The British Association for Local History (BALH) is a membership organisation that exists to promote the advancement of public education through the study of
local history
Local history is the study of history in a geographically local context, often concentrating on a relatively small local community. It incorporates cultural and social aspects of history. Local history is not merely national history writ small ...
and to encourage and assist the study of local history throughout
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It ...
as an academic discipline and as a leisure activity.
British Association for Local History
accessed 8 May 2012
Foundation
BALH was founded and registered as a charity in England and Wales on 30 September 1982National Council for Voluntary Organisations
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is the umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in England. It is a registered charity (no 225922). NCVO works to support the voluntary and community sector and to create an ...
) to bring together the work of previously separate organisations in the field.[British Association for Local History]
History Today, accessed 8 May 2012 It aims to be the national umbrella organisation for the subject and many local history societies and groups are members of BALH, though others remain outside.
Activities
BALH's activities include the publication of the quarterly journal ''The Local Historian'' (first published in 1952), a quarterly magazine ''Local History News'', a quarterly e-newsletter, as well as a number of books and pamphlets on the topic.[About BALH]
accessed 6 September 2016 It also organises an annual lecture, national and regional conferences and guided visits to libraries, museumsThe National Archives
National archives are central archives maintained by countries. This article contains a list of national archives.
Among its more important tasks are to ensure the accessibility and preservation of the information produced by governments, both ...
and the College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Sover ...
.National Curriculum Council
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) was a charity, and an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) of the Department for Education. In England and Northern Ireland, the QCDA maintained and developed the National C ...
to increase the teaching of local history in schools, as well as in preparing courses and publications for teachers.
Officers
The Association's president is Professor Caroline Barron
Caroline Mary Barron (''née'' Hogarth; born 1940) is a British retired medieval historian. She is professor emerita in the department of history at Royal Holloway, University of London. Barron's research relates to "late medieval British histor ...
of Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL), formally incorporated as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is a public research university and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It has six schools, 21 academic depa ...
. The announcement of her appointment was made at the Association's Local History Day in June 2016.[New President Announced , BALH News]
accessed 6 June 2016 She succeeded David Hey as President, who died in February 2016.
See also
*Alan Ball Local History Awards
The Alan Ball Local History Awards in the United Kingdom exist to recognise outstanding contributions in local history publishing (both in print and in new media), and to encourage the publishing of such works by public libraries and local authori ...
* Geographical Association
References
External links
British Association for Local History website
{{DEFAULTSORT:British Association For Local History
History organisations based in the United Kingdom
Non-profit organisations based in the United Kingdom
Organizations established in 1982
1982 establishments in the United Kingdom
British local history