Organization of American Historians Provides Critical Resource for Members of the Media

Bloomington, Indiana, April 30, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Journalists seeking fresh, fast, and thoughtful insight from the nation’s foremost historians can now consult a database of experts assembled by the Organization of American Historians (OAH).

It is available here: www.americanhistoryexperts.org.

More than 750 historians are ready to comment on current events and can provide either a quick quote on deadline or schedule a longer conversation to place complicated issues in historical context. The database is available to all members of the media—local, national, and international; broadcast, print, and online—and the OAH curates it regularly as topics develop and new, diverse historians emerge ready to add their voices to the conversation.

Journalists will find areas of expertise listed for each historian and examples of their previous work with the media. They can search by categories that cover all subjects and eras of U.S. history including politics, civil rights, women, race relations, immigration, religion, business and capitalism, environmental protection, monuments and memorials, agriculture and food, presidents, constitutional law, and sports. A keyword search further enables members of the media to find the most relevant historian to assist them.

“As both an organization and as individual members, the OAH strongly encourages the wide discussion of historical questions,” said OAH executive director Katherine Finley. “A free and open press is crucial to these discussions in our society today.”

This free database was made possible by the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. It has been recognized with the 2018 Indiana Society of Association Executives STAR Award for Impactful Technology.

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ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN HISTORIANS
Founded in 1907, the Organization of American Historians is the world's largest professional association dedicated to American history scholarship. With nearly 7,000 members from the United States and abroad, the OAH promotes excellence in the scholarship, teaching, and presentation of American history, encourages wide discussion of historical questions, and promotes the equitable treatment of all history practitioners. Formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association (MVHA), the association became the OAH in 1965 to reflect the growing trend among members to focus more broadly on American history.