Robert B. Townsend
Historian and longtime AHA member Myron Gutmann has been appointed to head the National Science Foundation’s directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
President Obama To Appoint David S. Ferriero Archivist of the U.S. - July 27, 2009
By Lee White, Executive Director of the National Coalition for History
The National Coalition for History has learned from several sources that President Obama intends later today to nominate David S. Ferriero to the position of Archivist of the United States. Since 2004, Mr. Ferriero has served as the Andrew W. Mellon Director and Chief Executive of The Research Libraries at The New York Public Library (NYPL). Mr. Ferriero succeeds Professor Allen Weinstein who resigned last December.
Article By: Lee White, Executive Director of the National Coalition for History
AHA Calendar: History Events, Opportunities, Awards, and More - July 21, 2009
By Elisabeth Grant
The AHA’s online calendar lists upcoming meetings and seminars, research opportunities, awards and fellowships, internet resources, and exhibitions. Contribute your own announcement through this online form. Below we offer snippets of some of the current listings.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
In Memoriam: Kenneth M. Stampp - July 14, 2009
By David Darlington
We regret to announce the passing of Kenneth Milton Stampp on Friday, July 10, 2009. Stampp died of a heart ailment in Oakland, California. He was 96.
Article By: David Darlington
AHA Members Win ACLS Fellowships - July 07, 2009
By Elisabeth Grant
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) recently announced its fellowship recipients for 2009. Among these winners were a number of AHA members. We list, and congratulate them, below.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Limited War, Unlimited - July 06, 2009
By Miriam Hauss Cunningham, Administrative Officer of the National History Center
The National History Center invites the public to attend its Decolonization Lecture Series featuring Professor Marilyn B. Young on Limited War, Unlimited.
Article By: Miriam Hauss Cunningham, Administrative Officer of the National History Center
Summer in D.C.: 2009 History Related Events - July 06, 2009
By Elisabeth Grant
The AHA’s headquarters is located in D.C., amidst the hustle and bustle of Capitol Hill. Our location here is advantageous for a number of reasons, one of which being proximity to various history exhibits and events. In case you’re in the area, or are traveling to D.C. for a vacation this summer, here are some events in D.C. you may want to check out…
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Government Ventures into Declassification Issues via Web 2.0 - June 30, 2009
By Robert B. Townsend
The federal government is currently seeking information on its declassification policies, and is doing so through a blog—offering a high-level test of the value of Web 2.0.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
AHA Membership Grows Modestly, as History of Religion Surpasses Culture - June 29, 2009
By Robert B. Townsend
Despite the hardships in the economy, membership in the AHA actually increased slightly over the past year. In our annual membership snapshot (taken on March 31 of each year), membership rose to over 15,000 members for the first time in 35 years. While this marks an important milestone, in real terms the 15,055 members marked only a modest increase (just 152 more than last year).
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
National History Day 2009: The Individual in History - June 21, 2009
By Elisabeth Grant
This year over a half a million students across the country participated in National History Day and explored historical topics centered on the theme of “The Individual in History.”
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Government on Twitter - June 15, 2009
By Elisabeth Grant
First YouTube, then blogging, and now Twitter; it appears that the U.S. government has fully embraced Web 2.0. What parts of the government are on Twitter? Steve Lunceford, blogger and managing director of a PR firm, has created an extensive list of areas of government on Twitter, including “state and local, federal, contractors, reporters, academics, judicial branch and more.”
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
In Memoriam: Ernest R. May - June 14, 2009
By David Darlington
Ernest R. May, Charles Warren Professor of American History at Harvard University and a consultant to numerous government agencies, passed away on June 1, 2009, following complications from cancer surgery. He was a 50 year member of the AHA.
Article By: David Darlington
Status Update on Paper of Record Materials - June 08, 2009
By Robert B. Townsend
The staff at Google have now posted information about the status of the newspapers obtained from the Paper of Record. As we reported last month, a number of members were deeply distressed after these materials were taken off line and they could not find out about their status.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Jim Leach Nominated for NEH Chair - June 03, 2009
On June 3, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Jim Leach, former Republican congressman from Iowa, as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The National Coalition for History: Latest News - June 01, 2009
The National Coalition for History (NCH) represents the historical and archival professions on issues involving federal funding and policy issues that have an impact on historical research and teaching, access to government information, employment of historians, public policy issues relating to history, historic preservation, and the dissemination of historical information. In case you missed it, here’s a roundup of some recent highlights from the NCH web site…
AHA Asks Support for Louisiana State University Press - May 28, 2009
By Robert B. Townsend
In a letter to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Arnita Jones, the AHA’s executive director, called on the state leaders to preserve the health and vitality of Louisiana State University Press, which faces deep and perhaps fatal cuts to its budget.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
In Memoriam: David Herbert Donald - May 19, 2009
By David Darlington
David Herbert Donald passed away Sunday, May 17, 2009, at the age of 88. Donald was a life member of the AHA, having joined the organization in 1946. The Mississippi native was a well-regarded scholar of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era, and the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes for biographies of abolitionist Charles Sumner (1961) and writer Thomas Wolfe (1988).
Article By: David Darlington
Kluge Prizewinner Romila Thapar Discusses Perceptions of India’s Past - May 19, 2009
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
On Tuesday, May 12, 2009, Romila Thapar, eminent historian of India, and recipient of the 2008 Kluge Prize for lifetime contributions to the study of humanity, delivered a lecture entitled “Perceptions of the Past in Early India” to a large audience in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Thapar demolished the argument that India lacked a history with an eloquent and erudite understanding derived from a new reading of Indian texts, which reflected, she said, a historical consciousness.
Article By: Pillarisetti Sudhir
National History Center News: E-Store and Congressional Briefing - May 18, 2009
By Elisabeth Grant
The National History Center recently announced a major addition to its web site and an upcoming congressional briefing.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
America’s Most Endangered Historic Places - April 28, 2009
By Elisabeth Grant
The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced this week its 2009 list of the America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
AHA Member wins Pulitzer Prize - April 20, 2009
By David Darlington
Congratulations are in order for AHA member Annette Gordon-Reed, professor at Rutgers University-Newark and New York Law School, who has won the Pulitzer Prize for History for her book, The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family.
Article By: David Darlington
“Paper of Record” Disappears, Leaving Historians in the Lurch - April 16, 2009
By Robert B. Townsend
The digital archive called “Paper of Record”—a significant repository of old newspapers from around the world—disappeared in late January, leaving many historians without a critical tool for their research.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
John Hope Franklin, Scholar and Mirror to America, Dead at the Age of 94 - March 25, 2009
By Vernon Horn
John Hope Franklin, the eminent historian of African American history, civil rights activist, and teacher died yesterday of congestive heart failure at the Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC. He was 94.
Article By: Vernon Horn
Members, What Are You Up To? - March 09, 2009
The Members column, which is published in Perspectives on History as space permits, is designed to recognize and honor the accomplishments of AHA members. To submit an entry…
Concerns about State Department Historians Office Aired - February 12, 2009
By Robert B. Townsend
An inquiry into the Office of the Historian at the U.S. State Department (HO) concludes that “the current working atmosphere in the HO and between the HO and the HAC [Historical Advisory Committee] poses real threats to the high scholarly quality of the FRUS [Foreign Relations of the United States] series and the benefits it brings.” Secrecy News posted the report, by a committee consisting of Warren F. Kimball (chair), Ruth Whiteside, and Ron Spector, up yesterday.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
More Ways to Share - February 03, 2009
By Elisabeth Grant
The world of Web 2.0 is all about sharing. From photos to YouTube videos to academic articles, if it can be linked, people want to share. Now at AHA Today you can share blog posts in two new ways: through e-mail and on Facebook.
