Established in 2023, the James M. Banner, Jr., Lecture on the State of the Discipline of History examines historians’ work and seeks to suggest improvements to fundamental aspects of the discipline including its structure; the institutions that support, preserve, and convey historical knowledge; and the education and practices of historians. The lectureship encourages the consideration and evaluation of issues essential to how historians think about their work and practice, rather than focusing on specific historical subjects, historiographical debates, or research requirements.

The James M. Banner, Jr., Lecture on the State of the Discipline of History will be presented during the AHA annual meeting, online, or at other venues to be determined. Lecturers are nominated by the AHA president and executive director for approval by the AHA Council. They are invited based on their expertise, experience, and dedication to the discipline of history, without restrictions on their specific area of knowledge, professional background, country of residence, affiliation, or occupation.

The honorarium for the lecture is $1,000.