National Survey of History Practitioners
Eric Morse
The AASLH Public History Research Lab is launching a
major new research initiative: the National
Survey of History Practitioners.
This national survey aims to answer important questions: Who works in the
history field today? How are they compensated? And how do they feel about their
work?
Our field currently has little reliable data about the history workforce. That
lack of information limits our ability to make informed decisions and advocate
for needed change. Your participation in this survey will help AASLH and the
wider field gain a clearer, more complete picture of the people who power the
history sector—fueling efforts to build stronger, more sustainable
institutions.
We can’t do this without
you.
If you are a staff member, contractor, or volunteer at a U.S. history
organization—such as a history museum, historic site, preservation
organization, or related institution—please take just 10 minutes to complete the survey. Your responses will be
completely anonymous.
In a time of rapid change and persistent challenges, it’s more important than
ever to understand who works at history organizations and how they view the
field.
Over the next year, AASLH will analyze the survey data and share actionable
findings through reports, infographics, and programs designed to guide
practitioners, funders, decision makers, and others shaping the future of our
work. These insights will strengthen advocacy, guide institutional planning,
and support history work at the local, state, and national level.
The survey will close on
Friday, June 6.
Please take the survey, share it widely, and
encourage your colleagues across the field to participate. The more responses
we gather, the more informed and empowered our workforce will become.
Filling out this survey
will help strengthen the history field for everyone.
This project is made possible
in part by the support of the following institutions:
- Kentucky Historical Society
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
- Virginia Museum of History and Culture
- Wisconsin Historical Society