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
New Appointments at NEH and the Congressional Humanities Caucus - January 27, 2009
By Robert B. Townsend
Jessica Irons, director of the National Humanities Alliance (of which the AHA is a founding member), reports that an acting chair has been named for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and that the Republicans have named a new co-chair to the Congressional Humanities Caucus.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
Seeking Nominations for 2011 Program Committee - January 26, 2009
The AHA Research Division invites anyone interested in serving on the Program Committee for the 2011 annual meeting to submit their names for consideration. The meeting will be held in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mixed News For Historians in Records Access - January 22, 2009
By Robert B. Townsend
President Barack Obama articulated a significant policy shift regarding federal records in his first week in office, signing an executive order on presidential records and issuing a presidential memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). But the news of the week was a bit mixed, as historians and ethics groups lost a lawsuit to preserve records from outgoing vice president Richard Cheney.
Article By: Robert B. Townsend
ACLS Humanities E-Book Adds New Titles - January 20, 2009
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) recently added 500 new titles online to Humanities E-Book. This addition now brings the Humanities E-Book digital collection up to 2,200 titles. Notable among the recent additions is the AHA’s Guide to Historical Literature series.
A First Glimpse of the Public History Survey - December 23, 2008
By John Dichtl, Executive Director, National Council on Public History and Robert B. Townsend
Thanks to the support and interest of almost 4,000 members of the profession, our survey of public history professionals was a terrific success…
Article By: John Dichtl, Executive Director, National Council on Public History and Robert B. Townsend
History Detectives and the National Parks - December 16, 2008
By Elisabeth Grant
PBS’ show History Detectives asks, “Do you, a family member or a friend have an item around the house that has something to do with one of our nearly 400 national parks, monuments and historic sites that might be of historical significance?”
Article By: Elisabeth Grant
Results of 2008 AHA Election - November 30, 2008
Here are the winners of the 2008 AHA Election. These individuals will begin their terms of office following the 123rd Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Historians Among Winners of 2008 National Humanities Medals - November 23, 2008
By David Darlington
President George W. Bush awarded the 2008 National Humanities Medals and National Medals of Arts at the White House this past Monday, November 17, 2008. Several historians were among the recipients of these prestigious awards given out by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
Article By: David Darlington
Executive Director Search Begins at the OAH - November 20, 2008
The Organization of American Historians has called for applications from qualified individuals who wish to be considered for the position of executive director of the 100-year-old organization, which is dedicated to the promotion of “excellence in the scholarship, teaching, and presentation of American history.” The screening of applications began on November 15, 2008, but the search will continue until the position is filled. The appointment will initially be made for a five-year term.
The Role of the History Major in Liberal Education: White Paper report for the Teagle Foundation - October 21, 2008
By Miriam Hauss, Administrative Officer of the National History Center
In a report issued this week, a working group of the National History Center urges history departments to reassess their curriculum for history majors, with an eye towards emphasizing the goals and values of liberal education.
Article By: Miriam Hauss, Administrative Officer of the National History Center
CISH Invites Paper Proposals for the 2010 Amsterdam Congress - October 21, 2008
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
The International Committee for Historical Sciences (known more commonly by the French acronym, CISH) is going forward rapidly with the organizational work for the 22nd International Congress of Historical Sciences, to be held August 22-28, 2010, in Amsterdam. The bureau now invites individual scholars to submit—by February 1, 2009—proposals for individual papers for each type of session.
AHA Member among 25 Recipients of MacArthur Foundation Grants - September 23, 2008
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
Nancy G. Siraisi, emeritus professor of history at the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, and a member of the AHA, was among the recipients of the 25 fellowships awarded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which were announced on September 23, 2008.
Article By: Pillarisetti Sudhir
National Trust Reports on Storm Damage to Historic Sites, Warns of Continuing Danger to Landmarks in New Orleans - September 21, 2008
By Debbie Ann Doyle
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has posted reports on the impact of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav on historic buildings in the affected areas, including several National Trust properties.
Article By: Debbie Ann Doyle
AHA Member Access to the History Compass Extended to October 31 - August 31, 2008
By Vernon Horn
The AHA is pleased to announce that free access to the History Compass will continue until October 31, 2008…
Decolonization and Disorder - August 17, 2008
By Miriam Hauss
As a part of the National History Center’s third International Seminar on Decolonization in the 20th Century, Dane Kennedy, the Elmer Louis Kayser Professor of History and International Affairs at George Washington University, gave a lecture entitled “Decolonization and Disorder” at the Kluge Center of the Library of Congress on July 9, 2008…
Eighth Annual National Book Festival Announced - August 03, 2008
By David Darlington
Recently, the Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and First Lady Laura Bush announced the eighth annual National Book Festival, to be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on September 27, 2008. Nearly 70 authors will be on hand to talk to audiences, answer questions, and sign books…
JSTOR and Aluka Partner Up - July 29, 2008
By Elisabeth Grant
On Monday it was announced that JSTOR (an interdisciplinary digital archive) and Aluka (a digital library of resources from and about Africa) are joining up to combine their resources and mission.
Member News Wanted - July 27, 2008
The Members column, which is published in Perspectives on History as space permits, is designed to recognize and honor the accomplishments of AHA members…
National Park Service Releases Historic Preservation Study - July 15, 2008
By Elisabeth Grant
Over ten years ago Congress called on the National Park Service to investigate Revolutionary War sites and War of 1812 sites, evaluate their significance, and identify any threats to them. The resulting report, the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Historic Preservation Study, is now available online…
Thurgood Marshall - July 01, 2008
By David Darlington
Today, July 2nd, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Thurgood Marshall, prominent American jurist and the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court. Marshall was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 2, 1908.
Building an Archives Wiki Advisory Board - June 29, 2008
By Robert B. Townsend
As Archives Wiki approaches its sixth month online, I have decided to develop an Advisory Board for site. I invite applications or expressions of interest from historians, archivists, and genealogists working in the archives, who would be interested in joining an AHA Advisory Board.
Draft Best Practices for Public History Education from the NCPH - June 24, 2008
By Debbie Ann Doyle
The Curriculum and Training Committee of the National Council on Public History (NCPH) has posted draft best practices recommendations for public history education on the NCPH web site, including recommended best practices for MA programs in public history, graduate certificate programs, undergraduate public history programs, and public history internships.
National History Day 2008: Conflict and Compromise - June 22, 2008
By Elisabeth Grant
This year’s National History Day centered on the theme “Conflict and Compromise in History.” Events took place Sunday, June 15 through Thursday, June 19, 2008, at the University of Maryland, with students presenting papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, and even web sites (a new category this year). Congratulations to all of the winners, but also the more than 500,000 students across the country who participated this year. Below we’ve listed the winners in each category…
AHA Council Approves New Bylaws - June 19, 2008
By Robert B. Townsend
At its biennial meeting last week, the AHA Council revised the bylaws to the AHA’s Constitution. While the Constitution lays out the basic structure for the organization, the bylaws describe how the organization actually functions…
Reports from the 2008 Berkshire Conference on the History of Women - June 17, 2008
By David Darlington
The triennial Berkshire Conference on the History of Women was held June 12-15, 2008, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1,500 scholars attended, according to one estimate. Several bloggers attended and wrote about the experience.
Department of Defense Minerva Research Initiative Grants - June 16, 2008
By Vernon Horn
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced the Minerva Research Initiative (MRI). Minerva is a university-based social science research program initiated by the Secretary of Defense.
