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August 15, 2025
Historians Defend the Smithsonian
July 26, 2025
Update on Lawsuit to Restore the NEH
Support AHA Advocacy
The American Historical Association provides leadership for the discipline, defends academic freedom, and promotes the critical role of historical thinking in public life. The AHA, in collaboration with our colleagues at the American Council of Learned Societies and the Modern Language Association, have filed a lawsuit in response to the illegal dismantling of the National Endowment for the Humanities. We need your support for this and our ongoing advocacy efforts at the federal and state levels. Please join join or donate today.
Supporting History & the Work of Historians in 2025
Historians Defend the Smithsonian
The AHA reiterates its support for an independent Smithsonian Institution that belongs to all the American people. Historians practice our craft with integrity. Political interference into professional curatorial practices and museum and educational content places at risk the integrity and accuracy of historical interpretation and stands to erode public trust in our shared institutions.
ACLS, AHA, & MLA File Lawsuit to Restore the NEH
The ACLS, AHA, and MLA have filed a lawsuit in federal district court, seeking to reverse the recent actions to devastate the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historians Respond to Federal Actions
AHA members are providing important historical context and insight to the public on the recent actions by the federal government.
Tracking Federal Actions Affecting History
The AHA is tracking information on federal actions and their impact on history and education.
Resources for Federal Historians
The American Historical Association supports historians employed by the federal government.
Resources for Foreign Scholars
Historical work is best done in a context of free exchange across the globe. Current conditions affecting foreign scholars and international travel can inhibit that free exchange. This document offers resources that might help individuals and departments navigate these difficult international situations, especially regarding travel and academic freedom.
Congressional Briefings
The AHA’s Congressional Briefings series seeks to provide Congressional staff members, journalists, and other members of the policy community with the historical context essential to understanding contemporary issues.
“Only historians and trained museum professionals are qualified to conduct such a review, which is intended to ensure historical accuracy. To suggest otherwise is an affront to the professional integrity of curators, historians, educators and everyone involved in the creation of solid, evidence-based content.”
Sarah Weicksel, AHA executive director, on the Trump administration’s announcement of a “sweeping review” of the Smithsonian to “ensure alignment” with the administration’s goals.the Smithsonian Institution.
“You cannot censor your way to great schools.”
Julia Brookins (AHA) before the Texas State Board of Education
AHA Initiatives
History & Public Policy
The AHA is committed to honest history—in the classroom, in public memory, and through the many programs through which the federal government supports research.
Teaching History with Integrity
Through Teaching History with Integrity, the AHA leads or participates in several initiatives to provide resources and support for history educators facing intensifying controversies about the teaching of the American past.
Freedom to Learn
The AHA’s Freedom to Learn initiative educates historians and others on how to advocate publicly for honest history education, responds directly to the bills themselves, and creates resources to help teachers directly affected by these bills think about how to maintain the integrity of their history courses.
AHA Testimony Before Legislatures & Boards of Education
AHA staff and Council members have written articles and made public appearances highlighting the challenges teachers and educators face from legislation restricting the teaching of “divisive concepts" and issues related to teaching history with integrity.
AHA State History Standards Support
As part of its mission to promote historical thinking in public life and professional integrity in history education, the American Historical Association monitors and offers guidance on state-level academic frameworks.
Congressional Charter
In 1889, the American Historical Association was incorporated in the District of Columbia by an act of Congress: “for the promotion of historical studies, the collection and preservation of historical manuscripts and for kindred purposes in the interest of American history and of history in America.”
Historians Speak Out
AHA Media Appearances & Publications
AHA staff and Council members have written articles and made public appearances highlighting the challenges teachers and educators face from legislation restricting the teaching of “divisive concepts" and issues related to teaching history with integrity.
Teaching with Integrity: Historians Speak
These videos feature historians describing how exploring America's past honestly in the classroom benefits the nation's students, and how the freedom to learn also strengthens our shared democracy.
Teaching Spotlight: Confronting a Nation's Past
Katharina Matro, a high school social studies teacher who grew up in Germany, explains how consistent and open education about the Holocaust has shaped her own commitment to democracy and her love of country. Matro has served as a member of the Teaching Division of the American Historical Association's governing council.
Policies & Principles
Advocating for the Discipline
The American Historical Association’s mission to enhance the work of historians also encompasses professional standards and ethics, innovative scholarship and teaching, academic freedom, and international collaboration. The AHA provides leadership for the discipline and promotes the critical role of historical thinking in public life. The Association defends academic freedom, develops professional standards, supports innovative scholarship and teaching, and helps to sustain and enhance the work of historians.
AHA News
Perspectives on History
Read articles on advocacy issues in Perspectives.
For the Press
Access press releases issued by the AHA and other resources for the media.