
Dear AHA Member,
Fortnightly News is the AHA's e-mail newsletter, sent out around the first and fifteenth of every month to keep members up to date with the AHA and the history profession.
In this issue:
- AHA Speaks out on Texas Board of Education
- AHA Facebook Page – Updates
- Perspectives on History – Political History Today
- AHA Committee Appointments 2011
- Listing in the Directory
- AHA Today – Recent history news
- News from Washington – Updates from NCH, NHA, and COSSA
Please feel free to forward this e-mail to your friends and colleagues.
AHA Speaks out on Texas Board of Education
The AHA Calls on the Texas State Board of Education to Reconsider Amendments to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies
On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, the AHA sent this statement and this letter (PDF) to the Texas State Board of Education asking them to to reconsider their recently proposed amendments to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies.
AHA on Facebook
Come to the AHA’s Facebook page to weigh in on important news like the recent AHA statement sent to the Texas Board of Education, partake in discussion topics posted by AHA staff and other fans (exploring topics like "America The Story of Us on the History Channel" and "Do you use new media in the classroom?"), and hear about the latest posts on the AHA blog.
Interested?
If you’re a member of Facebook and would like to become a fan of the AHA, just head to our Facebook page and click on the “Like” link.
Perspectives on History - Political History Today
Perspectives on History invites proposals by July 1, 2010, for articles for a theme issue focused on Political History Today.
Readers interested in submitting articles that discuss different aspects of political history are invited to submit article proposals for consideration by the editorial board for possible publication in a theme issue of Perspectives on History that will be dedicated to explorations of the state of political history today.
The editorial board of Perspectives on History hopes that the essays in the thematically focused issue (expected to be published in May 2011), will provide an overview of different dimensions of political history in its various manifestations, such as diplomatic history, military history, administrative history, and the history of past politics, in teaching as well as research and in the contexts of academia and public history. The topics of the essays need not be limited to these suggested rubrics, however, and prospective authors can suggest other topics that should, in their opinion, be considered for inclusion in the theme issue.
It should be noted that we are not looking for political history essays per se (that is, essays on political history topics), but are seeking, instead, articles that discuss the practice of political history.
Prospective authors can consider including in their articles the challenges that teachers and researchers working in the field encounter, and the current state and future prospects for the field of political history.
Article proposals, of about 300 to 600 words, may be e-mailed by July 1, 2010 to
perspectives@historians.org or mailed to Perspectives on History, American Historical Association, 400 A Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003-3889.
Authors invited to send complete essays will be required to submit them by December 31, 2010.
AHA Committee Appointments 2011
Nominations to be submitted through e-mail by June 1, 2010
AHA members are invited to submit by June 1, 2010 (through e-mail only) names, together with c.v.’s, for consideration by the Association’s Committee on Committees as it draws up its list of nominees for service on the various appointive committees—standing, ad hoc, joint, and the book prize committees. In fall 2010 the Committee on Committees will draw up its list of nominations and submit it to Council for approval.
Nominations should clearly indicate for which committee or committees the member is being nominated. A list of the committees is in the March 2010 issue of Perspectives on History (and online at www.historians.org/Perspectives/issues/2010/1003/1003aha1.cfm).
Self-nominations are also encouraged. These also should be accompanied by the nominee’s c.v. and should indicate the committee or committees in which the member would like to serve.
Please note that only AHA members may serve in these appointive positions.
Nominations, along with a c.v. (of not more than five pages) of the nominee, should be sent by e-mail only to Noralee Frankel at nfrankel@historians.org with “Committee on Committees” in the subject line. The nomination and c.v. should be e-mailed no later than June 1, 2010.
Listing in the Directory
Members
The American Historical Association is preparing to publish the annual membership directory as part of the Directory of History Departments, Historical Organizations, and Historians. We are asking every member to review their current information for their annual listing, as well as their preferences about whether they want their name to appear in the annual membership directory. You may login anytime to the member section to review your information at: http://www.historians.org/members/login.
Departments and Organizations
Institutions that have previously listed in the Directory can make changes to their entry online: http://www.historians.org/members/dosp/. Your institution’s login information has been sent by e-mail and by regular mail to department contacts. If you are in charge of one of the listing departments or organizations and did not receive a communication from us, please write to directory10@historians.org for assistance. And if your department or organization is not currently listed, but you think it should be, please contact us for more information.
If you haven't already, please log in and review your Directory listing immediately and let us know if your institution will or will not be listing this year. Updates to Directory entries before August 1, 2010, will be included in the print edition, but further changes can be made online throughout the year for the digital Directory.
AHA Today
Keep up with the latest information on history and the profession on the AHA’s blog, AHA Today. Recent posts include:

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Discussions on the AHA Facebook Page: We Want to Hear from You!
One of the features of the new AHA’s Facebook page is a discussion board with various questions for you to weigh in on. Online Oral History Projects, Part VI
Highlighting more online oral history projects.-
Digital State Libraries
Many state libraries, archives, museums, and historical societies use the web to digitize their resources. -
Also, see the most recent What We’re Reading (May 13 and May 20) and Grant of the Week (2010 AHA Prizes, Awards, and Fellowships and Junior Faculty Research Grants) posts.
News from Washington
In addition to AHA Today, the Association also draws on the efforts of a number of coalitions that support the Association's agenda to keep track of issues in the nation’s capital that will be of concern to historians. Here are news updates from some of them.
National Coalition for History
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NARA Assesses Federal Agency Records Management Compliance
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) recently transmitted to Congress a report entitled: “Records Management Self-Assessment 2009: An Assessment of Records Management Programs in the Federal Government.” Audit Reveals Wide Variation In Agency Open Government Plans
A ranking of agencies’ Open Government Plans compiled during an independent audit.
National Endowment for the Humanities Seeks Nominations for 2010 National Humanities Medals Deadline for submissions is Friday, May 28
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Commission on the Future of Graduate Education in the U.S. Releases Report The Path Forward: The Future of Graduate Education in the United States explores strengths, vulnerabilities, and offers recommendations.
Consortium of Social Science Associations
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May 17, 2010 - COSSA Washington Update Volume 29, Issue 9
Please feel free to forward this email on to a colleague or friend.
Contributions to this issue of Fortnightly News came from: David Darlington, Elisabeth Grant, Vernon Horn, Pillarisetti Sudhir, Liz Townsend, and Robert B. Townsend
Last Updated: May 21, 2010


