AHA members are involved in all fields of history, with wide-ranging specializations, interests, and areas of employment. To recognize our talented and eclectic membership, AHA Today features a regular AHA Member Spotlight series.

Edwin J. Perkins is retired and an emeritus professor at the University of Southern California. He lives in Laguna Woods, California, and has been a member since 1969.

Alma maters: BA, College of William and Mary, 1961; MBA, University of Virginia, 1963; PhD, Johns Hopkins University, 1972

Fields of interest: American economic and business history, colonial and early national

When did you first develop an interest in history?
High school history teacher—1957

What projects are you currently working on?
Retired and only doing book reviews at present. Still participate in annual meetings of business history organizations.

Is there an article, book, movie, blog etc. that you could recommend to fellow AHA members?
The one publication of mine with some possible interest to other members is the book Wall Street to Main Street: Charles Merrill and Middle Class Investors.

What do you value most about the history profession?
The opportunity to pursue my own research interests and to train graduate students for equally successful careers.

Why have you continued to be a member of the AHA?
I have stayed with AHA in order to stay involved with the profession in a limited scale. I also see membership as a professional responsibility.

Do you have a favorite AHA annual meeting anecdote you would like to share?
I would say the very first meeting was one tremendous experience. Everything about it.

Other than history, what are you passionate about?
I have always been a sports fan. Plus I currently play golf and some tennis.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.