Historians in the News

In the Anthropocene, historians might chronicle the end of their species

by Jacob Mikanowski

"Maybe we’ll go extinct. Maybe all the mammals will go extinct. Maybe we’ll screw up so much that even our phylum, the Chordates, will go extinct.”

1200 Historians and other scholars say they are alarmed by threats to civil liberties

They have signed a petition posted online to protest trends that remind them of the worst abuses in the past – Japanese internment, among others.

Professor Peter Dreier, targeted by Professor Watchlist, says it gets an F for accuracy

by Peter Dreier

"Much of the information about me on the Watchlist is simply untrue."

Liberals are reposting Yale’s Timothy Snyder’s lessons on dealing with authoritarians

by Timothy Snyder

"Here are twenty lessons from the twentieth century, adapted to the circumstances of today."

Historians' Debate: Is this The Age of Trump?

by John Fea

Blogger John Fea set off a Twitter debate with his use of the hashtag #AgeofTrump. Here's what he meant by it. 

Economists are attacking historians’ recent works on slavery

"The shocking thing is how far they have deviated from the traditional strengths of history, in terms of using evidence and evaluating arguments.” – Economist Paul W. Rhode

Salon suggests Paul Gottfried, "a retired Jewish political historian,” was a founder of the Alt-Right

It was Gottfried who coined the term Alt-Right. (He also came up with Paleoconservative.)

National Women's History Museum Receives Grant to Rebuild Website with Advanced Content Capabilities

The NWHM announced today it will receive a $370,000 grant from the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. in support of the Museum's efforts to develop advanced content capabilities for 21st century interactive learning modules, revamped curricula lessons and online exhibits and to optimize the content for mobile.

UCLA history professor Gabriel Piterberg continues to come under attack after being accused of sexual harassment

by Cinnamon Stillwell

Now it’s a pro-Israel group that is targeting him.

Bristol Brexit-backer Arron Banks ridiculed for arguing Roman history with Professor Mary Beard

"Sorry but you may have strong views but you guys don't know Roman history."

Niall Ferguson changes his mind about Brexit (he’s now for it)

by Fraser Nelson

Some rise in his defense, including this author.

Princeton’s Julian Zelizer worried about the rise of anti-Semitism

He’s surprised more Jews aren’t.

New Ken Burns' 'Vietnam War' documentary tackles divisive era

The series, called "The Vietnam War," features testimony from nearly 100 witnesses. It took six years to complete and includes archival footage and home movies as well as audio recordings from inside the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon administrations.

Rightwing website is putting historians on its “Watchlist” for signs of apostasy

Heather Cox Richardson says finding her name on the list was a “punch in the gut.”

Novelist says History classes are our best hope for teaching Americans to question fake news and Donald Trump

by Marie Myung-Ok Lee

"History classes matter because they help students learn to question the stories that are handed down to us."

National Book Award winner Ibram X. Kendi is youngest in 30 years in the non-fiction category

He argues in his book, "Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas," that it is erroneous to attribute racist ideas to "the boiling pot of ignorance and hate." Rather, racist ideas stem from racially discriminatory policies.

Historian Volker Ullrich’s book on the rise of Hitler is spookily relevant

"What are the necessary social and psychological conditions that allow populists of Hitler’s ilk to gain a mass following and attain power?”

People are still talking about historian Mark Lilla’s NYT op ed 2 weeks after it was published

Lilla, a historian at Columbia, argued that the Democratic Party has lost its way by focusing on identity politics.

Rick Perlstein says Trump’s election confirms a paranoid trend in the GOP

by Rick Perlstein

"The more Trumpism fails, the more, and more violently, scapegoats will be blamed.” – Rick Perlstein

Historian says it’s a relief to see Trump supporter hammered for suggesting Muslims be registered

Anne Blankenship says this is the difference from World War 2 when Japanese internment was floated as a proposal.