Conference Theme: Revolution is at the center of every remarkable societal change. Through formal politics, grassroots organizing, boycott, protest, litigation, war, and a wide range of other mass and individual actions, behind every revolutionary moment are the people working to bring revolutionary ideas into reality. In the face of rapid cultural, social, political and technological change, history’s importance as a guide for our future has become clearer than ever.
Public historians then have always played a role in moments of revolution. Documenting during crises, archiving our collective past, supporting researchers and revolutionaries alike, we bring history to the public because it matters. As we close out the U.S. semiquincentennial year, we are called to a moment of reflection on the work of revolutions past and the work that lies ahead.
How do the events of the past fifty years shape how we do the work of public history in the next fifty years? How do we effectively respond to the challenges of our world while strengthening the field? What work will drive our revolutions? What revolutionary work needs to be done to forge the future of the field? And how do we as history practitioners continue to create fulfilling careers in the ever-evolving landscape of our field?
Presenter Information: AASLH and NCPH require that the Session Chair serve as the session organizer responsible for logistics, requests for materials and equipment, communication with participants and AASLH staff, and leading the session itself. Session chairs must be affiliated with an institutional member or hold an individual membership in AASLH or NCPH. Membership is not required for speakers. In order to involve as many people as possible in the meeting, no one can chair more than one session or participate in more than two. The committee also strongly discourages sessions where all presenters are from the same site. It is also suggested that you include an end-user as part of your session. If you need assistance finding presenters that bring diversity in institution, geography, perspectives, or race, please contact the AASLH or NCPH staff or the 2026 Program Co-Chairs. Note: You will need to create a username and password for the Submittable site. This is separate from your membership login at aaslh.org or ncph.org.
Click here to access the review rubric for judging sessions.
AASLH is accepting submissions of short articles to be posted on our official blog. Specifically, we are seeking articles on issues and challenges facing history organizations and their staffs. Articles should be clear, concise, and offer obvious takeaways or suggestions. There is no deadline, and submissions are welcomed at any time. You can expect a response within two or three weeks.
Here are ideas on what to write:
- Takeaways from history organizations doing great work
- Lessons learned from recent or ongoing projects at your organization
- Tips on administration and leadership
- Career advice and guidance for professionals in the field
- Unique takes on current trends (i.e. what’s the next Hamilton?)
- Constructive reflections on the state of the field
Guidelines:
- Length: 350-800 words
- Posts should be in Chicago Style
- All submissions must include at least one landscape orientation photo with photo credit/caption
- Do not footnote; instead, provide URLs for references
- Single space after sentences
Photos:
- All submissions must include at least one landscape orientation photo
- Two-three photos are ideal
- Photos should at least 750 pixels wide
- Photos should be free of any copyright restrictions; include attributions/ credit in the captions
Terms:
- Articles should be original content that has not been published elsewhere
- AASLH reserves the right to turn down any post that isn’t a good fit for the blog
- AASLH is not required to use the photos submitted with the post if they are not a good fit; in that case, the blog editor will supply appropriate photos to go with the post
- AASLH will adjust or replace titles as needed for consistency and clarity and can make minor edits without author approval
Questions? Email Aja Bain at abain@aaslh.org
AASLH serves members working with and for all kinds of historical organizations. As we approach the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, we will be focusing on reaching small museums and historical societies and on promoting inclusive history and inclusive practices. We invite our members to consider serving on Council (the organization’s board of trustees) or the Leadership Nominating Committee (LNC). In these roles, you or a colleague can play a vital part in shaping the organization’s future.
Nominate an AASLH member who is:
- Passionate about history and its place in contemporary culture.
- Connected to a network of peers in the field.
- Willing to both speak their mind and work as a team.
- Committed to innovation, inclusion, and experimentation.
- Holds specific skills and expertise in areas of museum or history work.
- Someone who believes they can make a difference.
You may nominate yourself or nominate a colleague for a position on either Council or for a position on the Leadership Nominating Committee.
Nominations are accepted year-round. For assistance, please contact AASLH at 615-320-3203 or abain@aaslh.org.
The following courses are part of AASLH’s Small Museum Pro! certificate program. If you have completed and passed five of the courses below, please submit this form to request your Small Museum Pro! certificate.
- CARING FOR MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
- COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT
- DEVELOPING EXHIBITIONS: PLANNING
- DEVELOPING EXHIBITIONS: DESIGN
- INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
- LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION FOR HISTORY ORGANIZATIONS
- MUSEUM EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
The AASLH book series connects the people engaged in history work to new questions, ideas, perspectives, and each other. By featuring news, current issues, trends, and best practices from throughout the history community, our books inform, inspire, challenge, and link together those who preserve and interpret the past.
We welcome book proposals dealing with all aspects of public history, including current trends, timely issues, and best practices for professional development and the overall improvement of the history field. We are especially interested in books that give a fresh perspective to traditional theories, in-depth case studies that reveal applicable and relevant concepts, and subject matter that has the ability to resonate throughout all levels of the field. Proposals are reviewed by the AASLH Editorial Advisory Committee, who may make suggestions for improvement and needed changes before approval. Once a proposal is approved, authors sign a contract with Rowman & Littlefield and are responsible for producing the work within 15-18 months.
AASLH reserves the right to reject material that is not consonant with the mission, values, or goals of the organization. Contact the book series editor Aja Bain with questions at abain@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.
History News connects the people engaged in history work to new questions, ideas, perspectives, and each other. By featuring news, current issues, trends, and best practices from throughout the history community, it informs, inspires, challenges, and links together those who preserve and interpret the past.
We welcome article proposals dealing with all aspects of public history, including current trends, timely issues, and best practices for professional development and the overall improvement of the history field. We are especially interested in articles that give a fresh perspective to traditional theories, in-depth case studies that reveal applicable and relevant concepts, and subject matter that has the ability to resonate throughout all levels of the field. AASLH reserves the right to reject material that is not consonant with the mission, values, or goals of the organization.
Before committing to a full article, we ask that you submit an abstract here. In 300 words or less, outline the main points of your article and explain how it supports the AASLH mission. Please include your email address so we can follow up with you.