The Organization of American Historians appointed 78 new speakers—including University of Iowa History Professors Leslie Schwalm and Landon Storrs—to its prestigious Distinguished Lectureship Program earlier this month.
These scholars, who are affiliated with some of the nation’s top universities, join more than 400 other OAH Distinguished Lecturers who speak to audiences across the country each year and are widely sought for appearances at museums, libraries, universities, community centers, churches and synagogues, and other venues.
OAH Distinguished Lecturers promote understanding and appreciation of all facets of U.S. history from the 1600s through the present, which is an essential component of the organization’s mission.
Schwalm is a historian of U.S. and comparative slavery, emancipation, Civil War, and Reconstruction. Storrs specializes in twentieth-century U.S. social and political history, particularly in the history of women, social movements, and public policy.
According to Katherine M. Finley, the OAH's executive director, the speaking fees earned by the speakers are an important part of the organization's non-dues revenue stream. “We thank these historians for their service to the organization and for helping advance our mission,” she said. “And we congratulate them on achieving this high honor.”
For a complete list of participating speakers and topics, information about costs and scheduling, reviews, and upcoming lectures, visit oah.org/lectures, call 812.855.7311, or e-mail lectures@oah.org.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN HISTORIANS: Founded in 1907, the Organization of American Historians (OAH) is the world's largest professional association dedicated to American history scholarship. With more than 7,800 members from the U.S. and abroad, OAH promotes excellence in the scholarship, teaching, and presentation of American history, encouraging wide discussion of historical questions and equitable treatment of history practitioners. It publishes the quarterly Journal of American History, the leading scholarly publication and journal of record in the field of American history for more than nine decades. It also publishes The American Historian magazine. Formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association (MVHA), the association became the OAH in 1965 to reflect a broader scope focusing on national studies of American history. The OAH national headquarters are located in the historic Raintree House on Indiana University's Bloomington campus. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.