The American Historical Association is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1884 and incorporated by Congress in 1889 for the promotion of historical studies. The AHA provides leadership for the discipline by protecting academic freedom, developing professional standards, supporting scholarship and innovative teaching, and helping to sustain and enhance the work of historians. As the largest organization of professional historians in the world, the AHA represents more than 12,000 members and serves historians representing every historical period and geographical area in a wide variety of professions.

The AHA is a trusted voice for history education, the professional work of historians, and the critical role of historical thinking in public life. Learn more about our work on behalf of the entire discipline and connect with the staff that is dedicated to advancing history and historical thinking for the benefit of all.

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