Report of the American Historical Association Committee on the Rights of Historians
Executive Director's Preface
FINAL REPORT
AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF HISTORIANS
In the foreword to its Final Report, the ad hoc Committee on the
Rights of Historians describes the careful process that led to the
writing of this report. When the committee submitted the report
to the AHA Council in March 1974, a careful review was undertaken.
The Council Committee on the Profession, under the guidance of its
chairman, Otis L. Graham, Jr., gave the report thorough study and
brought it before the full Council at its September meeting. On
September 29, 1974, the Council voted to adopt the six recommendations
in the foreword of the report and to publish the Statement of Professional
Standards in the Newsletter.
Upon the recommendation of the Committee on the Profession, the Council, on December 27, 1974, voted to adopt and to publish the report. The Council has agreed to approve certain additional changes recommended by the Committee on the Rights of Historians as a result of the reviews and discussions that had occurred since the report was originally submitted. The document as printed here reflects these changes.
The Final Report is now official AHA policy. We believe that the
document provides an instructive evaluation of the state of academic
freedom for historians. The recommendations offer guidance to the
Association in responding to infringements of the rights of historians,
and the Statement of Professional Standards offers a sound statement
of policy to avoid such infringements. The AHA realizes that it
cannot legislate for its members, but the standards proposed are
ones that all historians and all departments should strive to attain.
We hope that this document will foster discussion of these matters
within departments and that you will share the report with your
colleagues.
Mack Thompson, Executive Director
February 14, 1975
Last Updated: May 22, 2007
