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Belfer Center Ernest May Fellowship in History and Policy

Belfer Center Ernest May Fellowship in History and Policy.

This fellowship is open to History Predoctoral Candidates and Ph.D. recipients. The Ernest May Fellowships honor Ernest May, Charles Warren Professor of American History, a member of the Belfer Center's board of directors, and a faculty affiliate of the Center's International Security Program, who passed away in June 2009.The Ernest May Fellows are housed with the International Security Program fellows and participate in the activities of the Center as part of the International Security Program. They will have access to most Harvard University libraries and facilities. Fredrik Logevall, Laurence D. Belfer Professor of International Affairs, and Niall Ferguson, Belfer Center Senior Faculty Fellow, serve as the points of contact and mentors for the fellows. The fellowships are non-deferrable. 
 
We encourage you to share this opportunity with individuals in your network who may be interested in applying for this fellowship at the Belfer Center, either this year or in future application cycles. The Center is committed to recruiting a diverse group of fellows and ensuring that our selection process actively identifies and evaluates candidates from underrepresented groups. 
The application period closes on December 1, 2024. For more fellowship descriptions and application requirements, please visit our fellowship page.  For any questions related to the Center’s fellowship opportunities, please contact us at [email protected]

A Message from the Archivist about a WSJ article

October 30, 2024

As the Archivist of the United States, my top priority is access for all Americans to the important records of our nation that we hold in trust at the National Archives. I am deeply committed to civic education and public engagement, and I have made it a priority to expand the reach of the National Archives to a wider audience. The Wall Street Journal has published an article based on anonymous complaints about that work and my leadership of the agency.

I strongly disagree with the misinformed perspective presented in the article.

I cannot state this strongly enough: I am proud of the work we are doing at the National Archives, and I am unwavering in my commitment to leading NARA without partisanship or ideology.

Our mission is too important, and the stakes are too high, for anything less.

As federal employees, we are not here to promote or share our personal interpretation of the records. That is for others to do. We are here to preserve, protect, and share the records with all Americans.

Our exhibits and educational programs must be aligned with that mission.  

That does not mean we shy away from difficult topics; but it does mean that we need to be thoughtful in how we engage with our past and focused on fostering understanding and dialogue.

Over the last 18 months, I have been very direct with NARA employees and stakeholders about the challenges we face as an agency, and the importance of ensuring all Americans feel welcomed to our spaces and find their experiences represented in our programming and exhibits. That direction is clearly articulated in our new Strategic Framework, as well.

We made that position clear in our statement to the Journal, which I am sharing in full here:

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The National Archives is the nation’s record keeper. We are an independent government agency responsible for preserving, protecting, and sharing the records of the United States without partisanship or ideology. To be successful, it is imperative that the National Archives welcomes—and feels welcoming to—all Americans.





















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UT Austin Clements Center 2025 Summer Seminar in History and Statecraft

APPLY NOW for 2025 Summer Seminar in History and Statecraft

Oct 28, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2025 Summer Seminar in History and Statecraft!

Policymakers frequently attempt to draw on historical knowledge to gain perspective on contemporary national security issues. Meanwhile, historians and other scholars frequently comment on present-day decision-making problems and sometimes aspire to influence policy debates. Yet policymakers and scholars generally occupy separate intellectual and institutional universes. Especially in recent years, they have had little to say to one another. The result, arguably, has been the impoverishment of both communities.

Applicants should be advanced doctoral students in history, political science, or related fields interested in careers in either academia or policymaking. The seminar will feature in-depth discussions with top scholars and senior policymakers and intelligence officials, as well as sessions devoted to academic publishing and strategies for approaching the academic and policy job markets. Participants will explore the relationship between historical insights and national security policymaking. Each day will also have recreational time for participants to enjoy the mountain surroundings. This program is open to non-UT students only. All expenses will be covered by the Clements Center. Visit our Summer Seminar page to learn more about the program and for application details. 

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[Job] University of Alabama in Huntsville- Assistant Professor in Intelligence and Security History

The Department of History at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is taking applicants for a tenure-track position in Intelligence and Security HistoryDEPARTMENT: History RANK: Assistant Professor in Intelligence and Security History ABOUT THE POSITION: The Department of History at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is taking applicants for a tenure-track position in Intelligence and Security History. Preference is for candidates with a specialization in modern US history, and/or the ability to teach foreign relations, and/or military history. This candidate will support the creation of an interdisciplinary graduate intelligence and security program. The successful candidate will ideally engage with and form partnerships with colleagues at Redstone Arsenal, the FBI, and other area agencies. Candidates who have practical experience working in intelligence, national security, or a related field are especially encouraged to apply. The teaching load is three courses (nine credit hours) per semester and may include online, hybrid, and traditional formats. The candidate will teach modern world history and/or US surveys, as well as upper-level and graduate courses in the candidate’s area of specialty. Qualifications: PhD in History or in closely related field required. PhD in history preferred. A strong commitment to teaching is required. APPOINTMENT DATE: August 7, 2025

