Historians/History

Why The West Is Losing The Fight For Democracy

by Ivan Krastev and Stephen Holmes

We once had trouble imagining a future that is not essentially democratic and capitalist. That is not the way we think today. Most of us now have trouble imagining a future, even in the West, that remains securely democratic and liberal.

A Personal History of Vietnam War Refugee Policies

by Ron Steinman

The story of how a Vietnamese family came to America after the Vientam War and started a new life. 

Reexamining the Mayflower 400 Years Later

by Stephen Tomkins

The colonists seemed to have difficulty articulating exactly what compelled them to leave the Netherlands for America.

Important Links for AHA 2020

Quick links to help you navigate the Amerian Historical Assocation's annual meeting. 

An Abolitionist and the Christmas Tree

by John Buehrens

Christmas, in 1835 Boston, was not yet widely celebrated. New England’s Puritan heritage considered it “popish.”

What a Line Deleted from the Declaration of Independence Teaches Us About Thomas Jefferson

by M. Andrew Holowchak

Congress deleted the line to avoid tackling issue of slavery. 

Confederate Monuments in National Perspective

by Thomas J. Brown

Northern monuments established a foundation for the argument that Confederate military service deserves recognition although rendered in a deplorable cause.

The Real Alexander von Humboldt: A Scientist of the Romantic Age

by Maren Meinhardt

Putting people on pedestals, beyond the reach and understanding of lesser mortals, does not help us understand them better. If, perhaps, we lose a hero, we may gain, in Humboldt, an extraordinary scientist who was affected by the extraordinary times he lived in. 

"There is a historian in each one of us:" Historian Anna Müller on the Experiences that Have Shaped Her Scholarship

by Erik Moshe

“History was pulling me in with incredible force. All I wanted was to understand the changing reality, and history seemed to hold the keys to understanding.”

Barbarous Hun: The Sinking of the Lusitania and the Rise of Propaganda

by Albinko Hasic

British and U.S. war advocates quickly turned the tragedy into pro-war propaganda and created everything from postcards, to medals, to posters.

Why FDR Turned Away Jewish Students

by Rafael Medoff

American immigration policy was governed by a strict quota system, based on national origins. But the law contained three major exceptions: clergy, professors, and students could be admitted outside the quota restrictions.

Over 2000 Historians and Scholars Sign Letter Urging Impeachment

The letter was released two days before the House is expected to vote on two articles of impeachment.

A Museum For The People: Anacostia Community Museum

by Laura Gonzalez

A "Museum For The People" symposium was organized by the Anacostia Community Museum to discuss how museums and community orgs can create inclusive spaces for dialogue, action, collaboration, and reflection. 

Cinema Paradiso: The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Will Be The Home of Movies, Past and Present

by Andrew Fletcher

When it opens in 2020, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will be an interesting landmark for historians and movie buffs alike.

Amidst the Rubble: Hope Harrison on the 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

by Paige Morse

Historian Hope Harrison discusses how we should remember the Berlin Wall and why its history is so important.

History & Law: GW History Professor Jennifer Wells Discusses How Her Study of Law Has Informed her Career in History

by Mark Detlor

"I’m more much analytical as a result of law and try to immediately make an assertion and back it up with evidence when I write; I think it’s a very effective way of writing but I’m not sure that I would have mastered it had I not gone to law school."

NATO's First Post-Wall Summit 30 Years Later

by Stephan Kieninger

Debates over NATO’s purpose are not new. The alliance has always managed to adapt in times of challenges.

The Capital City and the Civil War

by S.C. Gwynne

In the winter of 1863–64, Washington was the most heavily defended city on earth.

Turns out, The Rockettes’ Annual Christmas Spectacular Hasn’t Always Been So Spectacular

by Isabella DelPino

The hidden history of the Radio City Rockettes.

An Interview with Historian Dr. David Dzurec of the University of Scranton

by Jared Levinson

The University of Scranton's History Department Chair, Dr. David Szurec discusses the ways students engage with local history through service-learning.