We need historians because the past is never just the past.
Every policy debate, public conversation, and cultural shift is shaped by what came before. Historians help us understand context, trace change over time, and recognize what’s at stake.
That perspective isn’t optional. It’s essential, especially at moments of rapid change.
What’s one way history helps you understand the present? ⬇️
#TalkAboutHumanities
The second edition of the AHA’s Careers for History Majors booklet, revised and updated for 2026, contains new essays, information, and resources for students seeking information on how majoring in history can set them up for career success. Order it today at the link in bio.
Today, AHA staff attended a hearing related to our ongoing lawsuit concerning the preservation and accessibility of presidential records.
In this video recorded outside the courthouse, Alex Levy, AHA director of communications & public affairs, explains what the case is about, what’s at stake, and why the AHA chose to get involved.
Presidential records are essential historical sources. How they are preserved, managed, and made accessible affects historians, educators, students, journalists, and the public’s understanding of the past.
Support for the AHA Advocacy Fund helps make this work possible. Donate and learn more about the lawsuit at the links in our bio.
#HistoryMatters #Archives #PublicHistory #Advocacy #PresidentialRecords
⚖️ A federal judge has ruled in favor of the AHA, ACLS, and MLA in our lawsuit to restore the NEH, finding that the mass termination of grants was “unlawful, unconstitutional, ultra vires, and without legal effect.”
“This decision is a victory not only for the educators, researchers, humanities organizations, universities, and state councils whose grants were terminated, but for all Americans,” said AHA executive director Sarah Weicksel. “From history exhibitions and pathbreaking scholarship to library programs and professional development opportunities, the humanities help us understand our past and ourselves, providing all of us with essential tools for our future.”
The ruling helps restore the NEH’s ability to support “a climate encouraging freedom of thought, imagination, and inquiry” through the humanities.
Read more about the lawsuit at the link in bio.
What do students miss when US history lessons stop at Vietnam?
Join our State of the Field for Busy Teachers event on May 6 at 1:45 p.m. ET exploring how to teach recent US history, from themes and sources to classroom strategies.
With Gregory Daddis, Sage Gray, Mindy Lawrence, and Lee Vinsel. Moderated by Whitney E. Barringer. Register at the link in bio.
We need historians because there is always more than one side to the story.
Historians bring together voices, experiences, and perspectives that are often left out or overlooked. Their work helps us see complexity rather than simple answers.
What perspective has reshaped how you see the past?
#WeNeedHistorians #TalkAboutHumanities
Career pathways for history PhDs extend across many fields beyond the academy.
Join our AHA Learn webinar on May 1 at 12:00 p.m. ET exploring how historians apply their training in a range of professional settings and what that means for graduate students and recent alumni.
Register at the link in bio.
AHA member Alix Genter built a career beyond the “grand academic career” she once imagined, launching a freelance editing business after earning her PhD.
“Helping other scholars refine their writing, sharpen their arguments, and ultimately publish their work is enormously fulfilling.”
Read her Member Spotlight at the link in bio.
We need historians because they turn information into insight.
From classrooms and boardrooms to museums and public policy settings, historians bring critical thinking, research skills, and the ability to make sense of complex information.
Those skills travel. They matter everywhere.
If you studied history, where has it taken you? Drop it in the comments 👇
#TalkAboutHumanities #HistoryCareers #WeNeedHistorians #TransferableSkills #HumanitiesCareers
We need historians not just to understand the past, but to shape what comes next.
As we look ahead, the work of historians remains essential to public life, education, and a thriving democracy.
What should we better understand about the past as we think about the future? ⬇️
#TalkAboutHumanities
We need historians because every headline has a history.
History helps us make sense of the world around us every day.
What’s a story, place, or moment that changed how you see the world? ⬇️
#TalkAboutHumanities
What can a simple striped bag reveal about the world?
From dollar stores to fashion runways and museums, the red-white-blue bag carries many names and meanings, reflecting identities both global and local.
Discover its journey in the latest #AHAPerspectives by Mikhail Svirin at the link in bio. #EverythingHasAHistory
