Advocacy

Latest update: AASLH President & CEO John Dichtl submitted a declaration for a lawsuit in defense of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The history field is facing multiple challenges, including increased government censorship, cancelled grants and services from federal agencies, and efforts by the White House to promote a triumphalist vision of the U.S. 250th anniversary. This page highlights the latest developments, what AASLH is doing, what you can do, and key resources for supporting the history community.

Immediate actions
AASLH is encouraging members of the field to:

Recent major developments

AASLH’s efforts to champion the history field are made possible by the generous support of the history community. Become a member of AASLH or donate today.

AASLH is pursuing multiple strategies to respond to current challenges and build a stronger, more sustainable history community.

Collecting real-world stories of impact
AASLH is gathering experiences from history organizations nationwide to better understand—and draw attention to—the real-world impact of recent state and federal actions. Share your story and read examples.

Considering legal options
We are exploring legal avenues in support of the federal agencies that help power the history community. These options include joining an existing lawsuit as a co-plaintiff, filing a separate suit, and/or filing an amicus brief with a court entertaining one of the existing suits. Most recently, AASLH President & CEO John Dichtl submitted a declaration in a lawsuit defending IMLS.

Offering training and community-building opportunities
AASLH is designing programs and resources to help practitioners deepen their advocacy capacities. Resources include:

Encouraging Congress to fund IMLS for the 250th
AASLH is working with bipartisan lawmakers in Congress to circulate a Dear Colleague letter asking for funding for IMLS and the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which could offer avenues for investing in state and local history organizations. Please consider sending this draft to your Congressional representative. Learn more here.

Speaking out about history—effectively
Grounded in the findings of extensive research showing most Americans’ support for complete and accurate tellings of history, AASLH has been shining a light on the field via various communications platforms. AASLH was recently quoted in articles on museum exhibitions planned for the 250th and White House efforts to control the anniversary’s narrative.

You can also read recent advocacy-related pieces on the AASLH blog. Recently, we featured a post by an AASLH member about the value of IMLS and NEH.

AASLH’s efforts to champion the history field are made possible by the generous support of the history community. Become a member of AASLH or donate today.

Share your impact story with AASLH
Specific, local stories are the most effective way to advocate for the history community. Share your story to help AASLH demonstrate the effect on the field of recent government actions. See sample stories here.

Appeal your grant cancellation
If your federal grant has been cancelled, there are steps you can take to advocate for your organization and lay the groundwork for possible remedy in the future. These include:

Contact your elected officials
Tell your elected representatives and other stakeholders how your organization is being affected by government actions. Be as specific as possible.

Reach out to local media.
Local news stories can be a powerful way to demonstrate the importance of the history field and federal cultural agencies. If you live in a community with a reputable local news outlet, contact them to gauge their interest in your organization’s story.

Make the case with research
Research shows that the vast majority of people in America value history institutions such as museums. We also know that the majority of the public embrace complete and honest American history and want to see these stories told at museums, history organizations, and historic sites.

AASLH’s efforts to champion the history field are made possible by the generous support of the history community. Become a member of AASLH or donate today.

Combatting censorship

Research on the history field and history in American life

Effective history communication

Defending federal agencies

Other resources

AASLH’s efforts to champion the history field are made possible by the generous support of the history community. Become a member of AASLH or donate today.