Brief Blog Vacation - June 08, 2008
This week AHA Today will be taking a brief vacation. Regular daily entries will resume next week, starting with Robert Townsend’s examination of changing research habits in the profession.
In the absence of new content we encourage you to read some of our popular blog posts and check out a variety of resources on the historians.org site:
Popular posts
- Google Books: What’s Not to Like?
- What Is a History Major Worth?
- Pells Bells: The End of Cultural History?
- Jobs and Careers in History
- Wikimapia: “Let’s Describe the Whole World!”
- Gutenberg-e Books Now Available Open Access and through ACLS Humanities E-Book
Resources at historians.org
- ArchivesWiki
- Directory of History Journals
- Calendar
- Perspectives on History
- AHA Presidential Addresses
A Quick Checkup on AHA Membership - June 01, 2008
By Robert B. Townsend
Each year we take a snapshot of the AHA membership on March 31—an annual exam, if you will—to check the health of the organization…
May is National Preservation Month - May 19, 2008
By David Darlington
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has declared May 2008 as the fourth annual National Preservation Month, and has created a number of programs in celebration.
Archives Wiki Needs You! - May 18, 2008
By Vernon Horn
As you begin to prepare for your summer research projects, we hope you’ll visit the AHA’s recently launched ArchivesWiki and contribute.
National History Center Revamps Website - May 06, 2008
By Elisabeth Grant
The National History Center recently spruced up its web site with a sleeker, more streamlined look…
Opinions Wanted – Perspectives Reader’s Survey - May 04, 2008
At the beginning of this year Perspectives, the AHA’s newsmagazine, embraced a slightly more specific name, and became Perspectives on History. Now, more changes are afoot, and we’d like to hear your opinions through a survey. Survey takers will be entered in a drawing to receive one of two free memberships.
Historians Included in the 2008 Class of Fellows - April 29, 2008
By Elisabeth Grant
This past Monday the American Academy of Arts and Sciences announced its Class of Fellows for 2008. The Academy, founded by John Adams, James Bowdoin, John Hancock, and other forefathers, has been in existence since 1780. Past members have included Benjamin Franklin, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Albert Einstein. This year’s addition of new fellows (190 in all), include a number of scholars drawn from the field of history. See below for a list of these individuals, and visit the academy’s web site for a complete list of fellows.
Latest News from the National Coalition for History - April 27, 2008
By Elisabeth Grant
The National Coalition for History has posted quite a number of updates from Washington recently. Visit the NCH news archives for all past posts, and check out the links below for the latest advocacy issues. To keep up to date in the future sign up for the NCH e-mail newsletter, or grab their RSS feed.
Remembering April 16th - April 15, 2008
By Elisabeth Grant
One year ago today, 32 Virginia Tech students and faculty lost their lives in the worst school shooting in our nation’s history. Tech will be honoring the victims of this tragedy today with special events and webcasts. Shortly after the events of a year ago, the Center for Digital Discourse and Culture at Virginia Tech along with the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University created the April 16 Archive to be used for “collecting and preserving the stories of the Virginia Tech tragedy.”...
Historian Edward Ayers Inaugurated as University of Richmond President - April 14, 2008
By Noralee Frankel
On a sunny April 11, historian Edward L. Ayers was inaugurated as the ninth president of the University of Richmond in Virginia…
Talking about the Future of the AHA - April 14, 2008
By Robert B. Townsend
We hope members—and everyone in the profession with an interest in the future of our disciplinary society—will take a little time to read the report of the Working Group on the Future of the AHA, which can be found in both the print and online versions of the April issue of Perspectives on History. We hope all members of the Association will review the Working Group’s recommendations, and submit their comments and suggestions…
Newseum Re-opens April 11th - April 08, 2008
By David Darlington
Newseum is set to re-open this Friday, April 11, 2008, after a six-year construction project…
JSTOR Gets a New Look (and Much More) - April 07, 2008
By Robert B. Townsend
Over the weekend, JSTOR substantially changed its appearance and usability. Quite aside from a classy new look, the site now provides a number of new ways to navigate through the site and use the results.
Free access to History Compass for AHA Members - March 18, 2008
We are delighted to announce that AHA members now have free access to History Compass for 6 months starting 17 March 2008.
Civil War Preservation Trust Releases List of Ten Most Endangered Battlefields - March 17, 2008
By Debbie Ann Doyle
On Wednesday, March 12, the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) hosted a news conference to release its annual report on the ten most endangered Civil War battlefields.
JSTOR for all AHA Members - March 16, 2008
By Robert B. Townsend
The University of Chicago Press is now making all 115 years of the American Historical Review available to AHA members through an arrangement with JSTOR…
A Virtual International Museum Conference - March 03, 2008
By Debbie Ann Doyle
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) has announced plans for the first virtual International Museum Day, to be hosted at the Tech Museum of Innovation on Second Life ® on May 18, 2008.
Show Your Work - February 18, 2008
By David Darlington
The AHA calendar is the place to go on our web site for various fellowship, research, and seminar opportunities from history-friendly organizations. Let’s take a look at abridged versions of the calls for papers on the calendar with submission deadlines before the end of the academic year.
Archives Wiki Now Available - February 11, 2008
By Robert B. Townsend
The AHA is now offering an Archives Wiki as a free resource for historians and other researchers. This project is described in greater detail in the February issue of Perspectives on History, but in general terms, we hope that by harnessing this (relatively) new technology for collaboration on the web, we can draw on the collective interests of thousands of researchers and archivists to develop a rich resource for anyone venturing into new archives for the first time.
Sizeable Response on Review Board Issue - February 10, 2008
By Robert B. Townsend
The federal Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) received a large response to their request for comment on research methods subject to institutional review boards (IRBs). Dr. Zachary Schrag, an assistant professor at George Mason University, reports that more than half of the 65 responses to the OHRP’s request asked for an exclusion of oral history research methods.
Secrecy Film Debuts at Sundance - February 05, 2008
By David Darlington
Secrecy, a new film by Harvard professors Peter Galison and Robb Moss about government classification debates, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008. Historian Tom Blanton, executive director of the National Security Archive, played a featured role in the film and the discussion following it at Sundance.
Constitutional Changes Ratified by AHA Members - February 03, 2008
By Robert B. Townsend
The proposed revisions to the AHA Constitution were overwhelming approved by the membership, by a vote of 605 to 58…
Insights into the Archives - January 31, 2008
By Robert B. Townsend
ArchivesNext reports on an intriguing survey from the American Heritage Center about “minimal processing techniques” at archives. This is an issue that most members of the profession are only vaguely aware of, but it stands to have a significant impact on current and future generations of historians.
AHA Petitions for the Release of Rosenberg Files - January 30, 2008
By Robert B. Townsend
The American Historical Association joined the National Security Archive and several other historical associations today in a petition seeking the release of court records from the indictment of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in 1951.
Google Experiments with Search - January 29, 2008
By Elisabeth Grant
Google search, love it or hate it, has become ubiquitous. And now, according to a post Monday on the Official Google blog, searching may be evolving. Google is experimenting with “alternate views for search results,” including timeline, map, and information views…
NARA Seeks Executive Director - January 23, 2008
The National Archives and Records Administration is seeking a new executive director of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). The current director, Max J. Evans, is retiring at the end of this month.
Bullish on History - January 20, 2008
By David Darlington
The stock market may be volatile these days, but the Museum of American Finance is bullish on the future of financial history. The museum re-opened its doors on Friday, January 11, after a $9 million renovation project.
