Historians in the News

Edwin Black holds an international conference call to answer questions about his investigation of the German massacre of Herero blacks

by Martin Barillas

The call was precipitated by an article published on HNN: "Before Germans Slaughtered Jews They Slaughtered Africans."

Japan should give formal apology for wartime aggression, says historian

Kurt Piehler, director of the Institute of World War II and the Human Experience with Florida State University, says a formal apology from Japan would go a long way toward creating a lasting peace in the region.

Historian Benjamin Madley says what whites did to Indians in the 19th century in California was genocide.

He estimates that between 9,000 and 16,000 Indians were killed by vigilantes, state militiamen and federal soldiers between 1846 and 1873, mainly a result of the Gold Rush.

Kevin Baker says America needs to bring back political machines

They were corrupt to the core–but they were also incredibly effective.

Covell Meyskens uses his blog to show what life was like under Mao. (Interview)

"We often hear about people’s lives which were destroyed by political oppression, but daily life was more nuanced.” — Historian Covell Meyskens.

Chinese Court Upholds Ruling Against Historian Who Questioned Tale of Wartime Heroes

The decision, over a story about five Communist soldiers said to have fended off Japanese troops during World War II, continues a crackdown on dissenting views.

Rumors that Henry Kissinger is going to back Hillary Clinton has some liberals upset

by Michael Tomasky

This liberal says on the Daily Beast the question is what kind of foreign policy she’d pursue.

Walter Laqueur remembers his own first encounter with Birobidzhan. Birobidzhan?

by Walter Laqueur

Birobidzhan was a “Jewish autonomous region” set up in the far east in 1928 to provide a home for Soviet Jewry.

William McNeil remembered for many things including his prophecies for the 21 st century

by Walter A. McDougall

"The travail of the U.S.S.R. and its satellites ought not to be counted as a clear and definitive victory for the United States and the American way of life." -- William McNeill in 1990

Retired Colonel William Astore says the military needs to embrace dissent

by William J. Astore

This is especially needed now that victory is elusive in wars that cost trillions.

Historian group discourages panels that are all white men

In a guide for prospective panels a blog post on the website of The Society of Historians of the Early American Republic (SHEAR) says the key to having a prospective panel accepted for next year’s conference in Philadelphia is ensuring that it isn’t all white men.

Historians put together a book of 650 pictures from New Jersey history

The odd thing: There wasn’t one single photo that could be said to represent NJ.

CIA sued to disclose a history of the Bay of Pigs by in-house historian

A Villanova professor wants access to the late Jack Pfeiffer’s full history of the disaster.

Criticism for the proposal by Graham Allison and Niall Ferguson for the creation of a White House Council of Historical Advisers

by Jeremy Adelman

Historian Jeremy Adelman says historians may be overselling their usefulness. Besides, it’s hard to be relevant.

Historians dominate Yale committee reviewing racist names on campus

The group will try to contextualize why and how buildings were first named.

Professor: Why Jewish historians should stand behind Zionism

by Guy Alroey

Hasia Diner’s op ed declaring her hostility to Zionism is challenged by another Jewish scholar.

Niall Ferguson and Graham Allison say the president needs a permanent White House Council of Historical Advisors

by Graham Allison and Niall Ferguson

"It isn’t enough for a commander in chief to invite friendly academics to dinner. The U.S. could avoid future disaster if policy makers started looking more to the past."

Are Any Historians Supporting Donald Trump?

by Rick Shenkman and Sharon Arana

 We Found Just 5.  Oh, and then there's Newt Gingrich. 

Evan Thomas and David McCullough discuss Trump, Nixon, Ike, and Truman

"Harry Truman said the only new thing about the world is the history you don’t know. And when you have a presidential aspirant who doesn’t know any history, and everything is new to him, he doesn’t know how to handle it.” — McCullough

French Historian Accuses Khmer Rouge Defense Lawyers of "Cold Torture"

Henri Locard, retired academic from the Université Lumière - Lyon, is testifying about the brutality of the regime at a trial in Phnom Penh.