Western History Association facts for kids
| Formation | 1961 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Ray Allen Billington |
| Founded at | Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States |
| Type | NGO, Nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Lawrence, Kansas |
| Location |
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Executive Director
|
Elaine Marie Nelson |
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Main organ
|
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, meaning it works for a cause rather than for profit. The WHA was started in 1961 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Ray Allen Billington and other historians helped create it. The WHA has had its main office in different places over the years. Since 2020, it has been located at the University of Kansas.
Contents
What the WHA Does
The Western History Association helps people learn about the history of the American West. This includes the history of the United States and western Canada. They support historians and share new research.
Publications and Awards
The WHA publishes a special journal called The Western Historical Quarterly. This journal shares new articles and research about Western history.
The association also gives out several awards each year. These awards honor the best books and projects about Western history.
- The Caughey Western History Association Prize is given for the best book about Western history published each year.
- The Robert M. Utley Book Prize honors the best book on the military history of the frontier in North America. This includes areas like Mexico and Canada, from ancient times through the 1900s. Famous winners include Ned Blackhawk and Amy S. Greenberg.
- The Autry Public History Prize is awarded every year. It recognizes the best public history projects. These can be museum exhibits, programs, or written works that teach people about the American West.
The Western Historical Quarterly Journal
The Western Historical Quarterly (WHQ) is the main journal of the WHA. It has been published since 1969. The journal features original articles about the North American West. This includes topics like expansion, colonization, and the histories of Native peoples. It also covers regional studies, including Alaska and Hawaii. The journal also has sections for short notes and book reviews.
See also
- List of history awards
External links
- Western History Association
- Western Historical Quarterly at Oxford Academic
- Full text of all articles in Western Historical Quarterly at JSTOR