American Historical Association and the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University Announce New Prize - January 13, 2008
The American Historical Association (AHA) and the Center for History and New Media (CHNM) at George Mason University have agreed to institute a joint “Roy Rosenzweig Prize in History and New Media.” The Rosenzweig Prize will be awarded annually for an innovative and freely available new media project that reflects thoughtful, critical, and rigorous engagement with technology and the practice of history.
Members Vote on Revisions to AHA Constitution - January 10, 2008
Following the unanimous approval of the AHA Council and the AHA Business meeting in January, voting on proposed changes to the AHA Constitution is now underway for AHA members.
AHA Asks for Oral History Exclusion - December 26, 2007
By Robert B. Townsend
The American Historical Association formally requested that oral history be excluded from the list of topics subject to “expedited review” last week, in response to a recent request for comments from the Office of Human Research Protections. The letter, approved by the Association’s executive committee, cites the profession’s “long and unhappy experience with the way these policies have been implemented,” and concludes that IRB oversight is in “conflict with the essential canons of our practice.”
Away for the Holidays - December 23, 2007
The AHA office will be closed today and tomorrow, and AHA Today will resume on Thursday, December 27th. Happy Holidays!
Academic Careers Wiki Hacked - December 18, 2007
By David Darlington
The Academic Careers Wiki, a web site dedicated to providing the latest news and gossip about job openings and the status of searches in all academic disciplines, was hacked by a malicious user sometime late last week. The user, sporting an IP address from the Midwestern United States, started deleting whole fields in the wiki database, almost as fast as users could restore them.
ICHS/CISH Deadline Extended to January 15, 2008 - December 13, 2007
Eric Van Young (University of California at San Diego), chair of the AHA’s Committee on International Historical Activities, invites proposals—to be received by January 15, 2008—from all historians (members of the AHA and nonmembers alike) in all fields and practicing in the United States, to be considered for presentation at the 21st International Congress of Historical Sciences to be held August 22–28, 2010, in Amsterdam.
International Tracing Service Opens Holocaust Archive to the Public - December 02, 2007
By Vernon Horn
The International Tracing Service’s archive of Nazi documents, located in the town of Bad Arolsen, Germany, is now open to the general public.
Results of 2007 AHA Election - November 18, 2007
Announcing the winners of the 2007 AHA Election. These individuals will begin their terms of office following the 122nd Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
NPS Director Welcomes New Chief Historian and Sees a Future of Sharing History - November 04, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
On Tuesday of last week, October 30th, the National Park Service and National Trust for Historic Preservation held a reception to honor and recognize two new additions to the National Park Service team: Robert K. Sutton, chief historian; and Daniel Odess, assistant associate director, Park Cultural Resources.
Interdisciplinary Study Gets New Push from Mellon Foundation - November 01, 2007
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has given a $672,000 grant to fund an ambitious project at the University of Minnesota Press and the university’s Institute for Advanced Study promote interdisciplinary research and publications.
Library of Congress and Xerox to Team Up on Digital Formats - October 28, 2007
By David Darlington
The Library of Congress and the Xerox Corporation have announced that they will be collaborating on a project to develop new ways to store, preserve, and access digital images, according to a press release on October 25th. The two organizations are experimenting with the JPEG 2000 image format.
Survey Reveals Surprising Number of Missing Items at the Library of Congress - October 23, 2007
By Vernon Horn
According to a survey carried out by the Library of Congress Inspector General, about one sixth of the library’s “books, monographs and bound periodicals” are misplaced, missing, or otherwise unaccounted for…
Over One Million Civil War Pension Applications to be Digitized - October 23, 2007
By David Darlington
The National Archives and the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU) have agreed to a five-year partnership to digitize case files of approved pension applications from widows of Civil War Union soldiers, the organizations announced on Tuesday. Under the agreement, digitization will be conducted by GSU, operating as FamilySearch, and will make available unprecedented access to these unique records.
Federal Funding for National History Day? - October 21, 2007
By David Darlington
Republican Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota filed an amendment (3364) last Thursday, October 18th, which would provide federal funding for National History Day, an important event we’ve recognized before on AHA Today.
AHA Constitutional Change Process Continues - October 15, 2007
A second set of revisions to the AHA Constitution will be posted on Friday, October 19th, and further discussion on the special blog will recommence.
Roy Rosenzweig, 1950—2007 - October 11, 2007
By Chris Hale and Pillarisetti Sudhir
Roy Rosenzweig, the Mark and Barbara Fried Professor of History & New Media at George Mason University, and a friend and councilor of the AHA, passed away yesterday, October 11, 2007, due to complications resulting from advanced cancer of the lungs.
AHA President Barbara Weinstein Gives Talk at UNL - October 09, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
Tomorrow, Thursday, October 11, AHA President Barbara Weinstein will present a talk on “Academic Freedom in the Age of Homeland Security,” at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s sixth annual Carrol L. Pauley Lecture.
GMU Awarded $7.5 Million for National History Education Clearinghouse - October 03, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
George Mason University announced yesterday that it has been awarded $7.5 million by the U.S. Department of Education to build a National History Education Clearinghouse that “will focus on historical thinking and learning” and “help K-12 history teachers become more effective educators.”
Discussion Open on AHA Constitution Changes - September 30, 2007
The AHA’s Council is proposing amendments to the Association’s constitution to enable the AHA to meet its members’ needs more effectively and efficiently. Starting today, members can express their opinions about the pros and cons of amending the various clauses of the constitution on a discussion forum accessible through member services.
Happy Birthday AHA Today! - September 27, 2007
AHA Today turns one year old today. Since September 28, 2006, AHA staff members have produced over 300 blog posts, which have been viewed by more than 50,000 visitors. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we’d like to reflect on where we started, and how far we’ve come.
National Book Festival this Saturday - September 26, 2007
By David Darlington
The National Book Festival , organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by First Lady Laura Bush, will be held this Saturday, September 29, 2007, in Washington, D.C.
MacArthur Fellowship Awarded to Historian Jay Rubenstein - September 25, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
Jay Rubenstein, a medieval historian and an associate professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is one of the 24 MacArthur fellows for 2007.
Smithsonian TV to Debut - September 24, 2007
By Vernon Horn
According to a report in the Washington Post the controversial Smithsonian Networks will begin broadcasting this Wednesday.
Robert K. Sutton selected as Chief Historian, National Park Service - August 29, 2007
By National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) has announced the selection of Robert K. Sutton as Chief Historian of the National Park Service. The chief historian provides guidance and direction to the national parks on interpreting the significance of America’s historic places. The position provides national leadership in setting and implementing NPS standards and guidelines relating to the documentation of historically significant properties. Sutton will begin his new position on October 1, 2007.
What’s New on the Calendar? - August 28, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
The AHA’s online calendar allows organizations and universities the opportunity to advertise meetings and seminars, research opportunities, awards & fellowships, internet resources, and exhibitions & interpretive resources. Submit an announcement today, through the online form. Here are some of the latest postings on three sections of the AHA calendar…
Tickets Still Available for “A Day with James McPherson” - August 21, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
Just a few seats remain for the “A Day with James McPherson” colloquium, taking place this Saturday, August 25 at the Massachusetts School of Law at Andover (MSLAW).
Who Wields the Red Pen? - August 20, 2007
By David Darlington
Wired magazine has reported another effort to unmask unreliable Wikipedia contributors, quite similar to one we reported on last week. The Wikipedia Scanner is the brainchild of California Institute of Technology graduate student Virgil Griffith. The program tracks the IP address of millions of anonymous edits in the online encyclopedia (edits made by unregistered Wikipedia users are recorded by IP address) and cross-references those addresses with the data on who owns the associated IP address block.