Dartmouth E. John Rosenwald, Jr. '52 TU'53 Postdoctoral Fellows Program in U.S. Foreign Policy and International Security

The John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College invites applications for the 2025-26 E. John Rosenwald, Jr. '52 TU'53 Fellows Program in U.S. Foreign Policy and International Security. We welcome applications from historians, political scientists, and other scholars whose research bears directly on foreign policy, international security or international history. We welcome applications from any untenured scholar. Fellows typically include a mix of recent Ph.D recipients as well as tenure-track faculty on leave from other institutions.

Applications will be evaluated on the basis of (i) significance of the applicant’s research for advancing knowledge about U.S. foreign policy and international security; (ii) ability of the applicant to benefit from interaction with and mentoring from Dartmouth faculty in Government, History, or other relevant departments; and (iii) ability of the applicant to contribute to Dartmouth’s community.

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CFP- LAWCHA 2025 Conference

LAWCHA 2025 Conference 
Call for Papers
“Making Work Matter: Solidarity and Action across Space and Time”

Grad Student Workshop, June 11-12, 2025
LAWCHA Conference, June 12-14, 2025
University of Chicago



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Job Announcement: Associate Manager of the Mershon Center for International Security Studies at The Ohio State University

Job Announcement: Associate Manager of the Mershon Center for International Security Studies at The Ohio State University

The Mershon Center for International Security Studies at The Ohio State University is searching for an Associate Manager. The Associate Manager supports the Center's mission by coordinating and overseeing the non-fiscal components of Center operations. The Associate Manager will coordinate the center's research, programming, and training portfolio. This will include overseeing the Center’s grants portfolio, with semi-annual RFPs, application, and review process, and developing more rigorous reporting and consultation routines.  They will advise the director on balancing the scope of activities, programming, and administrative work by keeping track of faculty and student affiliate research and emerging research directions in order to build networks and create new programming opportunities and supervise affiliate research reporting. The Associate Manager supervises the staff in promoting and producing Center programming and oversees the logistics and hosting of major programs such as large conferences or summer institutes and in developing process templates. They will develop and oversee the framework for the Center's public, intranet, and back-office institutional memory, a complete current overview, and traceable records of Center activities. The Associate Manager will also lead and manage the staff responsible for documentation, archiving, and maintaining and updating Center affiliate records. The Associate Manager serves as project manager for complex special programs such as the biennial National Security Simulation and the Diplomacy Summer Institute. They will assess and arrange support as needed for new Center projects (such as database and archive hosting) and collaborate with faculty and staff on project design and implementation. The Associate Manager is encouraged to envision and develop new program opportunities for the Center.  They may represent the Center Director in planning conversations with university and external partners and advise the Director on decisions and opportunities. They will advise and support faculty to develop the research outputs from the National Security Simulation, the Diplomacy Summer Institute, the Transitioning from Violence consortium and similar events, which involve both training and new research initiatives.

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NARA Strategic Plan Framework

 

 

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CFP: Diplomatic History “1776 In Global Context”

Call for Papers: Diplomatic History
“1776 In Global Context”

To mark the 2026 Semiquincentennial of the American Revolution, the journal Diplomatic History seeks article proposals that engage with any aspect related to the international, transnational, transimperial, continental, or global dimensions of the American Revolution, including its origins or aftermath. The articles will be published in a special forum in 2026.

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2025 George C. Marshall Lecture

In recognition of the longstanding intersection of interests between the Society for Military History and the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, and with the intention of deepening the relationship between the organizations, SMH extends a special invitation to SHAFR members to attend the 2025 George C. Marshall Lecture. Titled “To the Bitter End?: Germany, Japan, and Surrender, 1945,” and scheduled for January 4th at the AHA meeting in NYC, this annual lecture will be delivered by Richard Overy, Honorary Research Professor at the University of Exeter. Comparing the two endgames and assessing the long-term ramifications of each, Professor Overy’s presentation reflects the commonalities of the two organizations, and SMH looks forward to the attendance of many SHAFR members. It will provide further details and a link at a later date.

CFP: LSE -Tufts Seminar in Contemporary International History

Call for Papers

Opportunity for Comment: Draft NARA Bulletin on Metadata Guidance for Transfer of Classified Electronic Records

National Archives

Opportunity for Comment: Draft NARA Bulletin on Metadata Guidance for Transfer of Classified Electronic Records

By Arian D Ravanbakhsh, Wednesday, July 31, 2024 3:09 PM

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History Coalition Warns of Critical Needs at National Archives

History Coalition Warns of Critical Needs at National Archives

With 12-Year Backlogs, Declassification at NARA Reaching Crisis Point

National Archives’ Budget Inadequate to the Task

Washington, D.C., July 23, 2024 - A major report on the current state of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) recently released by the National Coalition for History (NCH) includes a critical assessment of the state of declassification: “For the sake of accountability and a fuller historical record, NARA needs more funding so it can make steady progress in reviewing and declassifying classified historical records and fulfilling Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) requests.”

