Historians in the News

Tim Bouverie's new book provides insight on Neville Chamberlain and the road to World War II

Appeasement: Chamberlain, Hitler, Churchill, and the Road to War finds Chamberlain to be a failed leader in a time of crisis.

Historians at South Carolina museum expand its telling of area’s African American history

The museum contracted with historian Dr. Edwin Breeden to research on the area’s African American residents.

Remembering Prof. Sadao Asada

by Peter Mauch

Sadao Asada, Professor Emeritus of Doshisha University, died in Kyoto on February 4, 2019. He was 83 years old.

Ishmael Reed Tries to Undo the Damage ‘Hamilton’ Has Wrought

His new play, The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda, is an extremely earnest attempt to show Miranda the many errors of his blockbuster musical.

Sarah Knott's book, Mother is a Verb: An Unconventional History demonstrates the labor of mothering

For non-academics who want access to intricate innovative histories, this book offers a novel approach to the fields of gender studies and women’s history.

Karen Sieber on her mission to archive the Red Summer of 1919

by Karen Sieber

Her act of “tactical history” has provided tens of thousands of users with access to information that is otherwise disjointed and hidden.

Hallie Rubenhold addresses 'constant trolling' over Jack the Ripper book

Angry reaction to story of victims’ lives is extraordinary, says Rubenhold

American Revolution libraries to merge into one historical powerhouse

Once in Philadelphia, the David Library will become the David Center for the American Revolution at the American Philosophical Society.

Historians call Clarence Thomas’ anti-abortion argument, "A gross misuse of historical facts"

“Linking the pro-choice movement to racism . . . He’s a bad man,” Georgia State law professor Eric Segall says

Ibram Kendi Pens Antiracist Reading List for the New York Times

by Ibram X. Kendi

Ibram X. Kendi on books to help America transcend its racist heritage.

Noel Malcolm's new book Useful Enemies centers on learning from the Turks

This well-judged book, which centres on Western thinkers identifying positive aspects of Ottoman rule, complicates the idea of Orientalism

Beer Archaeologists Are Reviving Ancient Ales — With Some Strange Results

Travis Rupp has traveled the world in search of clues as to how ancient civilizations made and consumed beer. With Avery Brewing Co., he has concocted eight of them in a series called "Ales of Antiquity."

Brenda Wineapple's new book illuminates the national debate over politics, principles and impeachment — in 1868

by John Fabian Witt

Brenda Wineapple’s timely story suggests, almost despite itself, that impeaching presidents and dreaming of justice are no substitutes for the work of doing justice and winning elections.

Tony Horwitz, ‘Confederates in the Attic’ Author, Dead at 60

Tony Horwitz, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historical nonfiction writer best known for the bestselling chronicle of Civil War re-enactors Confederates in the Attic, has died at age 60.

What’s So Useful About Studying Ancient History?

by Barry Strauss

Americans are notoriously ignorant of history, even their own, and while there’s nothing new about this indifference, the consequences are profound.

Edmund Morris, known for his biography of Reagan, dies at 78

Morris was a polished prose stylist whose career took off with the success of his first book, “The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt,” which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1980. But what cemented his legacy was “Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan.”

Outrage as author Naomi Wolf stands by view of Victorian poet

At Hay festival, Wolf restated belief that John Addington Symonds was deeply affected by laws against homosexuality.

A Donor's Demands, a Revoked Chair

A religion professor at the American University in Cairo says the university had no right to revoke his chair title after he resisted a donor's demands that he teach Islam in a preferential manner.

History professor Maria Cristina Garcia helped plan, create Statue of Liberty Museum

“Working on this project has been one of the most rewarding activities of my professional career,” Garcia said. 

Smithsonian names Lonnie Bunch III as new secretary, the first African American in the top spot

Lonnie G. Bunch III, director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, will become the next secretary of the Smithsonian.