For a comprehensive listing of participating lecturers, please visit our Directory of Lecturers page.

For traditional, in-person OAH Lectures, lecture hosts are expected to pay a lecture fee to the OAH and to reimburse the speaker directly for transportation, lodging, food, and all other travel expenses. Lecture fees start at $1,000.

For virtual OAH lectures, the lecture fee varies by format and speaker. Recorded lectures start at $300; recorded lectures with live Q&A start at $450; live online lectures with Q&A start at $600. Contact the lectureship program coordinator to inquire about the lecture fee for a particular speaker.

Contact the lectureship program coordinator.

If not charged directly by the host, travel costs should be reimbursed at the time of the lecture or as quickly as possible thereafter to minimize credit card interest charges for the speaker. Lecture fees are due within 30 days after the lecture.

OAH lecture fees are designated by the speakers entirely as donations to the OAH. Part of the operating budget, they help the OAH fulfill its mission of promoting excellence in the scholarship, teaching, and presentation of American history.

Use the keyword search and topic filter tools on the Directory of Lecturers page or the U.S. History Topics page.

Use the state search feature on the website.

It varies from speaker to speaker. Some are able to accept invitations with only a month’s notice, while others need to schedule up to 2 years ahead. For best results, contact the lectureship program coordinator with your invitation between 6 months to one year in advance.

OAH Distinguished Lecturers often give public lectures at college and universities. But almost half of OAH Distinguished Lectures each year occur in other settings. State and local historical societies, museums, libraries, high schools, workshops, and conferences have all hosted OAH Distinguished Lecturers. Read hosts’ comments here.

OAH Distinguished Lecturers are appointed annually by the president-elect, based on recommendations of a subcommittee of the OAH Nominating Board. Volunteers and nominations are welcome and should be sent to the lectureship program coordinator.

The lectureship program was founded in 1981 by OAH president, Gerda Lerner.