The January 2012 issue of Perspectives online is now available. Some articles are gated, but can be accessed by AHA members after logging in to AHA online services.

From the President & Executive Director
In his inaugural article as president of the AHA, William Cronon discusses the promises and challenges for history in the digital age. Then, AHA Executive Director Jim Grossman relates his experience of being an AHA member over the past 30 years and explains why it is important to be an AHA member.

The Art of Mentoring
Gain new perspectives on mentoring in a set of articles focused on the art of mentoring. Aeleah Soine provides an introduction and is followed by Nicole M. Phelps offering sound advice on being a thesis advisor, Ana Elizabeth Rosas using her experience as a Chicana historian to mentor expansively and inclusively, Will Benedicks reflecting on mentoring at open-door institutions, and Steven S. Volk explaining how to mentor while being mentored.

News
In recent news, the AHA has been awarded an NEH grant for a community-college project, Robert B. Townsend reports the job market is showing small signs of improvement, and Lee White looks into whether federal records may be at risk and offers an update on happenings for history in Washington.

Wm. Roger Louis of the National History Center looks back at the center’s 10 years of existence, reflecting on its achievements and the challenges it has faced.

While the 126th annual meeting takes place this week in Chicago, preparations for the 127th annual meeting in New Orleans are fully underway. Learn more in the Call for Proposals for the 2013 meeting, which will have a theme of “Lives, Places, Stories.” Before you submit a proposal, review Paul S. Sutter’s advice.

AHA Members
The AHA is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of its members in the January issue, noting numerous members’ recent publications and awards. The news that five AHA members were included in Choice’s “Top 25 Outstanding Academic Books of 2011,” is also cause to celebrate.

Meet the AHA members who now make up the AHA’s Council and committees following the 2011 election, and consider nominating yourself or a colleague for the 2012 AHA election.

In Memoriam
Finally, the following historians are remembered in this month’s issue: ‘Abd-Al-‘Aziz ‘Abd-Allah Batran, Norbert J. Gossman, Oscar Handlin, Bruce C. Nelson, Norman W. Smith, and Paul J. Vanderwood.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.