Historians in the News

Historian Stanley Kutler has passed away

He forced the release of Nixon tapes.

Historians dismiss the history in Masterpiece Theater’s latest drama: “Wolf Hall"

They say it gets the story of King Henry VIII’s break with Rome wrong

Historian James Billington taken to task by the NYT for the way he runs the Library of Congress

The GAO recently criticized him for his neglect of digital archives. 

Joan Waugh on Grant's and Lee's 'gentlemen's agreement' ending the Civil War

If it weren't for Grant, Lee and Appomattox, the Civil War's aftermath could have been far worse

Blogger Ann Little says she’s tired of male historians saying they don’t do women’s history

by Ann Little

Even if you “don’t do women’s history,” ask yourself if that’s a choice or a fate.

Historians make it easy for visitors to DC to understand the history of the Mall

by Sharon M. Leon

25 million visit the Mall annually. Few know its history.

Nobel prize-winning scientist writes a history of science

Steven Weinberg's book grew out of a series of lectures he gave at University of Texas, Austin, for a course he began teaching a few years back.

Ken Burns tackles history of cancer

Ken Burns' new documentary, Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies, marks a contrast to the historical documentaries for which he's best known. Unlike the Civil War or the Roosevelt presidencies, the story of cancer doesn't yet have an ending.

If historians have their way, Americans will soon learn how important religion has been in US history

by Charles Richter

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History is now adding religion to history visitors see.

Role-playing history game gets students jazzed

Barnard history professor Mark Carnes pioneered the history games over the past 14 years.

OAH denounces anti-gay legislation signed by Indiana governor

The so-called religious freedom act allows businesses to discriminate against gay people.

Charlatan or Sage? Contested Legacy of the late Dr. Ben, a Father of African Studies

In the 1960s, Ben-Jochannan emerged as prominent figure, claiming that the very foundations of Western civilization, including Greek philosophy, Judaism and Christianity, were African in origin. Critics were scathing.

History's Grandin Wins Bancroft Prize for "The Empire of Necessity"

Grandin’s book centers on the Herman Melville novella, Benito Cereno. In constructing it, Melville draws from the memoirs of Captain Amasa Delano, an early-19th century New England seal hunter, who climbs aboard a distressed Spanish ship carrying West Africans he thought were slaves. He is mistaken.

Emory’s Leslie Harris says we should remember the racist roots of American colleges as we think about what went wrong at OU and other schools

Demands to rename Tillman Hall at Clemson University, the circulation of a video showing a racist chant at the University of Oklahoma and the discovery of a fraternity pledge book discussing lynching at North Carolina State University demonstrate how persistent racial issues are on college campuses.

Stanford historian looks to the U.S. Postal Service to map the boom and bust of 19th-century American West

The history of the settlement of the American West comes to life with Geography of the Post, a digital mapping platform that creates visualizations of where and when post offices operated.

U.S. historian denounces Japanese scholars' statement over wartime sexual slavery

The demand, led by history scholar Ikuhiko Hata, followed and were similar to the much-denounced attempts by Japan's government to pressure U.S. publisher McGraw-Hill to alter the description of the sexual slavery issue, claiming there are grave errors in the textbook.

History Camp "unconference" returns for the second year in Boston

by Lee Wright

This year History Camp is taking place in Boston on Saturday, March 28.

History Department at Connecticut College deplores Facebook post on Palestinians

by HNN Editor

The department condemns a post in which a philosophy professor referred to Hamas as “a rabid pit bull chained in a cage.”

Historians join other scholars in protesting Georgia's anti-gay legislation

"The many scholars and teachers who will make their way to Georgia for our upcoming professional conferences include colleagues who could be excluded from establishments that fall within the purview of this legislation."

What Howard Zinn taught the students of Spelman College

by Paula J. Giddings

Insubordination in the service of a good cause is required.