Historians in the News

Nixon Biographer Wins American History Book Prize

John A. Farrell, a journalist and the author of “Richard Nixon: The Life,” has won a $50,000 prize awarded by the New-York Historical Society.

Harvard historian says we should turn prisons into colleges

by Elizabeth Hinton

Elizabeth Hinton cites as an example a prison celebrated by a jailed Malcolm X. (It’s where he wanted to be sent.)

Two Museum Directors Say It’s Time to Tell the Unvarnished History of the U.S.

History isn’t pretty and sometimes it is vastly different than what we’ve been taught, say Lonnie Bunch and Kevin Gover.

George Washington University's Katrin Schultheiss calls out (mostly male) dissertation advisors who desert their grad students

by Katrin Schultheiss

"It has taken me … decades to recognize that my experience of having a senior male nominal adviser and a female (usually more junior) actual adviser is common throughout academe.”

Undermined and Beleaguered, H.R. McMaster Soldiers On

The White House is knocking back speculation that Gen. McMaster will be replaced sooner rather than later.

Historian Romila Thapar: "I write what I think is right…take it or leave it”

A professional historian’s struggle in India with rightwing critics who want to silence her.

Vassar’s Rebecca Edwards says "women’s suffrage anniversaries make me yawn"

by Rebecca Edwards

Why? "Because suffrage—which still dominates our historical narrative of American women’s rights—captures such a small part of what women need to celebrate and work for."

Stanford’s David Kennedy partners with Condoleezza Rice on documentary celebrating the "American Creed”

The two serve as hosts for the PBS documentary.

Former Clinton speech writer Ted Widmer discovers Thomas Nast drawings of Lincoln

by Adam Gopnik

Widmer, who teaches history at Brown, came across the sketches while working on a book about Lincoln's train trip from Springfield to Washington.

A.G. Hopkins has rewritten the history of the USA from a global perspective

In an interview he explains that he decided to write the book after 9-11.

Juan Cole has an interesting take on Jared Kushner

by Juan Cole

The historian thinks Kushner is being targeted by the intelligence community, led by HR McMaster.

Once again historians are debating the difference between writing for the public and writing for themselves

by Luciano Gonzalez

The latest debate began with a tweet from Talking Point Memo's Josh Marshall.

Is the jobs picture for historians as bad as it seems?

by Dylan Ruediger

The American Historical Association says it's hard to tell and that's a problem. 

Eric Metaxas, evangelical intellectual, chose Trump, and he's sticking with him

“Not only can we vote for Trump, we must vote for Trump.”

Andrew Robert: Churchill did not have an affair – so don’t fall for Channel 4’s spin

by Andrew Roberts

"To present this story without interviewing any Churchill historians, or members of the family, is a disgrace.”

Tiya Miles recounts when she decided to stop straightening her hair

by Tiya Miles

It was a political statement.

The next president of the OAH will be ... Yale's Joanne Meyerowitz

She is the president-elect of the Organization of American Historians. 

Top Ten Signs the US is the Most Corrupt Nation in the World (2018 Edition)

by Juan Cole

“Don’t tell the global South how corrupt they are for taking a few petty bribes.”

Seven Books Named as Finalists for the 2018 George Washington Prize

The books include a biography of George Washington, an account of the Burr Conspiracy and a history of religious awakenings in the 18th century. 

McMaster could leave WH after months of tension with Trump

With tensions flaring between President Donald Trump and national security adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, the Pentagon is considering options that would allow the President to potentially move the three-star general out of his current role and back into the military, according to half a dozen defense and administration officials.