The Many Pasts of Public History:

The Path through the AHA

American Historical Association MeetingNew York City

January 3, 2015

Chair: Marla Miller: @MarlaatUMass

Speakers: Rob Townsend: @rbthistedDenise Meringolo: @DDMeringoloWill Walker: @WIllCooperstown

Principal Employment of AHA Members, 2003

Business or Industry3.0%

Elementary, Middle, or Secondary School

6.2%

Government (Non-U.S.)0.1%

Historical Organization0.7%

Library/Archives1.7%

Local Government0.4%

Museum0.6%

Non profit Organization

1.8%

Private Foundation0.2%

Professional Association

0.3%

Self-Employed5.4%

State Government0.6%

U.S. Government1.2%

Other10.4%

4-yr College or University

62.9%

2-Year College4.6%

Key Figures in AHA

Reuben Gold Thwaites

Wisconsin Hist. Soc.

Solon Buck

Minnesota Historical Society and

National Archives

Waldo Gifford Leland

AHA and ACLS.

J. Franklin Jameson

Carnegie Institution, D.C.

Lucy Salmon

Vassar Coll.

Number of AHA Committees Devoted to Activity, 1843 to 1945

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1884 1889 1894 1899 1904 1909 1914 1919 1924 1929 1934 1939 1944

Public History

ResearchScholarship

Teaching andPedagogy

Tools andMaterials

Changing Technologies

Growth in Nationally Recognized Historical Societies

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1893 1905 1916 1926 1936 1944

Growth in States with Archival Programs

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1944

AHA Membership in History-related Positions, 1884 to 1940

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%1884 (N=220)

1911 (N=2,755)

1920 (N=2,348)

1940 (N=3,063)

For additional questions

please e-mail me at

rtownsend@amacad.org