Prepared by a working group whose members included representatives from the National Security Archive, the History Coalition report sets an agenda for supporting and strengthening the National Archives. It identifies acute institutional needs and proposes steps that Congress, the White House, federal agencies, and NARA’s leadership can take to ensure the agency is properly funded and supported so that it can fulfill its critical mission for the American people.

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AASLH- Contact Congress to Oppose Drastic IMLS Funding Cuts

 
 

The House Appropriations Committee last week approved a bill that if enacted would make drastic funding cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and its Office of Museum Services (OMS), for fiscal year 2025, which begins October 1, 2024. 

If enacted, the bill would cut the OMS by $9.3 million by eliminating National Leadership Grants for Museums, leaving an OMS total of $46.1 million -- down from an historic high of $55.5 million. 

National Leadership Grants are vital as they fund cutting edge programs that are models for the museum field at large. Recently, Made By Us, of which AASLH and many of its members are a coalition partner, received this grant to build the Youth250 program. This program will supply hundreds of history organizations with access to Gen Z input and guidance on their U.S. 250th programming. 

The bill also would entirely eliminate funding for overall IMLS Research, Analysis and Data Collection ($5.6 million), which would include ending the agency's ability to conduct the first ever National Museum Survey, which it has already developed and field-tested. All of this preparatory work would be for naught, and all monies spent, wasted. In addition, overall IMLS Program Administration would be cut by $5 million (22%). Libraries were not spared: library discretionary grants were slashed by $25.2 million to $5 million in a bill that would cut education programs by 14% and would eliminate 57 programs. While these proposed cuts are unlikely to make it past the Senate and White House, it's critical for you to voice your opposition to your Representative now! 

Please use the link below to fill out a contact form provided by our colleagues at the American Alliance of Museums. 


The FY 2025 Appropriations process has a long way to go. Senate action has lagged behind the House. In the meantime, it's critical to oppose these drastic proposed cuts. 

Thank you for your advocacy in support of IMLS! This agency provides vital support to AASLH members and your colleagues in the national history community. 
 
 

American Association for State and Local History












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NARA Working Group Report May 2024

NCH NARA Working Group Report May 2024

SHAFR 2024 Proposed By-Laws Amendments

SHAFR 2024 Proposed By-Law Amendments for review by the membership.

NCH testimony to the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) on the FY 2025 NARA and NHPRC budgets

Dear NCH Member,
On July 1, the National Coalition for History (NCH) submitted testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budgets for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Summary:
  • NCH supports the Biden administration’s recommended funding level of $456.3 million for the National Archives and Records Administration’s Operating Expenses (OE) budget in fiscal year (FY) 2025, which is an increase of $29.1 million from the FY 24 level of $ 427.2 million.
  • NCH opposes the Administration’s proposed base funding level of $5 million in FY 25 for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission grants program. This would cut the NHPRC’s budget in half, a reduction of $5 million from the FY 24 base level of $10 million. We urge the subcommittee, at a minimum, to return the NHPRC to its FY 2023 funding level of $12 million.
The House Appropriations Committee recently marked up its FY 25 FSGG appropriations bill. It provides level funding for NARA’s FY 25 OE budget at $427.2 million. That would represent the third consecutive fiscal year at that level of appropriations. Given inflation, that reflects a cut in NARA's OE budget over that time. The bill includes the fifty percent ($5 million) cut from the NHPRC budget in FY 24, for a total of $5 million in FY 25.

The testimony is attached as both a Word and .pdf document. You can also link to it by clicking here. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. 

All the best,
Lee
--
Lee White
Executive Director
National Coalition for History

CFA- “Writing the History of U.S. Foreign Relations in an Age of Crisis”

Call for Applications:
“Writing the History of U.S. Foreign Relations in an Age of Crisis”

2025 SHAFR Summer Institute, June 21-25, 2025, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

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SHAFR Recognizes Outstanding Scholarship and Service at the 2024 Annual Meeting

Congratulations to the SHAFR 2024 Prize and Award winners!

SHAFR-Gale Digital Fellowship information session

SHAFR-Gale Digital Fellowship information session

Zoom information session with Gale about the SHAFR-Gale Digital Scholar Fellowships
Wednesday, May 15th at 10AM (US Eastern)

For an invitation to the Zoom session--or to get the recording after Wednesday--simply email James Stocker at [email protected]

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