OAH Opens Archives
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The records of the Organization of American Historians (OAH), housed in the IUPUI Universi ty Library's Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, are now available for research. These records cover the organization's history from its beginnings in 1907 up to the late 1990s. A complete description of the holdings is available on the Archives' website at <http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/special/mss027.html>. The OAH records chronicle the evolution of a small, regional professional historical organization to its present day status as the largest learned society devoted to the study of American history. In July 1907, Clarence Paine sent out an invitation to the secretaries of state historical societies of the Mississippi Valley to meet at the Nebraska Historical Society for "the purpose of considering plans for effecting a permanent organization for the advancement of historical research, and the collection and conservation of historical material in these western states." The organization began in October 1907 as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association through the efforts of seven men: William S. Bell, Edgar R. Harlan, George W. Martin, Clarence S. Paine, Francis A. Sampson, Benjamin F. Shambaugh, and Warren Upham. Its purpose was to encourage the research and study of the history of the Mississippi Valley and to provide a means of communication among the secretaries of historical societies. These goals were accomplished through an annual meeting and the publication of The Mississippi Valley Historical Review. Until 1952, the organization was run mainly by the One of the greatest debates in the organization's history began in the 1950s just prior to Clara's retirement. For many years the boundaries of the organization had gradually stretched beyond the Mississippi Valley. Many members were finding it difficult for their institutions to fund trips to a regional organization's annual meeting. Many felt it time to officially recognize the national character of the organization and that a name change was the appropriate action to take at this time. Clara and other members forcefully argued against the change and worked for its defeat. However, in 1964, the name of the Review changed to The Journal of American History to acknowledge its national audience, and the organization soon followed suit with the change of its name to the Organization of American Historians.
Brenda L. Burk is the Philanthropic Studies Archivist at the Indiana University-Purdue University Library in Indianapolis. |
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Paines--Clarence until his death in 1916 and his wife, Clara, until her resignation in 1952. Clara's legacy to the organization extends beyond her thirty-six years as secretary-treasurer. Although her election was controversial--because she was a woman and admittedly not a historian--Clara ran the organization effectively. In charge of membership, finances, and the general operation of the office, Clara helped to establish the organization as a reputable force in the field of American history.
With a mission to promote "teaching and scholarship about the history of the United States, both before and after its formation as a nation-state," the organization has continued to expand in scope. From the 1950s to the 1970s, the organization moved beyond its academic and educational focus to involvement in political issues. Civil rights entered into discussions as the organization's membership became more racially diverse. Annual meetings raised difficult questions because many hotels would not allow the African American membership the same accommodations as the white membership. In many cases, hotels refused to serve them at all. The organization responded with a board decision in April 1954 to avoid hotels "where racial discrimination will prevail" The struggle for women's rights was another political arena for the organization. OAH entered into the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) with letters, resolutions, and a convention boycott of states that had not passed the ERA. The OAH's involvement with the formation of the National Coordinating Council for the Promotion of History (NCC) secured its place in the political arena, and the NCC (now National Coalition for History) became the lobbying tool for its member organizations.
OAH continues to be a leader in the study and debate of American history. The partnership established between OAH and the Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives will ensure the continued preservation and research of the OAH's own history. The collection can be used for a variety of research interests including attempts to discover the prevailing scholarly viewpoints of the early twentieth century and research on prominent scholars in the field to understanding how associations established and structured themselves. For further information about research into the collection, visit <