American Association for State and Local History

American Association for State and Local History
Name	American Association for State and Local History
Founded	1940
Headquarters	Nashville, Tennessee
Type	Nonprofit
Focus	Historic preservation; public history; cultural heritage

American Association for State and Local History is a national nonprofit organization serving practitioners of public history, historic preservation, and cultural heritage in the United States. Founded in 1940, it connects museums, historical societies, archives, and historic sites with resources for collections care, interpretation, and community engagement. The organization acts as a hub for professionals and volunteers working at the intersection of List of historical societies in the United States, Smithsonian Institution, National Park Service, Library of Congress, and state historical agencies.

History

The organization was established in the context of the New Deal era alongside agencies such as the Works Progress Administration, Federal Writers' Project, and Historical Records Survey and developed relationships with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Antiquarian Society. Early leadership included figures active in initiatives like the Historic American Buildings Survey and institutions such as the Museum of Natural History (New York City), Chicago History Museum, and New-York Historical Society. During the postwar period the association engaged with preservation milestones linked to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and collaborated with entities like the National Register of Historic Places, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and state offices modeled after the Tennessee Historical Commission. Its programs intersected with major cultural debates involving Smithsonian Folklife Festival, American Association of Museums, and landmark events such as the United States Bicentennial.

Mission and Activities

The association's mission emphasizes stewardship of collections, interpretive programming, and community access similar to work done by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Getty Conservation Institute, and National Archives and Records Administration. Activities encompass technical assistance akin to services from the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, disaster planning comparable to guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and digital initiatives resonant with projects at Digital Public Library of America and Europeana. The organization partners with state historical societies like the Massachusetts Historical Society, New Jersey Historical Commission, and California Historical Society and coordinates with national partners such as the American Alliance of Museums, Association of State and Territorial Historic Preservation Officers, and the National Coalition for History.

Publications and Awards

The association publishes periodicals and manuals that echo standards from the Journal of American History, The Public Historian, and guidance used by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Publications include technical guides similar in ambition to works from the Getty Conservation Institute and thematic reports comparable to studies by the Pew Research Center and National Endowment for the Humanities. Awards administered by the association recognize excellence in exhibitions, educational programs, and conservation in the spirit of prizes such as the Pulitzer Prize, National Humanities Medal, and honors from the American Institute for Conservation. Recipients often include institutions like the Henry Ford Museum, Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, and regional museums such as the Historic New England network.

Education and Professional Development

Training programs reference curricula used by Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, and George Washington University public history programs, and mirror workshops offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and National Council on Public History. Professional development opportunities include conferences in the vein of meetings held by the American Historical Association, Organization of American Historians, and Society for American Archaeology, and certificate programs reflecting partnerships with universities such as Middle Tennessee State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The association advances best practices comparable to standards from the American Alliance of Museums and offers mentorship resembling efforts by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Advocacy and Policy

Advocacy work engages with federal policymaking tied to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, funding debates involving the National Endowment for the Humanities, and legislative matters before the United States Congress. The association collaborates with coalitions such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Coalition for History to influence policy related to cultural heritage, and it responds to emergencies alongside agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Park Service. Position statements have intersected with issues addressed by the Environmental Protection Agency when cultural landscapes are affected, and with labor and employment standards relevant to museums and archives overseen by the Department of Labor.

Membership and Organization Structure

Membership comprises professionals and volunteers from institutions including the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin Historical Society, New-York Historical Society, Chicago History Museum, and small local sites such as county historical societies and house museums across states like Texas, Ohio, Virginia, New York (state), and California. Governance follows a typical nonprofit model with a board of directors, executive leadership, and committees, similar to structures used by the American Alliance of Museums and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The association maintains regional partnerships with state programs such as the Tennessee Historical Commission and collaborates with educational institutions like University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and professional organizations including the Society of American Archivists.

Category:Historical societies in the United States