National History Center Posts Online Videos of Presentations - August 19, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
The National History Center (NHC) “promotes research, teaching, and learning in all fields of history” by many means, including: seminars, conferences, Congressional events, and more. Now anyone can experience these events through video presentations available on their web site.
Recent Updates from the National Coalition for History - August 14, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
The National Coalition for History’s Leland White has posted a flurry of Washington updates since last week. His coverage includes…
Member News Wanted - August 13, 2007
By David Darlington, Perspectives associate editor
From time to time, Perspectives runs the Members column, which provides space for AHA members to share with their colleagues their latest career updates. News of recent hires, promotions, publications, fellowships or awards received, and other news of a professional nature are welcomed.
The Red Pen of Truth? - August 08, 2007
By David Darlington
The reliability of the information contained in the online encyclopedia Wikipedia is a contentious topic in academia, as well as on this blog (see Wikipedia Banned by Middlebury College for History Students and Wikipedia: Valuable Resource or Abyss of Misinformation? for example). But recently, computer engineers at the University of California at Santa Cruz came up with a new method which may help separate fact from fiction at Wikipedia: measuring the reliability of those wielding the digital red pen.
Preparing for the National Park Services Second Century: George Wright Society Introduces Essay Series on the National Park Service - August 06, 2007
By Debbie Ann Doyle
In 2016 the U.S. National Park Service will celebrate its 100th anniversary. In anticipation of that event, the George Wright Society, an organization dedicated to protecting the parks and promoting research on and interpretation of their cultural and natural resources, has launched a series of 27 online essays exploring the challenges facing the agency today.
Smithsonian Fires Gary Beer - August 01, 2007
By Vernon Horn
In a bit of “here we go again”, the Smithsonian has fired Gary M. Beer, the CEO of Smithsonian Ventures after an inspector general’s report reported that he had made thousands of dollars of unsubstantiated credit card expenditures. Beer has been ordered to repay $30,000 and was told that the Smithsonian would classify some $65,000 in expenses as “reportable income.”
The National Archives Opens its Vaults to Amazon - August 01, 2007
By Andrew Britt
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) announced last week its plan to make over 200,000 copies of archived video footage available to the public through a partnership with Amazon subsidiary CustomFlix. Head Archivist Allen Weinstein emphasized that the project will contribute to NARA’s preservation programs and provide open, convenient access to an abundance of visual history for the public-at-large.
University Libraries Embrace Print-On-Demand Partnerships - July 30, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
Rare and out-of-print books from both Cornell University Library and Emory University are getting new life through print-on-demand services.
DSpace – The Future of Online Archives? - July 25, 2007
By Andrew Britt
Last week the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Hewlett-Packard announced the launch of the DSpace Foundation, endowed with a half-million dollar grant to support the increasingly numerous and diverse web of users adopting DSpace—an open source software program used to publish, organize, and store digitized archival collections, scholarship, and research.
Crawford Young Gives Free Lecture on the African Colonial State - July 23, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
Tomorrow, July 25th, University of Wisconsin professor emeritus Crawford Young will give a free public lecture at the Library of Congress on “The African Colonial State and the Encounter with Decolonization.” The lecture is sponsored by the Library of Congress John W. Kluge Center and the National History Center, and is part of the Center’s Second International Research Seminar on Decolonization (held from July 9-August 4).
Waskar Ari Finally Wins Visa - July 19, 2007
By Robert B. Townsend
After a two year struggle, Bolivian historian Waskar Ari finally gained a visa to teach at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. The history department at Nebraska led a vigorous effort to win the visa, even Read more...
James McPherson Awarded the First Pritzker Award - July 16, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
Past AHA President and Civil War historian James McPherson has been awarded the first ever Pritzker Military Library Literature Award for lifetime achievement in military writing.
PhDinHistory is Back - July 11, 2007
By Robert B. Townsend
Happily, the PhDinHistory blog returned to the Internet last night at http://phdinhistory.blogspot.com/, as the previously anonymous author decided to make his identity public…
Nixon Library Tears Down Watergate Exhibit to Build Anew - July 09, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
The Richard Nixon Library is going through changes. Timothy Naftali, the library’s first federally appointed director of just one year, is transforming the library from a privately owned facility that presented questionable history, to a recognized presidential library managed by the National Archives and Records Administration.
A Sudden End to PhDinHistory - July 08, 2007
By Robert B. Townsend
Sadly, the PhDinHistory blog closed its digital shutters and went offline over the weekend, apparently permanently. In its brief four months online, the site offered a rich array of insights into the graduate experience, as well as compelling analyses of data about the history profession and often biting critiques of the flaws and foibles of our profession.
Upcoming Public Lecture from the National History Center - July 05, 2007
This coming Tuesday, July 10th, the National History Center will be holding a free public lecture by William Roger Louis, Kerr Professor of English History and Culture at the University of Texas, on “The End of European Colonial Empires.” The talk will begin at 4 p.m. in Room 119 of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress.
CIA Releases "Family Jewels" on Agency Web Site - June 26, 2007
By Vernon Horn
As it promised last week, the CIA released yesterday a 702 page document known as the "family jewels." The document was created in 1973 in response to a directive from newly appointed Director of Central Intelligence James Schlesinger asking agents to report on any "activities they thought might be inconsistent with the Agency’s charter”.
CIA to Release Decades of Dirty Laundry - June 21, 2007
By Vernon Horn
Speaking at a meeting of The Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, Director of the CIA General Michael V. Hayden announced that next week the agency would release most of the so-called ”Family Jewels,” a 693-page set of documents compiled in 1973, when Director James R. Schlesinger asked employees to report on notorious operations they thought might be inconsistent with the agency’s charter.”
Overhaul at the Smithsonian - June 19, 2007
By Vernon Horn
The Smithsonian has announced the resignation of Sheila Burke who has been the Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer since 2004.
AHA President Participates in Discussion on Visa Problems of Foreign Scholars - June 17, 2007
AHA President Barbara Weinstein recently participated in a live, online discussion about the difficulties experienced by foreign scholars seeking entry to the United States. Weinstein pointed to the various steps that the AHA and other academic organizations had taken in such individual cases as that of Waskar Ari (the Bolivian historian who could not take up a position at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln because his visa was cancelled by U.S. authorities), but declared that what was needed was more concerted, broad-based efforts by learned societies and college presidents.
Chicago Journals partners with American Historical Association to publish American Historical Review - June 17, 2007
The University of Chicago Press and the American Historical Association (AHA) are pleased to announce a new cooperative agreement to publish the American Historical Review. Since its inception in 1895, the American Historical Review has been the journal of record for the historical profession, maintaining and expanding its original breadth of coverage to include all fields of history. Read the full press release here.
National History Day Winners Announced - June 14, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
National History Day, which we reported on in a post last week, concluded bright and early yesterday with an awards ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Below are the junior high and senior high students who placed first in each category. Congratulations to all of these winners, but also to the 500,000 plus students from across the country who participated in this year’s competition. To see all the contest winners, visit the NHD 2007 winners page.
Archivist Discovers Long-lost Lincoln Letter - June 07, 2007
By Andrew Bell
“Wow!” That was archivist Trevor Plante’s initial reaction when it dawned on him that the faded, yellow letter in his hand had been written by the 16th President of the United States. Plante, a Civil War specialist at the National Archives and Records Administration, happened upon the note three weeks ago while sifting through a box of war-related documents. It was penned by Lincoln on July 7, 1863, and addressed to his general-in-chief, Henry Wager Halleck.
