Western History Association facts for kids
| Formation | 1961 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Ray Allen Billington |
| Founded at | Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States |
| Type | NGO, Nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Location |
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Main organ
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The Western Historical Quarterly |
| Website | https://www.westernhistory.org/ |
The Western History Association (WHA) is a group that studies the history of the American West and western Canada. It is a non-profit organization, which means it works for a good cause and not to make money. The WHA was started in 1961 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A historian named Ray Allen Billington helped create it.
The WHA helps people learn about the past of the American West. It was based at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks for a few years. Since 2018, it has been located at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Contents
Discovering Western History
The Western History Association helps share stories from the past. In 1964, the WHA started publishing a journal. This journal was first printed by the University of Utah Press. Later, in 1965, a company called Sunset Publishing helped print it.
The journal was first called Nebraska. Now, the main publication is called the Western Historical Quarterly. This journal shares new research about the American West.
Awards for History Books
The WHA also gives out special awards. These awards honor the best books and essays about Western history. One important award is the Caughey Western History Association Prize. It is given every year for the best book about Western history.
Another award is the Robert M. Utley Book Prize. This prize is for the best book about military history. It covers the history of the frontier and western North America. This includes parts of Mexico and Canada. It looks at history from very old times (prehistory) up to the 1900s. Famous historians like Ned Blackhawk have won this award.
Public History Prize
The Autry Public History Prize is also given out each year. This award celebrates the best ways to share history with the public. It can be for a museum exhibit, a public program, or a written work. The prize looks for great examples of public history about the American West.
Western Historical Quarterly Journal
The Western Historical Quarterly (WHQ) is the main journal of the WHA. It has been published since 1969. This journal shares new articles about the North American West. It covers topics like how people moved west and how new areas were settled.
The WHQ also looks at the history of native peoples. It includes studies about different regions. These regions include western Canada, northern Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii. The journal also explores how different cultures met and mixed.
Besides articles, the WHQ has a section called "field notes." These notes talk about how Western history is used in real life. The journal also includes reviews of new books. It helps readers stay updated on new publications about the American West.
See also
- List of history awards
