The New England
Historical Association
The New England Historical Association (NEHA) is a
regional branch of the American Historical Association and includes some 800
scholars working in all branches of history. Formed in 1965, its purpose
is to promote scholarly interchange and to enhance teaching and scholarship in
history. While most of its members are college and university faculty, its
active participants also include independent scholars, preservationists and
museum-based scholars, historical society administrators, and secondary school
faculty.
BI-Annual
Conferences
The
main activities which NEHA members share are the Spring and Autumn meeting.
Normally these are one-day (Saturday) meetings, with scholarly papers and
comments presented at six or more morning sessions and either afternoon se
ssions or a plenary session. Occasionally a one-and-a-half day conference is
held. Younger scholars, independent scholars, and graduate students often
participate in panels. In addition to a formal session, members have ample time
to converse informally d uring coffee breaks and during the luncheon gathering.
There is also a book exhibit.
Scholarly
sessions last either 90 or 120 minutes and follow the general format of AHA
sessions, with papers and comments followed by discussions among panelist and
the audience. Sometimes other formats are used, such as panel discussions,
worksho ps, or a single longer paper with comments.
Advantages
of NEHA
While
its meetings are similar in quality to those of national associations like the
AHA and OAH, NEHA offers several distinct advantages. First, it is accessible.
Junior scholars, independent scholars and doctoral candidates ca n often
participate in panels and are invited to plan sessions and submit them to the
program chair. Established scholars who are presenting an early version of a
forthcoming publication also have access to the program. The fact that NEHA
meetings are usu ally within easy driving distance and only require the
commitment of a Saturday makes them more accessible than national meetings.
Second,
NEHA operates on a human scale. Meetings normally include about 100 people, and
it is easy to meet and converse with others who share interests. Considerations
of rank and status are subordinated to scholarly and collegial concerns.
Thirdly,
NEHA offers a wide variety of sessions on topics in all historical
specializations in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, Latin America and
Twice
each year, in the Spring and Fall, NEHA mail its newsletter, which includes the
program, to members and subscribers. NEHA NEWS
publishes reports of the association's business in addition to professional
news, notes on the activities of members, and a calendar of future scholarly
conferences for various associations of interest to historians.
NEHA
Prizes
NEHA awards
three prizes. The NEHA book Award is given annually to a
Membership
Everyone
interested in the scholarly pursuit of history as an academic, public, or
avocational historian is welcome to join NEHA. Annual dues are $15 ($7.50 for graduate
students, retirees, or adjunct or retired faculty). To join us, print out the membership form and return via
