Society of American Historians

Society of American Historians. The Society of American Historians was founded in 1939 by Allan Nevins and Wendell H. Stephenson to promote literary excellence in the writing of American history. The organization is dedicated to recognizing and encouraging outstanding historical writing, as exemplified by the works of David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Joseph Ellis. The society's efforts are inspired by the scholarship of Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., C. Vann Woodward, and Edmund Morgan, among others, who have shaped the field of American historical studies.

● History

The Society of American Historians was established during a period of significant historical scholarship, marked by the publication of seminal works such as The American Revolution by Gordon S. Wood and The Civil War by Shelby Foote. The society's founding coincided with the emergence of prominent historians like Richard Hofstadter, Daniel J. Boorstin, and Bernard Bailyn, who were instrumental in shaping the field of American colonial history. The society's early years were also influenced by the work of Charles A. Beard, Mary R. Beard, and Carl L. Becker, who were known for their contributions to American intellectual history. As the society grew, it drew inspiration from the scholarship of John Hope Franklin, David Herbert Donald, and Arthur Schlesinger Jr., who were renowned for their work on African American history, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

● Purpose and Activities

The Society of American Historians aims to promote excellence in historical writing, as embodied in the works of Barbara W. Tuchman, William H. McNeill, and Oscar Handlin. The society sponsors various activities, including the Francis Parkman Prize, which recognizes outstanding historical writing, and the Allan Nevins Prize, which honors the best dissertation in American history. The society also collaborates with other organizations, such as the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, and the New-York Historical Society, to promote historical scholarship and education. Additionally, the society draws inspiration from the work of National Book Award winners like Taylor Branch, Robert A. Caro, and T.J. Stiles, who have made significant contributions to the field of American biography.

● Membership and Governance

The Society of American Historians is composed of distinguished historians, including Pulitzer Prize winners like David M. Kennedy, Linda K. Kerber, and Gordon S. Wood. The society's membership also includes prominent scholars like Nell Irvin Painter, Eric Foner, and Sean Wilentz, who have made significant contributions to the field of American cultural history. The society is governed by a board of directors, which includes notable historians like James M. McPherson, Drew Gilpin Faust, and Annette Gordon-Reed. The society's governance is also influenced by the work of American Academy of Arts and Sciences fellows like Natalie Zemon Davis, David D. Hall, and Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, who have shaped the field of American social history.

● Awards and Prizes

The Society of American Historians presents several awards and prizes to recognize outstanding historical writing, including the Francis Parkman Prize, the Allan Nevins Prize, and the James A. Rawley Prize. These awards honor the work of historians like Erik H. Erikson, Richard N. Current, and T. Harry Williams, who have made significant contributions to the field of American intellectual history. The society also recognizes the achievements of historians like C. Vann Woodward, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., and Edmund Morgan, who have been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for their work on American history. Additionally, the society draws inspiration from the work of National Humanities Medal winners like David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Joseph Ellis, who have been recognized for their contributions to the field of American historical studies.

● Notable Members

The Society of American Historians has a distinguished membership, including notable historians like Daniel J. Boorstin, Richard Hofstadter, and Bernard Bailyn. Other prominent members include John Hope Franklin, David Herbert Donald, and Arthur Schlesinger Jr., who have made significant contributions to the field of American history. The society's membership also includes Pulitzer Prize winners like Taylor Branch, Robert A. Caro, and T.J. Stiles, who have been recognized for their work on American biography. Additionally, the society counts among its members National Book Award winners like Barbara W. Tuchman, William H. McNeill, and Oscar Handlin, who have been honored for their contributions to the field of American historical studies.

● Publications

The Society of American Historians publishes several works, including the American Heritage series, which features the writing of historians like Bruce Catton, Shelby Foote, and James M. McPherson. The society also publishes the Journal of American History, which includes articles by prominent historians like Eric Foner, Sean Wilentz, and Nell Irvin Painter. Additionally, the society has published works by notable historians like David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Joseph Ellis, who have written extensively on American history. The society's publications are inspired by the work of American Historical Association prize winners like Gordon S. Wood, Linda K. Kerber, and David D. Hall, who have made significant contributions to the field of American historical studies.