Historians in the News

Randolph L. Braham, leading historian of the Holocaust in Hungary, dies at 95

Dr. Braham described Holocaust scholarship as his “destiny” and fought against moves to whitewash Hungarian collusion with Nazi authorities.

Yale's David Blight explains why he was drawn to Frederick Douglass

He worked on his just-published biography of Douglass for ten years.

Where are all the history majors?

by Benjamin M. Schmidt

Of all the major disciplines, history has seen the steepest declines in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded.

70 years later, Spanish historian repeats the act that led to his arrest under Franco

Nicolas Sanchez-Albornoz was sent to a prison labor camp in a wave of repression by Spain’s Franco dictatorship for painting the words “Long Live Free University!”

Trigger Warnings: A Debate

It began with a post by historian Jonathan Wilson. 

Did Christian Historians Exaggerate Persecution by the Romans?

Archaeological work in Jordan at the site of a mine where Christians had reportedly suffered horrific torture has uncovered some troubling information.

Israeli Academics and Artists Warn Against Equating anti-Zionism With anti-Semitism

Their open letter ahead of a conference in Vienna advises against giving Israel immunity for ‘grave and widespread violations of human rights and international law.’

James H. Billington, 89, Dies; Led Library of Congress Into Digital Age

He led the Library of Congress for nearly three decades, taking over at the dawn of the digital era.

What historians say kids should be learning in school about history

by Talitha LeFlouria

Kids should be taught about slavery’s demise.

Simon Schama: Remember the Expulsion of Jews From Arab Countries

“This is so important — 800,000 Jewish refugees — When exactly next week is the day of commemoration of THEIR naqba?”

Why we go to war, and have we lost its meaning: historian Margaret MacMillan

"I don't think it will push us to another world conflict but I think it will make it more probable.”

Case Western Reserve University downgrades tenure-track African American history professor position

“The administration wants to hire a second-class citizen of the university with no job security.”

The featured speaker at the next White House Correspondents' Dinner? It will be a historian, not a comedian.

The speaker will be Ron Chernow, the author of the biography that the play "Hamilton" is based on. 

Holocaust researcher files libel lawsuit after accused of falsifying history

Professor Jan Grabowski of the University of Ottawa filed a lawsuit for libel against the Polish League Against Defamation on Thursday at the District Court in Warsaw.

Is the history major doomed on campus?

A Wisconsin proposal will be watched nationwide.

Have Historians Left Public Debate to Journalists?

What historians are saying in response to an interview with Harvard's Jill Lepore.

Maya Jasanoff wins $75,000 2018 Cundill History Prize

It's for her genre-bending account of the life and world of the Polish-born British writer Joseph Conrad.

Rutgers clears historian James Livingston

The university has withdrawn it complain that he violated its policies with a Facebook post. 

Historians urge Congress to pass bill to enhance public’s understanding of Reconstruction

by Gregory P. Downs and Kate Masur

"It would establish the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network, based on similar networks Congress has created for the Civil Rights Movement and the Underground Railroad. These networks foster collaboration within national parks."

Doris Kearns Goodwin says current events drove her latest book

"Yes, in a very real sense 'Leadership: In Turbulent Times' is about today. Using history as my guide, I sought to shine a spotlight on the absence of leadership in our country."