Everything Has a History
Bringing Historical Context to Current Events
The American Historical Association is proud to serve as an advocate for the crucial role of historical thinking in public life. Historians in all fields and professions work to provide context for the pressing issues facing the country and the world. This selection of resources highlights the insights that come when we recognize that everything has a history.
Historians on the Confederate Monument Debate
In the wake of the Charlottesville tragedy, historians across the country provided important historical context and insight to the public. The AHA compiled statements that our members, fellow historical societies, AHA council members, and staff have made in op-eds, interviews, and other media conversations about the importance of historical thinking and knowledge within the current debate.
Everything Has a History Video Library
This YouTube playlist compiles videos of historians providing historical context on current events, especially regarding the 2017 presidential election. It also features a conversation between AHA executive director Jim Grossman and 2017 AHA president Tyler Stovall on the role of historical thinking in today's public culture.
From the Executive Director: Everything Has a History | Perspectives on History
In his December 2015 column in Perspectives on History, AHA Executive Director James Grossman introduced the hashtag, #EverythingHasaHistory, which has since served to unite historians on Twitter and beyond in the belief that history can inform our understanding of everything and that historians' voices are essential in conversations about current events.