Association for the Study of African American Life and History facts for kids

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is a group dedicated to learning about and celebrating African-American History. It was started in Chicago on September 9, 1915. Its first name was the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH).

The founders included Carter G. Woodson, William B. Hartgrove, George Cleveland Hall, Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps. The group officially became a non-profit in Washington, D.C., on October 2, 1915. In 1973, its name changed to the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History.

ASALH's main goal is to "promote, research, preserve, interpret, and share information about Black life, history, and culture." They want to be the top group for Black Heritage and history. They also aim to have many members and branches around the world.

ASALH created Negro History Week in 1926. Carter G. Woodson chose this week to include the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Since 1976, this celebration has grown into all of February, known as Black History Month. Each year, ASALH sets a special theme for the celebration.

The organization publishes The Journal of African American History. This journal used to be called The Journal of Negro History. They also publish the Black History Bulletin. In 2005, ASALH started its own publishing company, ASALH Press. They reissued Carter G. Woodson's book, Mis-Education of the Negro. That same year, they launched The Woodson Review, a magazine that shares the annual Black History Theme. It is part of their Black History Kit. In 2005, ASALH found a hidden manuscript by Carter G. Woodson. They published it as Carter G. Woodson's Appeal: The Lost Manuscript Edition.

ASALH is a membership organization. It has more than 25 local branches across the country.

ASALH Annual Conventions

Every year, ASALH holds a big meeting called a convention. This event helps them continue their research and share historical information. This is a main way the organization works to achieve its goals. The convention usually takes place in the fall, either in September or October.

ASALH held its first convention in 1917. This was two years after the group was founded. Back then, the convention happened every two years. At the first convention, Woodson explained the group's goals. He said they would publish a history magazine. They would also research the achievements of Black people. They planned to direct a home study program. Plus, they would write and publish books.

The location of the convention changes each year. It moves to a different major U.S. city. The convention often connects with the annual Black History Theme. For example, the 2008 convention was in Birmingham, Alabama. The 2009 convention was in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2010, it was held in Raleigh, North Carolina. The 2011 conference took place in Richmond, Virginia. The 2012 convention was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. More than 1,000 people usually attend the annual convention.

At the convention, ASALH organizes many activities. They have main sessions and workshops. Scholars give presentations based on their research. They also offer a Black history tour of important places in the host city. There is even a youth day for high school students in the area.

New Organizations Started at ASALH Conventions

Sometimes, new organizations are formed during the ASALH conventions. One example is the Association of Black Women Historians (ABWH). This group was founded at the 1977 ASALH convention in Washington, D.C. Three women historians started the ABWH: Rosalyn Terborg-Penn, Eleanor Smith, and Elizabeth Parker.

The National Council of Black Studies was also first thought of at an ASALH convention.

See also

• Negro Society for Historical Research