The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is an organization dedicated to the study and appreciation of

African-American History African-American history began with the arrival of Africans to North America in the 16th and 17th centuries. Former Spanish slaves who had been freed by Francis Drake arrived aboard the Golden Hind at New Albion in California in 1579. The ...

. It is a non-profit organization founded in Chicago, Illinois, on September 9, 1915, during the

National Half Century Exposition and Lincoln Jubilee The National Half Century Exposition and Lincoln Jubilee, also known as the National Half Century Anniversary Exposition and The Lincoln Jubilee : 50th Anniversary Celebration, was held in Chicago from August 22 to September 16, 1915, and celebrat ...

, and incorporated in Washington, D.C., on October 2, 1915, as the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) by

Carter G. Woodson Carter Godwin Woodson (December 19, 1875April 3, 1950) was an American historian, author, journalist, and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). He was one of the first scholars to study the h ...

, William B. Hartgrove,

George Cleveland Hall George Cleveland Hall (22 February 1864, Ypsilanti, – 17 June 1930, Chicago) was an American physician who became a prominent humanitarian activist. He headed the Urban League in Chicago of which he went on to become vice-president. In 1915 he w ...

, Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps. The association is based in Washington, D.C. In 1973, ASNLH was renamed the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History. ASALH's official mission is "to promote, research, preserve, interpret, and disseminate information about Black life, history, and culture to the global community." Its official vision is "to be the premier Black Heritage and learned society with a diverse and inclusive membership supported by a strong network of national and international branches to continue the Woodson legacy."American Historical Association
/ref> ASALH created Negro History Week in 1926. Woodson selected the week to coincide with the birthdays of

Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, February 1817 or 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became ...

and

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

. Each year, he established a national theme for the celebration. Since 1976, ASALH extended the celebration for all of February. The organization publishes ''The

Journal of African American History ''The Journal of African American History'', formerly ''The Journal of Negro History'' (1916–2001), is a quarterly academic journal covering African-American life and history. It was founded in 1916 by Carter G. Woodson. The journal is owned and ...

'' (formerly ''The Journal of Negro History'') and the ''Black History Bulletin'' (formerly the ''Negro History Bulletin''). In 2005, ASALH established the ASALH Press, reissuing Carter G. Woodson's ''

Mis-Education of the Negro ''The Mis-Education of the Negro'' is a book originally published in 1933 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Content The thesis of Woodson's book is that Black people of his day were being culturally indoctrinated, rather than taught, in American schools ...

.'' The same year ASALH established ''The Woodson Review,'' a magazine that promotes its Annual Black History Theme, including it as part of its Black History Kit. In 2005, ASALH discovered a previously unpublished manuscript by its founder, Carter G. Woodson, and published it in a special edition as ''Carter G. Woodson's Appeal: The Lost Manuscript Edition.'' ASALH is a membership organization with more than 25 branches.

ASALH Conventions

Annually the organization strives to continue its research focus as well as efforts to share and disseminate historical information—for which the organization was founded. One of the major ways the organization focuses it resources in this area is with the ASALH annual convention that takes place in the fall (usually September or October.) ASALH hosted its first convention in 1917, two years after the organization was founded. At that time the convention was biennial. During the first convention, Woodson stated the goals of the organization as he saw them: "The organization primary responsibilities would be the publishing of an historical magazine, researching the achievements of Negros, directing a home study program along with writing and publishing books and monographs. Charles Harris Wesley, one of the organization's early developers, was not pleased with the first convention because more race solvers and educators attended than historians, which is in opposition to ASALH’s vision as an historical research society." Each year, the location of the convention rotates to a major US city and coincides with the annual black history theme. The 2008 convention took place in Birmingham, AL, the 2009 convention took place in Cincinnati, OH, the 2010 convention was held in Raleigh, NC, the 2011 conference was held in Richmond, VA, and the 2012 convention from September 26 to September 30 in Pittsburgh, PA. According to the Association, the annual convention draws over 1,000 participants. At the convention, ASALH organizes plenary sessions and workshops, facilitates scholarly presentations selected from the "Call for Papers", sponsors a black history tour of famous landmarks in the city, and hosts a youth day for high school students in the area.

Derived organizations

Numerous organizations have risen out of the ASALH conventions. One such example is the Association of Black Women Historians (ABWH), founded at the 1977 ASALH convention in Washington, D.C. The ABWH was founded by three women participants:

Rosalyn Terborg-Penn Rosalyn Terborg-Penn (October 22, 1941 – December 25, 2018) was an American professor of history and author. Terborg-Penn specialized in African-American history and black women's history. Her book ''African American Women in the Struggle for th ...

, Eleanor Smith, and Elizabeth Parker.Mjagkij (2007), ''Organizing Black America'', p. 70. The National Council of Black Studies was also conceptualized at an ASALH convention.

References

External links

Official website

For information on the recently published Woodson manuscript.

Teachinghistory.org review of ASAALH web resource ''Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Digital Archive''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Association For The Study Of African American Life And History 1915 establishments in Illinois African-American history Black studies organizations Ethnic studies organizations Organizations established in 1915

ASALH Conventions

Derived organizations

See also

References

External links