American Association for State and Local History

The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) is a United States nonprofit membership association serving the organizations and people responsible for collecting, preserving, interpreting, and presenting state and local history. Its constituency includes history museums, historic sites and houses, historical societies, archives, government history agencies, academic programs, volunteers, and other public history professionals. Although its principal base and membership are in the United States, its original charter also included work in Canada and its programs address the broader North American history field. AASLH developed from the Conference of State and Local Historical Societies, which the American Historical Association established in 1904 to connect leaders of state and local historical agencies. During the late 1930s, members led by Christopher C. Crittenden, then director of the North Carolina Department of Archives and History, advocated creating a more independent organization. The conference dissolved on December 27, 1940, and the American Association for State and Local History was formed. Its original purpose was to promote activity and cooperation in state, provincial, and local history in the United States and Canada. The association combines professional development, publications, standards work, awards, conferences, advocacy, and practical support for history organizations. Its publications include the quarterly magazine History News, the Technical Leaflets instructional series, and books addressing museum management, collections terminology, interpretation, and small-organization practice. These resources are intended to translate professional standards into usable guidance for institutions with differing levels of staffing, funding, and volunteer involvement. AASLH's Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations, known as STEPS, is one of its signature services. Introduced in development during the 2000s and formally launched in 2010, STEPS provides a structured self-study framework for small and midsized museums, historic sites, historic houses, and volunteer-led organizations. Participants review areas of governance, operations, collections, interpretation, finance, and planning through a workbook and can earn certificates for completing sections. The program is designed as an improvement and planning process rather than a conventional accreditation or certification scheme with a fixed completion deadline. More than 1,100 organizations had participated by 2021. AASLH also supports the field through advocacy and strategic partnerships. Its American Indian Museums Program, begun in 1998, was created to support professional development and advocacy for tribal museums. In 2004, the association helped lead advocacy for a federal program within the Institute of Museum and Library Services' Office of Museum Studies that would provide grants to states for statewide museum support and allow states to distribute funds according to local needs. The association's Leadership in History Awards, established in 1945, recognize individuals, publications, projects, and programs that demonstrate strong work in collecting, preserving, interpreting, and making state and local history meaningful. Award categories have included the Award of Excellence, Award of Distinction, Albert B. Corey Award, History in Progress Award, and publication awards. AASLH has also maintained an annual meeting since 1941; its contemporary events include an in-person annual conference and an online virtual conference. Since 1964, the organization has been headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The association reports approximately 3,200 institutional members, 1,300 individual members, 34 academic program members, and 11 full-time staff members in the period described by its reference material.

The association's institutional predecessor was created in 1904, when the American Historical Association established the Conference of State and Local Historical Societies. The conference provided a forum for leaders of state and local historical agencies at a time when professional networks for this work were still developing. Its activities connected organizations concerned with historical documentation, preservation, education, and public interpretation. By 1939, members of the conference were discussing whether a separate organization could coordinate the field more effectively and encourage the writing and teaching of state and local history. The initiative was chaired by Christopher C. Crittenden, director of the North Carolina Department of Archives and History. On December 27, 1940, the Conference of State and Local Historical Societies dissolved, and the American Association for State and Local History was established in its place. The new association's charter described its purpose as promoting effort and activity in state, provincial, and local history in the United States and Canada. AASLH began publishing books in 1940 and held its first annual meeting in 1941. In 1945, it created the Leadership in History Awards, establishing a continuing mechanism for recognizing notable work by individuals and organizations. Over subsequent decades, the association expanded from convening and publishing into professional education, institutional standards, advocacy, and organizational development. The Technical Leaflets series began in 1968. Distributed with History News, the leaflets provided concise practical guidance on issues encountered by museums, historical societies, historic sites, and related organizations. AASLH later adopted a statement of professional standards and ethics in 2002, reflecting the field's increasing attention to institutional accountability, stewardship, interpretation, and professional conduct. The association broadened its advocacy and inclusion work through the American Indian Museums Program, established in 1998 to provide professional development and support advocacy for tribal museums. In 2004, AASLH helped spearhead advocacy for a new federal program within the Institute of Museum and Library Services' Office of Museum Studies. The proposed structure would give states resources to support museums statewide and enable state-level regranting based on local priorities. AASLH began developing the Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations, or STEPS, in 2005. The program was designed for small and midsized history organizations, including institutions operated partly or entirely by volunteers. It was launched in 2010 as a self-directed framework for evaluating policies and practices, strengthening daily operations, and planning future improvements. Unlike a conventional accreditation program, STEPS does not require participants to complete the process on a fixed schedule. Organizations work through a workbook and may receive certificates after completing individual sections. By 2021, more than 1,100 organizations had taken part. The association continued adapting its communications and events to changing technology. In 2009, Dispatch became an all-digital publication, and AASLH developed an online virtual conference alongside its established in-person annual conference. Its present work combines membership services, publications, professional development, standards resources, advocacy, awards, and national networking. Since 1964, its headquarters have been in Nashville, Tennessee. The organization currently serves thousands of institutional and individual members and maintains a professional staff supporting the state and local history field.

