Historians in the News

Vassar’s Rebecca Edwards says "women’s suffrage anniversaries make me yawn"

by Rebecca Edwards

Why? "Because suffrage—which still dominates our historical narrative of American women’s rights—captures such a small part of what women need to celebrate and work for."

Former Clinton speech writer Ted Widmer discovers Thomas Nast drawings of Lincoln

by Adam Gopnik

Widmer, who teaches history at Brown, came across the sketches while working on a book about Lincoln's train trip from Springfield to Washington.

Juan Cole has an interesting take on Jared Kushner

by Juan Cole

The historian thinks Kushner is being targeted by the intelligence community, led by HR McMaster.

A.G. Hopkins has rewritten the history of the USA from a global perspective

In an interview he explains that he decided to write the book after 9-11.

Once again historians are debating the difference between writing for the public and writing for themselves

by Luciano Gonzalez

The latest debate began with a tweet from Talking Point Memo's Josh Marshall.

Is the jobs picture for historians as bad as it seems?

by Dylan Ruediger

The American Historical Association says it's hard to tell and that's a problem. 

Andrew Robert: Churchill did not have an affair – so don’t fall for Channel 4’s spin

by Andrew Roberts

"To present this story without interviewing any Churchill historians, or members of the family, is a disgrace.”

Eric Metaxas, evangelical intellectual, chose Trump, and he's sticking with him

“Not only can we vote for Trump, we must vote for Trump.”

Tiya Miles recounts when she decided to stop straightening her hair

by Tiya Miles

It was a political statement.

The next president of the OAH will be ... Yale's Joanne Meyerowitz

She is the president-elect of the Organization of American Historians. 

Teachers are using ‘Black Panther’ to discuss African colonialism and American racism

Educators are embracing ‘Black Panther’ in their curriculum, and it’s amazing.

Top Ten Signs the US is the Most Corrupt Nation in the World (2018 Edition)

by Juan Cole

“Don’t tell the global South how corrupt they are for taking a few petty bribes.”

Seven Books Named as Finalists for the 2018 George Washington Prize

The books include a biography of George Washington, an account of the Burr Conspiracy and a history of religious awakenings in the 18th century. 

AHA President Mary Beth Norton says ending sexual harassment is a high priority

by Mary Beth Norton

In a report to members she lays out the multi-pronged approach the organization is taking.

Historians fear ‘censorship’ under Poland’s Holocaust law

Academic exemptions to legislation threatening those who say Poles played any part in Second World War genocide may not go far enough.

How One Amateur Historian Brought Us the Stories of African-Americans Who Knew Abraham Lincoln

Once John E. Washington started to dig, he found an incredible wealth of untapped knowledge about the 16th president.

History Coalition asks historians to "Urge Your Representative to Join the Congressional History Caucus"

"The simple truth is Members of Congress are unlikely to join unless they are asked to do so by their constituents!"

Stanford’s David Kennedy partners with Condoleezza Rice on documentary celebrating the "American Creed”

The two serve as hosts for the PBS documentary.

Jonathan Zimmerman says academics need to stand up to the campus bullies

by Jonathan Zimmerman

"It's not easy to speak up on behalf of a colleague under face-to-face attack from students, but we must do so to defend our free speech."

Dartmouth’s Randall Balmer: Under Trump, America's religious right is rewriting its code of ethics

by Randall Balmer

From scorning immigrants to accepting the president’s profanity, evangelicals are proving just how flexible their values can be, says the religious history professor.