Society of American Historians.

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BIOGHIST REQUIRED The Society of American Historians (SAH) was founded in 1939 by Allan Nevins (1890-1971) and several other historians for the purpose of promoting literary distinction in the writing of history and biography.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Until the mid-1950s, the principal aim of the SAH was in launching a history magazine that could appeal to a wide audience beyond the academic community. Nevins, a history professor at Columbia University and a two-time Pulitzer winner, initially proposed the idea of publishing a popular magazine of history to the American Historial Association (AHA). The AHA declined this proposal, however, which induced Nevins to establish the SAH in 1939 to undertake the publishing project. It took the SAH fifteen years to realize the idea, and over the years tentative titles for the publication included History, Horizons, Living History, and Milestones. In 1954, in cooperation with the American Association for State and Local History, the magazine finally came into being as the American Heritage.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED For a brief period from 1952 to 1953, the SAH also ran the History Agency, an organization with the goal of providing the media with the services of professional historians. Although the History Agency was short-lived, one of its products was a collection of scripts for the 1953 radio series Omnibus, which was aired by the National Broadcasting Company.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Since the mid-1950s, the SAH's main focus has been in awarding prizes to promote historical writing with an American theme. In 1957, in order to stimulate the writing of history as literature, the SAH established the annual Francis Parkman Prize to honor the best nonfiction book of the year. The first Parkman Prize was awarded to George F. Kennan, Russia Leaves the War (Princeton University Press). Since 1960, the SAH has also awarded the Allan Nevins Prize, annually, for the best-written doctoral dissertation in history. Most of the winning dissertations have subsequently been published.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Presidents of the SAH have included Douglas Southall Freeman (1939-1944), James P. Baxter III (1944-1946), Allan Nevins (1946-1961), Eric F. Goldman (1961-1969), John A. Garraty (1969-1971) and Barbara Tuchman (1971-1975). After several revisions to its policy, the SAH limited its membership, in the the late 1960s, to invitation only.

From the guide to the Society of American Historians Records, 1879-1976, [Bulk Dates: 1939-1976]., (Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Paul A. Freund papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Oswald Garrison Villard papers Houghton Library
referencedIn James Parton papers, 1914-1986. Houghton Library
referencedIn "The American Story" Papers, 1954. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Papers of Gerda Lerner, 1924-2006 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Arlin Turner Papers, 1927-1980 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf WNYC (Radio station : New York, N.Y.). Collection of broadcast recordings [sound recording], 1938-1970. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Eric Frederick Goldman Papers, 1886-1988, (bulk 1940-1970) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Society of American Historians Records, 1879-1976, [Bulk Dates: 1939-1976]. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Heritage Publishing Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Baxter, James Phinney person
associatedWith Broadcast Music, inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Canby, Courtlandt. person
associatedWith Columbia University corporateBody
associatedWith Freeman, Douglas Southall person
associatedWith Garraty, John A. (John Arthur) person
associatedWith GERDA LERNER, 1920- person
associatedWith Goldman, Eric Frederick, 1915-1989 person
associatedWith National Broadcasting Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Nevins, Allan, 1890-1971 person
associatedWith Parkman, Francis person
correspondedWith Parton, James, 1912- person
associatedWith Paul A. Freund person
associatedWith Rockefeller Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Tuchman, Barbara Wertheim. person
associatedWith Turner, Arlin person
correspondedWith Villard, Oswald Garrison, 1872-1949 person
associatedWith WNYC (Radio station : New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Geographic
Subject
Historians
Historians
Occupation
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1938

Active 1970

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