The Organization of American Historians and the Writing and Teaching of American History

The field of American history has undergone remarkable expansion in the past century, all of it reflecting a broadening of the historical enterprise and democratization of its coverage. Today, the shape of the field takes into account the interests, identities, and narratives of more Americans than at any time in its past. Much of this change can be seen through the history of the Organization of American Historians, which, as its mission states, "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." This century-long history of the Organization of American Historians-and its predecessor, the Mississippi Valley Historical Association-explores the thinking and writing by professional historians on the history of the United States. It looks at the organization itself, its founding and dynamic growth, the changing composition of its membership and leadership, the emphasis over the years on teaching and public history, and pedagogical approaches and critical interpretations as played out in association publications, annual conferences, and advocacy efforts. The majority of the book emphasizes the writing of the American story by offering a panorama of the fields of history and their development, moving from long-established ones such as political history and diplomatic history to more recent ones, including environmental history and the history of sexuality The Rise Of Modern And Democratic Learned Society / Stanley N. Katz -- The Mississippi Valley Historical Association, 1907-1952 / Michael Kammen -- From The Mvha To The Oah, 1951-1981 / Richard S. Kirkendall -- The Oah In Troublesome Times, 1980-2000 / Arnita A. Jones -- One Hundred Years Of History : Extraordinary Change, Persistent Challenges / William H. Chafe -- The Most Appropriate Subjects For Study / William E. Leuchtenburg -- The Persistence Of Political History / James T. Patterson -- The Continental Empire And The Global Power / Richard S. Kirkendall -- Economic History And American Historians : From Integration To Segregation In One Century / Gavin Wright -- The Battle For Military History : Success Or Failure? / Edward M. Coffman -- The Challenges To Traditional Histories / Joan Hoff -- Social History And Intellectual History / James T. Kloppenberg -- The Long And Influential Life Of Social History In The Mvhr And The Jah / Stephanie J. Shaw -- The Mvhr, The Jah, And Intellectual History : From Margin To Mainstream / David A. Hollinger -- Immigration And The Tattered Narrative Of Progressive History / John Bodnar -- The Slow Rise To Prominence Of African American History / Arvarh E. Strickland And Richard S. Kirkendall -- Women's History : From Neglect To Prominence And To Integration / Alice Kessler-harris -- The Presence Of Native American History / Frederick E. Hoxie -- The Wild One : Environmental History As Redheaded Stepchild / Karl Brooks -- The History That Dare Not Speak Its Name / Kathy Peiss -- How Discipline Change Happens / Thomas Bender -- A Learned Journal Adjusts To Change / Lewis C. Perry -- Editing And The Challenges Of Specialization, Audiences, Sites Of Practice / David Thelen -- Putting Together American History / Joanne Meyerowitz -- Becoming The Editor / Edward T. Linenthal. The Shouldering Of Responsibilities / Gary B. Nash -- The Mvha And Teaching : A Strained Relationship / Ron Briley -- Why A Focus On Teaching Day? / Marjorie Bingham -- The Oah And The Community College Professoriate / Charles A. Zappia -- The Recent Years / Timothy N. Thurber -- A Plea For Equality / Leon F. Litwack -- Public History : Past And Present / Spencer R. Crew -- Historians In The Federal Government / Donald A. Ritchie -- Discovering Public History In An Unlikely Place : Uc, Santa Barbara, 1976 And After / Otis L. Graham Jr. -- Public History And The Academy : A Continuum Of Practice / Marla R. Miller -- The Sitting President Looks On--uncomfortably / Richard White -- The Transformation Of The Annual Meeting / Richard W. Leopold -- The Warm Memories Of A Life Member / Carl Degler -- The Third Woman In The Presidency / Anne Firor Scott -- The Oah In Philadelphia : The Musical / Leon F. Litwack -- History's Public Function / Eric Foner -- The Oah In St. Louis : The Protest / David Montgomery -- Afterword / Katherine Mandusic Finley -- Appendix: The Officers, 1907-2012. Edited By Richard S. Kirkendall. Includes Bibliographical References. Through the lens of the premier organization for the promotion of the history of the United States, this book relates the growth of the discipline of American history in scholarship, teaching, and public history.