National History Day Contest Commences at the Univ. of Maryland this Weekend - June 06, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
This year’s National History Day Contest challenged students in grades 6-12 to create original papers, exhibits, documentaries, and performances around the theme of “Triumph & Tragedy in History”. More than half million students participated and those who progressed through the local and state levels of the contest arrive at the University of Maryland this Sunday, June 10th to compete at the national level.
AHA Council Supports Statement Against Detention of Scholars in Iran - June 04, 2007
By Robert B. Townsend
At its biennial meeting on Sunday June 3, the AHA Council
released a statement in support of the recent letter from the Middle East Studies Association on the detention of scholars in Iran (see the press room page on the AHA web site).
AHA Council Endorses NCHE Statement on Teacher Qualifications - June 04, 2007
By Robert B. Townsend
At its biennial meeting on Sunday June 3, the AHA Council endorsed the National Council for History Education’s Statement on Teacher Qualifications
National History Center Assembles Conference on “Reforming History Education” - June 03, 2007
By Miriam Hauss, Administrative Officer, National History Center
The National History Center will convene a day-long conference on reforms in history education policy on June 12th at the National Archives – the first, in what we hope will be a regular series of discussions on this important subject for our discipline.
Aperture Foundation Photograph Exhibits - May 29, 2007
By David Darlington
The Aperture Foundation is sponsoring several major photograph exhibits of interest to historians and patrons of the arts in the New York City area during the summer of 2007. Two of these exhibits, New York Rises and The Black Panthers: Making Sense of History, will start touring in the fall of 2007 and will run until 2011.
Upcoming Colloquium: “A Day With James McPherson” - May 28, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
James McPherson, respected Civil War historian and past AHA president, will partake in a daylong colloquium in Andover, Massachusetts on August 25th. Lawrence R. Velvel, Dean of the Massachusetts School of Law will lead the event, entitled “A Day With James McPherson: Interpretations Old and New,” with audience-based discussions focused around McPherson’s most recent book This Mighty Scourge
Upcoming Conference Focuses on Tribal Cultural Preservation - May 23, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
he 2007 National Conference of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums will take place this October 23-25 in downtown Oklahoma City. The theme this year is “Guardians of Language, Memory and Lifeways, ” with the conference logo featuring the Oklahoma State Capitol’s “The Guardian” statue. While the goal of the conference is to bring together American Indian librarians, historians, and tribal leaders, all who support tribal cultural preservation are welcome to join.
Holocaust Memorial Museum to Receive Electronic Documents from International Tracing Service Archives - May 22, 2007
By Vernon Horn
For 60 years the International Tracing Service (ITS), located in Bad Arolsen, Germany, has held the largest closed Holocaust archive of documents in the world. For most of its existence the archive has been accessible only to Holocaust victims’ family members while scholars were banned. But now, under the terms of a new treaty, the ITS will begin to distribute in electronic format some 13.5 million documents related to concentration camp records.
In Memoriam Eugen Weber, 1925–2007 - May 21, 2007
Eugen Weber, AHA life member and the recipient of the Association’s Award for Scholarly Distinction for 1999, died on Thursday, May 17, 2007, according to a press release from UCLA, where Weber was emeritus professor of history. He was 82.
"American Heritage" to Become History? - May 20, 2007
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
The April/May 2007 issue of American Heritage, that picturesque, literate doyen of popular history magazines, may be its last, at least until a new publisher willing to pay the bills comes along, according to a report in yesterday’s New York Times.
In Memory of Alfred D. Chandler Jr.: 1918-2007 - May 17, 2007
By Andrew Bell
Historian David Nasaw Honored at Weekend with History - May 16, 2007
By David Darlington
On April 27-28, 2007, the New-York Historical Society held its annual Weekend with History gala event. This two-day program of informal conversations and presentations featured some of America’s leading historians, like Eric Foner, Kenneth T. Jackson, and Sean Wilentz among others, as well as media figures like Cokie Roberts and Lesley Stahl. In a ceremony on the 27th, City University of New York Professor David Nasaw was named the society’s American Historian Laureate.
New Fund for Oral History of Physicists in Industry - May 15, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) has announced a new endowment designed to collect and preserve oral histories of those in the field of industrial physics. The Marc H. Brodsky Fund for Oral History of Physicists in Industry was made possible through a generous gift from Lois and Julian Brodsky Family, as well as further contributions from other donors. As the AIP newsletter explains, “This permanently restricted endowment will enable the American Institute of Physics, Center for History of Physics and Niels Bohr Library & Archives to interview several important industrial physicists each year, transcribe and preserve their oral histories, and make them available to researchers now and in the future.” The fund is also meant to honor Marc H. Brodsky, who served as the AIP’s Executive Director and CEO from 1993-2007.
Bolivian Historian One Step Closer to Obtaining a Visa - May 07, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
The Chronicle’s News Blog reports that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has approved Bolivian historian Dr. Waskar Ari’s employment-visa petition, which the University of Nebraska at Lincoln filed for him nearly two years ago. But the work has just begun, since this approval “simply means that the historian, Waskar T. Ari, can now apply for a visa from the State Department to enter the United States.” This new development is a small victory, but offers a bit of hope for those who have been fighting for Ari since 2005.
The AHA Remembers: Robert M. Warner - May 03, 2007
By David Darlington
The AHA is saddened to report the death of Robert M. Warner on April 24, 2007, in Ann Arbour, Michigan, of a heart attack. Warner served as the sixth Archivist of the United States from July 1980 to April 15, 1985. During his term, Warner was instrumental in making the national archives an independent federal agency.
Promoting Progress: Register for this Interactive Workshop - May 02, 2007
The American Historical Association is pleased to announce the fifth in a series of workshops for department chairs, directors of graduate studies, and others interested in various aspects of graduate education. “Promoting Progress: An Interactive Workshop for Directors of Graduate Studies,” will take place on August 23, 2007, at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn in Virginia. The event will focus on the many crucial and complex challenges involved in ensuring successful and smooth progress of graduate students toward a degree.
New Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Include Historians - April 30, 2007
AHA members Isabel V. Hull (Cornell Univ.), Sabine G. MacCormack (Univ. of Notre Dame), Peter C. Perdue (MIT), and life member David J. Weber (Southern Methodist Univ.) are among the nine historians who were elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which announced the class of 2007 fellows and honorary foreign members yesterday (April 30, 2007).
Bancroft Prize Winners Announced - April 24, 2007
By David Darlington
Jack Temple Kirby and Robert D. Richardson have won the prestigious Bancroft Prize for 2007.
The Library of Congress Joins the Blogosphere - April 24, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
The Library of Congress announced Monday that in celebration of its 207th birthday on April 24th, it was launching the Library of Congress blog. Matt Raymond, the director of communications at the LOC, will be the main writer on the blog, but some posts will come from James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, along with other curators at the institution.
National Coalition for History Launches New Web Site - April 23, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
The National Coalition for History (NCH), a non-profit organization that advocates for the history community, now has a new web site: http://historycoalition.org/ NCH’s new online home allows it to “bring you real-time access to news as it is made in Washington through our new blog postings on the website and an RSS feed.”
Library of Congress, PBS, and Ken Burns Team Up to Gather Oral Histories - April 18, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
In an April 17th press release, the Library of Congress Veterans History Project reported that it has teamed up with PBS and Ken Burns to promote a national effort to interview and record “first-hand recollections of the diverse men and women who served our nation during wartime”. The spark for this effort is Ken Burns’ upcoming documentary series on World War II, The War, scheduled to debut on September 23, 2007.
