Society of American Historians

The Society of American Historians, founded in 1939, encourages and honors literary distinction in the writing of history and biography about American topics. The approximately 300 members include professional historians, independent scholars, journalists, film and documentary makers, novelists, poets, and biographers, all of whom were selected for membership based on the literary excellence as well as the intellectual strength of their writing or presentation of American history.

The Society sponsors four awards, which are announced at its annual dinner in May:

The Society was founded by Allan Nevins and a few colleagues who were critical of what Nevins in a 1939 Saturday Review article called the "pedantic school" of history--academics who, he said, seemed to take pride in writing badly. Nevins, who taught history for over 35 years at Columbia University, was the author of more than 50 books, including an eight-volume history of the American Civil War and biographies of John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford, and Grover Cleveland (which won the 1933 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography). A journalist for fifteen years before coming to Columbia (he never earned a Ph.D.), Nevins was the master of a robust and readable style, and continued throughout his life to write for radio and the popular press.

In 1954, in an effort to bring good historical writing to a wide audience, the Society collaborated in establishing the magazine American Heritage as a popular illustrated bimonthly. The Society has co-published several books authored by members, including Profiles in Leadership: Historians on the Elusive Quality of Greatness, edited by Walter Isaacson (W. W. Norton, 2010); Days of Destiny: Crossroads in American History, edited by James M. McPherson and Alan Brinkley (Dorling Kindersley, 2001); and "To the Best of My Ability": The American Presidents, edited by James M. McPherson (Dorling Kindersley, 2000).

The Society's officers for 2016/17 are Tony Horwitz, president, and Mary Kelley, vice president. Its administrative office is located at Columbia University; it is supported largely by annual dues from individual and publisher members. It is an affiliate of the American Historical Association.

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