Founded in 1884 and incorporated by Congress in 1889 for the promotion of historical studies, the American Historical Association provides leadership for the discipline and promotes the critical role of historical thinking in public life. The Association defends academic freedom, develops professional standards, supports innovative scholarship and teaching, and helps to sustain and enhance the work of historians. As the largest membership association of professional historians in the world (over 11,500 members), the AHA serves historians in a wide variety of professions and represents every historical era and geographical area.

Leadership

A leader in promoting new approaches to history education and scholarship and setting professional standards for the discipline

• Expanding the career horizons of history graduate students through Career Diversity for Historians
• Reconsidering introductory college history courses to better serve students of all backgrounds
• Defining the disciplinary core of historical study
• Advancing the history discipline and promoting excellence in professional behavior, research, and teaching with widely cited AHA Statements and Standards of the Profession
• Publishing analysis on the latest quantitative data on historians' education and careers

Advocacy

A vocal public presence articulating the value of history and historical thinking

Promoting the value of history education

• Read Jim Grossman's Op-Ed in the Los Angeles Times on the critical perspectives taught to history majors
• Keep up with our continuing blog series on the rewarding careers of former history majors
  
• Use our Why Study History resources
  

Providing historical perspectives on contemporary issues

• Follow Perspectives Daily for historical context on today’s news
• Attend a live event on the role of history and historical knowledge in public decision-making and civic life from the National History Center

Supporting historians and safeguarding the relevance and usefulness of history in contemporary policy and civic life

• Find the latest AHA Advocacy work on behalf of historians

Community

A platform for historians from all specializations and professions to discuss, disagree, and learn

• AHA membership provides exclusive access to the online community of historians, where you can post questions and receive feedback.
• Advancing research, teaching, careers, and more at the AHA's annual meeting, the largest gathering of historians held each January.

Everything Has a History: A Conversation between Jim Grossman and Tyler Stovall