The year 2009 marks the 125th year of the AHA’s existence, and the cover of the January issue of Perspectives on History looks back with an image of the 1909 Annual Meeting. See Jessica Pritchard’s article, “How Times Have Changed! (Or Have They!),” for more on the 1909 meeting, which was held in New York. Pritchard’s article is the first in a new series of articles and essays that will delve into the AHA’s growth from its founding in 1884 to where it is today.

Despite the cover art and the article on the 1909 meeting, the January issue of Perspectives on History focuses very much on current times and activities. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich examines in her first article as AHA president why historians have been joining the association in recent years.

A number of articles cover current news as well. Robert Townsend takes a look at the job market, two historians are awarded the 2008 Kluge Prize, and Wm. Roger Louis resigns from HAC.  Also see Lee White’s coverage of the news from Washington. Meanwhile, new officers, elected in 2008, for the AHA’s Council and committees begin their positions, even as nominations for the 2009 election begin. And finally, with the conclusion of every annual meeting comes the start of proposals for the next.

Find also in this issue two articles on teaching: Robert Shaffer’s “Misleading Analogies and Historical Thinking: The War in Iraq as Case Study” and Nancy Shoemaker’s “Where Is the History Lab Course?.“ The Masters at the Movies series continues with an introduction from Robert Brent Toplin and a look at “The World War II Antiwar Film” by John Bodnar.

Three articles, plus an introduction, tackle the subject of “crafting a dissertation or monograph.” Brad S. Gregory takes on “Managing the Terror,” Deborah E. Harkness discusses “Finding the Story,” and Judith Walkowitz delves into taking notes.

Finally, take a look at the letter to the editor, and three “In Memoriam” entries in this selection of content from the January 2009 issue of Perspectives on History, now online.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.