AHA Members among New Guggenheim Fellows - April 09, 2007
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
Sixteen AHA members are among the 189 artists, scholars, and scientists selected this year (out of 2,800 possible candidates) to receive the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowships.
Check out the Latest News from the National Coalition for History - April 08, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
Lee White from the National Coalition for History posted the latest Washington Update last Friday, April 6. See the AHA blog for highlights.
Japanese History Texts Draw Fire from China and Korea - April 05, 2007
By Andrew Bell
A recent decision by Japan’s Education Ministry to soft-peddle the country’s role in World War II in seven of its newest high-school history textbooks has sparked outrage on the other side of the Sea of Japan.
Communist Party USA Donates Papers to NYU - April 03, 2007
By Vernon Horn
New York University’s Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives formally announced that it will acquire the papers of the Communist Party USA. Library Director Michael Nash termed the acquisition “one of the most exciting collecting opportunities that has ever presented itself here.” The collection is contained in 438 boxes and covers materials dating back to the party’s inception in 1919.
New Exhibit at the National Archives Explores the Early Education of Presidents - March 28, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
Beginning this Friday, March 30th and extending through January 1, 2008, a new exhibit, “School House to White House: The Education of the Presidents,” will be on display at the National Archives Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery in Washington, D.C. “School House to White House” features the early education and experiences of presidents Herbert Hoover through George W. Bush, drawing display items from their presidential libraries. Visitors will find out Harry Truman’s middle school thoughts on “Courage,” will see Johnson and Carter’s report cards, and can read Richard Nixon’s 8th grade autobiography. These artifacts and more attempt to offer a glimpse into how these men developed into Presidents of the United States.
Major European Library Joins Google Book Search - March 27, 2007
By David Darlington
The Bavarian State Library, or Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, one of Europe’s most important and most visited research libraries, has joined Google’s ongoing efforts to digitize public domain books and make them fully available on Google Book Search.
Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence Small Resigns - March 25, 2007
By Vernon Horn
Lawrence M. Small, the head of the Smithsonian since 2000, has resigned. According to a press release on the Smithsonian web site, Small submitted his letter of resignation on Saturday and the Board of Regents met on Sunday and accepted it. Since January Small has been the subject of a string of articles in the Washington Post that have criticized his lavish lifestyle at the expense of taxpayers. Small also brokered an exclusive contract with Showtime Networks that can be used to exclude other filmmakers from using the Smithsonian’s collection.
Cristián Samper, currently the director of the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History, will be acting secretary while the Regents conduct a nationwide search for a permanent replacement.
Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence Small Pressured Inspector General to Call off Audit of his Expenses - March 21, 2007
A new report claims that Small tried to head off the audit by the inspector general.
Washington Update from NCH - March 18, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
The most recent newsletter from the National Coalition for History (NCH) reports on a number of bills recently passed by the House, notes the continuing North vs. Smithsonian feud, and points out some articles of interest.
President Poised to Veto Presidential Records Act Bill - March 13, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
Yesterday a Statement of Administrative Policy on H.R. 1255, was posted on the Office of Management and Budget web site. The statement asserts, “if H.R. 1255 were to be presented to the President, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.” H.R. 1255, also titled the “Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007”, would overturn President Bush’s 2001 Executive Order 13233 that allows presidents, vice presidents, former presidents, and even the families of former presidents to delay or withhold presidential records indefinitely.
Iraq War Resolution is Ratified by AHA Members - March 11, 2007
Members of the American Historical Association have ratified the “Resolution on United States Government Practices Inimical to the Values of the Historical Profession.” The vote was 1,550 (75.61%) in favor and 498 (24.29%) opposed. Two persons submitted incomplete ballots. The number of voting members represented 14.67% of the AHA membership.
Museum of the Confederacy May Secede from Richmond - March 07, 2007
By Andrew Bell
The Museum of the Confederacy, home to the world’s largest collection of Civil War artifacts, is weighing the possibility of severing its 117-year relationship with the city of Richmond, the former capital of the short-lived southern republic. In October, museum officials announced that they would entertain offers from other cities interested in hosting a proposed brand-new, multi-million dollar facility.
NCH Washington Update - March 06, 2007
By David Darlington
In the latest NCH Washington Update, Lee White keeps us abreast of the latest history goings-on in the nation’s capital. Some highlights include: News on the hearing on infamous Executive Order 13233, a brief story about Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), a report on a hearing about disclosing funding for presidential libraries, and more…
Historian Arthur Schlesinger jr. Dies at 89 - February 28, 2007
By Vernon Horn
Arthur M. Schlesinger jr., one of the most distinguished historians of the 20th and 21st centuries and a life member of the AHA, died of a heart attack last night in Manhattan. He was 89.
Member Survey about Resolution - February 28, 2007
On March 1 an electronic ballot was sent to members regarding ratification of the “Resolution on Government Practices Inimical to the Values of the Historical Profession” adopted at the 2007 Business Meeting.
The voting period is from March 1, 12:01 a.m. EST until March 9, 11:59 p.m. EST, and is limited to members in good standing as of February 13, 2007. If you have questions or need help, please contact the AHA’s survey vendor, Election Services Corp., by e-mail at ahahelp@electionservicescorp.com or call toll-free 866-720-4357 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Eastern Time.
The AHA Remembers: Frank M. Snowden, Jr. - February 28, 2007
By David Darlington
We are saddened to report the passing of Frank M. Snowden Jr., AHA member and authority of the lives of blacks in the ancient world, on February 18, 2007. Snowden was 95. A full In Memoriam essay for Snowden is being solicited for a future issue of Perspectives.
Smithsonian Spending Raises More Eyebrows - February 27, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
This weekend the Washington Post reported on a recent audit of Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence M. Small and its surprising results. The Post reports: “Lawrence M. Small, the top official at the Smithsonian Institution, accumulated nearly $90,000 in unauthorized expenses from 2000 to 2005…”
News from Washington, Brought to you by NCH - February 19, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
In the National Coalition for History’s (NCH) latest online newsletter, director Lee White reports on how the budget passed by Congress on February 14th provides good news for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and others. Also read about the web site, The Presidential Timeline of the Twentieth Century, created by the National Archives.
Members Invited to Discussion Forum on Resolution - February 14, 2007
On January 7, 2007 members of the AHA Council voted to accept the “Resolution on United States Government Practices Inimical to the Values of the Historical Profession,” which
was passed one day earlier at the annual AHA business meeting. Ultimately a majority of the Council agreed that it should accept the resolution but should also take the further step of requesting its ratification by a majority of members voting in an electronic ballot, which will take place March 1. For the next 15 days, from February 15-28, members are invited to participate in a discussion forum to comment on the resolution before the voting commences on March 1. To access the forum, login to membership services.
Oliver North becomes the First Victim of Smithsonian/Showtime Venture - February 14, 2007
By Vernon Horn
Oliver North, the nationally syndicated columnist, host of Fox News Channel’s “War Stories” and key participant in the Iran-Contra affair, has become the first known victim of what he termed the “secret, backroom deal” between the Smithsonian and Showtime. North explains that he was “commencing production of a documentary on nuclear weapons tentatively titled, ’From the Manhattan Project to Tehran‘ and wanted to ‘shoot’ a few minutes of videotape of the ‘Enola Gay,’ the B-29 bomber that dropped the first atomic bomb on 6 August 1945.” In his “Colonel’s Corner” column on the Fox News site, an appalled North reports that he learned that “though the institution purports to operate as a ‘public trust,’ it’s clear that the public can’t be trusted to know the terms of the cozy deal cooked up with Showtime.” The AHA has expressed its similar concerns about the Smithsonian/Showtime deal in prior blog posts here, here, and here. Welcome to the club Ollie.
