The Organization of American Historians is the largest learned society devoted to the study of American history. Since its founding in 1907 as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, the OAH has promoted the study and teaching of the American past through its many activities. The work of the organization is supported primarily through the contributions of its membership. We invite you to learn more about the organization and encourage you to support its efforts by becoming a member today.

OAH Annuounces Two New
Community College Workshops in 2008

More students take the U.S. history survey course at community colleges than at any other institution of higher education. To assist community college professors, the Organization of American Historians has developed a new series of regional workshops to provide professional enhancement opportunities and materials for community college professors teaching the survey course.

American Religion

Religion continues to play a central role in American life and as a result, remains integral to classroom discussions of the American past and of how that past shapes the present. This fact is especially revealed in the presidential campaigns currently going on around the country where candidates and commentators continually center their attention on religious beliefs and the historical relationship between church and state.

The Journal of American History Explores the
Impact of Hurricane Katrina

The December 2007 issue of the Journal of American History focuses on Hurricane Katrina in a special issue entitled, "Through the Eye of Katrina: The Past as Prologue?" With twenty articles and essays on Katrina-related subjects, including political, urban, environmental, architectural and musical history, a web site has been designed for this special issue which features interactive maps, music, video, and photographic slide shows which place a spotlight on the devastaing effects of the hurricane on this Louisiana city.

Teaching American History in a Global Perspective

Recognizing the urgent need for students to understand the emergence of the United States' power and prestige in relation to world events, the OAH and the College Board has just published, America on the World Stage: A Global Approach to U.S. History, which reframes the teaching of American history in a global context.

OAH Hosts National Collaborative
for Women's History Sites

The OAH serves as an online host to the National Collaborative for Women's History Sites (NCWHS) web site. NCWHS supports and promotes the preservation and interpretation of sites and locales that bear witness to women's participation in American life. The Collaborative makes women's contributions to history visible so that all women's experiences and potential are fully valued.

OAH Distinguished Lectureship Program

OAH is pleased to announce an expanded list of historians participating in its Distinguished Lectureship Program. Speaking on a wide range of topics, from "Hypertext and History" and "The Historical Construction of Racism" to "American Nationalism in Comparative Perspective" and "Using Historic Sites to Interpret Women's History," the OAH Distinguished Lectureship Program brings premier scholars to your institution.

The Organization of American Historians promotes excellence in the scholarship, teaching, and presentation of American history, and encourages wide discussion of historical questions and equitable treatment of all practitioners of history.