Today, the AASLH Public History Research Lab is launching a major new research initiative: the National Survey of History Practitioners.
This national survey aims to answer important questions: Who works in the history field today? How are they compensated? And how do they feel about their work?
Our field currently has little reliable data about the history workforce. That lack of information limits our ability to make informed decisions and advocate for needed change. Your participation in this survey will help AASLH and the wider field gain a clearer, more complete picture of the people who power the history sector—fueling efforts to build stronger, more sustainable institutions.
We can’t do this without you.
If you are a staff member, contractor, or volunteer at a U.S. history organization—such as a history museum, historic site, preservation organization, or related institution—please take just 10 minutes to complete the survey. Your responses will be completely anonymous.
In a time of rapid change and persistent challenges, it’s more important than ever to understand who works at history organizations and how they view the field.
Over the next year, AASLH will analyze the survey data and share actionable findings through reports, infographics, and programs designed to guide practitioners, funders, decision makers, and others shaping the future of our work. These insights will strengthen advocacy, guide institutional planning, and support history work at the local, state, and national level.
The survey will close on Friday, June 6.
Please take the survey, share it widely, and encourage your colleagues across the field to participate. The more responses we gather, the more informed and empowered our workforce will become.
Filling out this survey will help strengthen the history field for everyone.
This project is made possible in part by the support of the following institutions:
- Kentucky Historical Society
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
- Virginia Museum of History and Culture
- Wisconsin Historical Society
AASLH would also like to thank Montana Historical Society, Rhode Island Historical Society, Utah Historical Society, and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for their support.