Organization of American Historians to Host “Town Hall Meeting” on Public History - February 12, 2007
By Debbie Ann Doyle, Public History Coordinator
The Organization of American Historians (OAH) Committee on Public History has organized a town meeting to discuss the role of public history within the organization at the OAH’s centennial meeting in Minneapolis on March 29-April 1, 2007.
Drew Gilpin Faust Named President of Harvard University - February 11, 2007
By Vernon Horn
Harvard University announced Sunday that noted historian Drew Gilpen Faust is its new president. She is both the first female and first non-Harvard graduate to hold the post. Faust, a specialist in 19th century America, taught from 1975 to 2001 at the University of Pennsylvania. Since 2001 she has been the dean of Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Faust has also been a council member and vice president of the Professional Division of the American Historical Association.
Much of the information for this post was gleaned from the Harvard Crimson. Most of the February 9, 2007 edition is devoted to her appointment.
Profs Pan Plan for Bush Library - February 11, 2007
By Andrew Bell
A group of faculty members at Southern Methodist University is concerned that their school may be moving ahead too quickly with plans to build a multi-million dollar presidential library for George W. Bush. In December 65 professors signed a letter addressed to SMU President R. Gerald Turner requesting a moratorium and campus-wide debate on a project they say is premised on two competing, and ultimately irreconcilable, visions.
Want to Learn about Archival Research? - February 08, 2007
By David Darlington
The Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University invites PhD students working on dissertations involving archival research (particularly in newly accessible archives) in modern history and international relations to apply for its 5th Annual Summer Institute on Conducting Archival Research (SICAR). The summer institute will be held June 11–15, 2007, at George Washington in Washington, D.C.
NCHE Awards High School Teacher with the Paul Gagnon Prize - February 07, 2007
By David Darlington
The National Council for History Education (NCHE), an AHA affiliated society, just announced the winner of its first-ever Paul Gagnon Prize for a K-12 Teacher Exhibiting Exceptional Historical Scholarship. The 2007 award went to Philip Nicolosi, a history and social studies teacher at the West Morris Central High School in Chester, New Jersey.
Preserving the Past: The Digital Way - February 04, 2007
By Pillarisetti Sudhir
Sloan Foundation Gives $2 million to Library of Congress to Digitize Rare and Fragile Books. The project, “Digitizing American Imprints at the Library of Congress,” will include not only the scanning of volumes, but also the development of suitable scanning and display technologies.
Despite Objections, Smithsonian Networks Releases Lineup of Shows - January 31, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
Smithsonian Networks, the much-criticized Smithsonian/Showtime venture, has released a list of its initial line-up of shows, which begin in the spring. To see the whole list of shows, see the Showtime press release.
Board Meets to Discuss Declassification - January 29, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
The National Coalition for History reports (in its January 27th newsletter) that the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) met last week and heard frustrations about the current declassification process. One attendee, Meredith Fuchs, was quoted as saying the current declassification process is “subjective, expensive, and sometimes ridiculous.”
Wikipedia Banned by Middlebury College for History Students - January 25, 2007
By Vernon Horn
Students at Middlebury College will no longer be able to cite Wikipedia when writing history papers, according to an Inside Higher Education report. According to Don Wyatt, chair of the history department at Middlebury, “Even though Wikipedia may have some value, particularly from the value of leading students to citable sources, it is not itself an appropriate source for citation.”
Opportunity in Historic Preservation - January 23, 2007
By Debbie Ann Doyle
The National Trust for Historic Preservation invites historians to apply for a program intended to bring new perspectives on historical interpretation to National Trust historic sites. Teams of scholars will assess and enhance the interpretation of four historic sites to ensure that tours, exhibits, publications, school programs, and other educational activities incorporate diverse perspectives and current scholarship.
NCH Reports on Washington - January 18, 2007
By Elisabeth Grant
The National Coalition for History’s latest edition of its Washington Update is now online. Some highlights include news from the National Archives, details on grant opportunities, and a link to an article of interest.
NCH Highlights - December 10, 2006
By Elisabeth Grant
Highlights from the latest issue of the National Coalition for History’s Washington Update: (1) Battle to Keep EPA’s Libraries Open, (2) John Hope Franklin and Yu Ying-Shih receive Kluge Prize, (3) Report by the Advisory Committee for the Records of Congress, (4) Advisory Committee on Historical Diplomatic Documentation
Pearl Harbor – A Look Back on the Web - December 06, 2006
By Elisabeth Grant
Today, December 7th, in 1941 Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan. To remember and learn more about this hugely important event in US history, check out the sites below…
AHA at NCSS Conference - November 29, 2006
Visit the AHA’s booth, number 735, at the Annual Conference of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) this Friday and Saturday (December 1st and 2nd) from 9am to 4pm.
Richard W. Leopold, Past President of the OAH, Has Passed Away - November 28, 2006
By David Darlington
Richard William Leopold, a professor emeritus in American history from Northwestern University, and a life member of the AHA, died Thursday, November 23, 2006, in Evanston, Illinois.
CISH Deadline Extended - November 26, 2006
As noted in a blog post at the beginning of this month, the deadline for suggesting themes for the 21st international congress of the International Committee of Historical Sciences (known usually by its French acronym, CISH) has been extended to December 15, 2006, and is now rapidly approaching.
Wanted: Reviewers for the TAH Grant Competition - November 21, 2006
The US Department of Education is looking for qualified persons to serve as grant reviewers for the 2007 Teaching American History (TAH) grant competition.
John Hope Franklin Awarded Kluge Prize of $500,000 - November 16, 2006
By Elisabeth Grant
John Hope Franklin, emeritus professor of history at Duke University and past president of the AHA, has won the prestigious John W. Kluge Prize for lifetime achievement in the study of humanity.
And the Winners Are… - November 15, 2006
By Elisabeth Grant
The 2006 U.S. Professors of the Year state winners include three history professors.
University Presses Enter Blogosphere - November 12, 2006
By Elisabeth Grant
A number of University Presses have taken up blogs to distribute press releases, announce events, and keep readers in the know.
Bush Awards Historians - November 09, 2006
By Vernon Horn
Yesterday, President Bush awarded the 2006 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal Recipients.
Elections and Education - November 07, 2006
By Elisabeth Grant
Tuesday’s midterm elections have caused quite a political shift, but what does it all mean for education?
Proposals for CISH 2010 Themes - November 05, 2006
One of the major functions of the AHA’s Committee on International Historical Activities is to provide liaison between the historical profession in the United States and the International Committee of Historical Sciences (known by its French acronym CISH). CISH has begun to plan for its 21st international congress, to be held in Amsterdam in 2010.
Clifford Geertz, Anthropologist Extraordinary, Dies at 80 - November 02, 2006
To describe Clifford Geertz, professor emeritus at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, who died on Monday, October 30, 2006, at the age of 80, merely as an anthropologist, is like describing Leonardo da Vinci just as a painter.
NHC Congressional Events: Now Available in Podcast Form - November 01, 2006
By Elisabeth Grant
The National History Center’s series of Congressional Seminars are available to a much larger audience thanks to the web. The Center has been posting seminar papers and related resources for a number of years now, and just added its first podcast.