Over the past year we’ve all heard the call (often on social media) to avoid complacency in the current political environment. Whether one agrees that the foundations of our democracy and the freedoms it protects are threatened or not, it seems prudent in the face of some of the stated and unstated goals of the incoming administration and its supporters, to think carefully about how we will react to threats to civil liberties.

According to FiveThirtyEight, one of the best indicators for how people voted in the presidential election was education. So while there is undoubtedly value in educating our students about how to be better citizens, reaching beyond the academy seems more important than ever. Digital tools and methods allow us means to do just that. But what role should historians, digital and otherwise, play in promoting the pursuit of truth, liberty, and justice? What actions should we be taking, individually or collectively, to prevent or respond to moves to curtail legitimate and vital knowledge production and information propagation?

I’m proposing that we discuss how historians, digital humanists, librarians, and others within the academy—who I would argue have a claim to understanding of how societies have dealt with this in the past—should act and react to actions and words that promote division and antipathy. In particular how can we reach beyond the academy and our classrooms in these efforts?

And finally, I am aware that there are partisan elements to this view of the direction in which our country seems to be going. I don’t want to presume that everyone necessarily agrees with me, so I would be more than happy for this session to encourage respectful debate and discussion about this complex problem.

Registration for THATCamp AHA Denver 2017 is now open!

THATCamp will be held on January 4th at University of Colorado Denver. It’s a great opportunity to talk and learn about the of technology in historical scholarship, in a relaxed and informal environment.

We will be accepting applications on a first-come first-served basis, so be sure to register early, and watch this space for updates over the coming months.

You don’t have to be attending the AHA annual meeting to come to THATCamp (but it will be great, so think about it). All are welcome, just come with an interest in history, technology and your enthusiasm.

See you there.

We’re very pleased to announce the seventh annual THATCamp AHA. Starting in Chicago in 2012 we have had a THATCamp at our annual meeting every year, and this year is no different. This edition will be held on January 4, 2017, the day before the start of the AHA Annual meeting, at the University of Colorado Denver. We’re very thankful for the sponsorship of the College of Liberal Arts and Science at the University of Colorado Denver, the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver, and the Office of Academic of the University of Colorado System.

You don’t have to be attending the AHA annual meeting to come to THATCamp. It is free and open to all, but if you are coming please think about attending. You can find out more about the meeting, check out the program, and get details about travel on the AHA website.

We will be opening THATCamp registration very soon, so watch this space. If you’ve never been to a THATCamp you can read more about the THATCamp movement at thatcamp.org.