The Mormon History Association (MHA) is an independent,
non-profit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
dedicated to the study and understanding of all aspects of
Mormon
Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...
history to promote understanding, scholarly research, and publication in the field. MHA was founded in December 1965 at the
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association (AHA) is the oldest professional association of historians in the United States and the largest such organization in the world. Founded in 1884, the AHA works to protect academic freedom, develop professional s ...
(AHA) meeting in
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
under the leadership of
Latter-day Saint
Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...
and
historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the stu ...
Leonard J. Arrington
Leonard James Arrington (July 2, 1917 – February 11, 1999) was an American author, academic and the founder of the Mormon History Association. He is known as the "Dean of Mormon History" and "the Father of Mormon History" because of his man ...
. In 1972, MHA became an independent organization with its own annual conferences and publications. ''The Journal of Mormon History'', the official biennial publication of the association, began publication in 1974. MHA also publishes the quarterly ''Mormon History Newsletter'' and is an affiliate of both AHA and the
Western History Association
The Western History Association (WHA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1961 at Santa Fe, New Mexico by Ray Allen Billington et al. Included in the field of study are the American West and western Canada. The Western Histor ...
.
MHA "welcome
all who are interested in the Mormon past, irrespective of religious affiliation, academic training, or world location." It is not affiliated with the LDS Church and was founded by people who support no religious beliefs. Its members are composed of people both within and without
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...
(LDS Church) and the
Community of Christ, including those who reject
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religious tradition and theology of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity started by Joseph Smith in Western New York in the 1820s and 1830s. As a label, Mormonism has been applied to various aspects of t ...
.
Presidents
MHA presidents are recognized contributors to the field of Mormon history and serve for one year.
''Journal of Mormon History''
Since 1974, MHA has produced the ''Journal of Mormon History'', an
academic journal
An academic journal or scholarly journal is a periodical publication in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as permanent and transparent forums for the presentation, scrutiny, and d ...
in the field of
Mormon studies. From the founding of MHA until 1974, ''
Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'' was a principal venue for articles on Mormon History written by MHA members.
A DVD archive of past issues of the journal is available at MHA's web site.
List of editors
Mormon History Association Awards
Among the awards presented by the association are: the
Leonard J. Arrington
Leonard James Arrington (July 2, 1917 – February 11, 1999) was an American author, academic and the founder of the Mormon History Association. He is known as the "Dean of Mormon History" and "the Father of Mormon History" because of his man ...
Award "for distinguished and meritorious service to Mormon history" – named for the MHA's founder, and father of
New Mormon history; Best Book Award; Best First Book; Best Documentary or Bibliography; Best Biography; an award for an outstanding International Mormon history; an award for an outstanding history of a Mormon family (or grouping of families in one community).
References
External links
Official website (new)DigitalCommons.USU.edu/MormonHistoryOfficial website (old)Awards given by the MHADigitized archive of the ''Journal of Mormon History''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mormon History Association
1965 establishments in California
*Mormon History Association
Historical societies in Utah
History organizations based in the United States
Latter Day Saint organizations
Mormon studies
Organizations based in Utah
Organizations established in 1965
Non-profit organizations based in Utah