• 2010

  STEPS launches

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  AASLH formally launched STEPS as a self-study and organizational improvement program for history organizations.

• 2009

  Dispatch becomes digital

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  The association converted Dispatch into an all-digital publication.

• 2005

  STEPS development begins

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  AASLH began developing the Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations.

• 2002

  Professional standards and ethics statement adopted

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  The association adopted a statement addressing professional standards and ethical practice.

• 1998

  American Indian Museums Program begins

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  AASLH launched a program focused on advocacy and professional development for tribal museums.

• 1968

  Technical Leaflets introduced

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  AASLH began publishing Technical Leaflets as recurring instructional resources distributed with History News.

• 1964

  Headquarters established in Nashville

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  The association has been headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1964.

• 1945

  Leadership in History Awards established

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  AASLH created awards recognizing individuals, publications, programs, and projects contributing to state and local history.

• 1941

  Annual meetings begin

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  The association began holding an annual meeting for its members and professional community.

• 1940

  AASLH founded

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor conference dissolved on December 27, 1940, and the American Association for State and Local History was formed to promote state, provincial, and local history in the United States and Canada.

• 1940

  Book publishing begins

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  AASLH began publishing books serving the state and local history field.

• 1904

  Predecessor conference established

  [1]American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org

  The American Historical Association created the Conference of State and Local Historical Societies to serve leaders of state and local historical agencies.

A field-serving professional association focused on practical standards, training, advocacy, publications, and peer exchange for state and local history organizations.

• Organizational assessment and professional development · 2010

  STEPS: Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations

  STEPS is a self-study framework for small and midsized museums, historic sites, historic houses, and volunteer-led history organizations. Participants use a workbook to review institutional policies and practices, improve operations, and plan for the future. The program covers core aspects of organizational work and allows participants to receive certificates for completed sections. It is intended as a flexible improvement process rather than a time-limited accreditation system.

• Magazine

  History News

  History News is AASLH's quarterly magazine for the state and local history field. It provides professional discussion, practical guidance, and coverage relevant to museums, historical societies, historic sites, public historians, and volunteers. The publication is part of the association's continuing effort to share methods and ideas across organizations with different missions and levels of resources.

• Instructional publications · 1968

  Technical Leaflets

  Technical Leaflets are recurring instructional articles and resources addressing practical issues in history organization work. Published quarterly and distributed with History News, they are designed to turn professional knowledge into concise guidance for museums, historical societies, archives, historic sites, and related institutions.

• Awards program · 1945

  Leadership in History Awards

  Established in 1945, the Leadership in History Awards recognize individuals, publications, projects, and programs that demonstrate effective collecting, preservation, interpretation, and presentation of state and local history. Categories have included the Award of Excellence, Award of Distinction, Albert B. Corey Award, History in Progress Award, and publication awards.

• Advocacy and professional development · 1998

  American Indian Museums Program

  The American Indian Museums Program was created to advocate for tribal museums and provide professional development relevant to their work. It represents AASLH's broader role in supporting diverse institutions within the history and cultural heritage field.

• Conferences and events · 1941

  AASLH conferences

  AASLH organizes an annual in-person conference and an online virtual conference for professionals, volunteers, organizations, and academic participants in state and local history. The events provide education, networking, and exchange of practical approaches to public history and institutional management.

• 2004Statewide museum support advocacy

  United States

  AASLH helped lead advocacy for a federal program within the Institute of Museum and Library Services' Office of Museum Studies to fund statewide museum support. The proposed approach would provide grants to states, which could then regrant funds to museums according to state and local needs.

  Source

• 2010

  Launch STEPSStrategy

  Background

  Small and midsized history organizations, including volunteer-led institutions, needed a flexible way to assess practices and plan improvements without entering a conventional accreditation process.

  Action taken

  AASLH launched the Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations as a workbook-based, self-directed improvement program.

  Aftermath

  The program became a major AASLH service and had attracted more than 1,100 participating organizations by 2021.

  Source

• 2009

  Move Dispatch to an all-digital formatStrategy

  Background

  AASLH was adapting its communications to digital distribution and changing member information needs.

  Action taken

  Dispatch became an all-digital publication.

  Aftermath

  The change extended AASLH's digital communications alongside its established print and online resources.

  Source

• 1940

  Separate from the predecessor conference and form AASLHStrategy

  Background

  Members sought a more independent organization capable of coordinating historical societies and encouraging the writing and teaching of state and local history.

  Action taken

  The Conference of State and Local Historical Societies dissolved on December 27, 1940, and AASLH was established with a North American state, provincial, and local history mission.

  Aftermath

  The new association became a continuing professional and service organization for the state and local history field.

  Source

1. 1American Association for State and Local Historyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2American Association for State and Local History official websiteaaslh.org