The American Historical Association promotes broad historical research and teaching. Over the summer, we joined several coalitions to encourage inclusive historical perspectives and protect critical resources bolstering history education.

Cliff Palace at the Mesa Verde National Park, a World Heritage site (1891). Gustaf Nordenskiöld/Wikimedia Commons

Defining World History

In June, the AHA sent a letter to the College Board urging it to reconsider revisions that would limit the Advanced Placement World History exam to “content only from c. 1450 to the present.” The AHA expressed concern that the change would “reduce the teaching of precolonial histories at the high school level” and risk “creating a Western-centric perspective at a time when history as a discipline and world history as a field have sought to restore as many voices as possible to the historical record and the classroom.” 

Advancing Federal Support for History beyond US Borders

Last spring, the AHA signed two letters to advocate for greater federal support for critical programs that advance broad-based history. The AHA joined the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and dozens of other organizations and individuals in a statement that called on “leaders in American business, government and education” to “support a greater national effort to strengthen non-English language education so that Americans can more effectively participate in a global society.” 

The AHA also recently signed on to a letter calling for additional funding for the National Park Service’s Office of International Affairs to “ensure that the United States can robustly engage in and support the World Heritage program.” 

Honoring Significant Figures in History

In June 2018, AHA executive director Jim Grossman sent a letter to US senators Dean Heller and Jon Tester endorsing the awarding of a Congressional Medal of Honor to 226 American women who served in France in the US Army Signal Corps during World War I.