National Council on Public History - NCPH

10/27/2026

If you were thinking about submitting a proposal for The Public Historian special issue on Women and Public History but needed more time, we have good news. The deadline has been extended to January 1, 2027! Find the full Call for Proposals at: https://ncph.org/news/the-public-historian-call-for-papers/

10/26/2026

A reminder that NCPH members receive the best conference registration rate, and NCPH 2027 registration opens December 1! You can join, renew, or gift a membership at https://ncph.org/join!

Membership rate options for individuals include:
Individual ($84)
Sustaining ($150)
Student ($37)
New Professional ($47)
Retired ($59)
Under-/Unemployed ($37)
Public History Adjacent ($37)

NCPH is proud to cover the cost of new memberships and renewals for anyone experiencing financial insecurity through our Membership Support Fund. Visit https://ncph.org/funding-need-self-reporting-form/ to learn more.

Photos by , ThomasAlanProductions.com

10/23/2026

There’s still time to submit a nomination or self-nomination for the Outstanding Public History Project Award! Two $750 awards will recognize projects–media, written works, films, public programs, exhibits, etc.–that contribute to a broader public reflection and appreciation of the past or that serve as a model of professional public history practice.

We welcome submissions for projects by individuals, groups, community organizations, businesses, or other organizations or work done in support of such projects.

An Outstanding Public History Project Award will be given to one Large Institution and one Small Institution at NCPH 2027 in St. Louis, Missouri this April. Review details and submit by November 1, 2026, at: https://ncph.org/about/awards/ph-project-award/

10/22/2026

Are you a graduate student planning to present at NCPH 2027 in St. Louis? The Graduate Student Travel Award can help you get there! This award provides assistance with conference travel costs for graduate student members who have a paper, poster, or other presentation accepted for inclusion in the conference program.

Five travel awards of $500 each will be given with a complimentary ticket to the awards breakfast! Fill out the short application by December 1, 2026 to be considered: https://ncph.org/about/awards/student-awards/

If you're a professor and know of students who plan to present at , please help us spread the word about this award!

10/21/2026

Read a recently published essay written by Vimala Phongsavanh, winner of the 2026 NCPH Grassroots Public History Award for her exhibit The Heart of Wattayai presented at the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The essay and exhibit explore Phongsavanh’s family history as Lao Americans and the impact of American military intervention in Laos.

She wrote, “Through this journey, I realized that I had been taught American history without the chapter that explained my own family’s life. I thought my family came to America, but I later understood that America had already come to Laos.”

Essay: My childhood block in Rhode Island tells a story of U.S. foreign policy, displacement, and labor — a story I wasn't taught growing up.

10/20/2026

We rolled out new swag at the joint conference last month, including this fun "History@Work Ahead" sticker sported by NCPH Membership Coordinator Jess Baloun! Didn’t get your merch in Providence? You can donate to the NCPH Annual Fund, say “I want my swag, please!” in the Donor Comments section, and we’ll ship it to you. 💌

$10 = advocacy postcard pack
$15 = History@Work sticker and NCPH magnet
$20 or more = receive all of the above!
Donate at: https://community.ncph.org/donations/

Photo by , ThomasAlanProductions.com

10/19/2026

Exciting news! The hotel room block, registration rates, and deadlines for NCPH 2027 next April 21-24 in St. Louis are now available. Get a head start on your 2027 budgeting and travel plans at: https://ncph.org/conference/ncph-2027/registration/. Travel info and status updates on the block at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch will be posted at: https://ncph.org/conference/ncph-2027/hotel-and-travel-information/.

2027

10/16/2026

New on History@Work. “State social studies standards across the country include state history and require students to understand the local impacts of World War II, yet there has been a gap in accessible resources tied to local themes.” Educator Sarah Nestor Lane joins us to introduce freely accessible lesson plans that seek to fill that gap. “Creating these educational resources is a step toward the long game: helping today’s students become tomorrow’s historians and stewards of local history.” Read it: https://ncph.org/history-at-work/american-world-war-ii-heritage-cities/

When I visited Waterloo, Iowa’s designated American World War II Heritage City, a local leader who supported the nomination pulled out a binder of things they hoped to accomplish: exhibits, walking tours, signage, and “Lesson plans for local schools.” There was relief and excitement when I sai...

10/15/2026

Have you read a new book this year that made you think “Wow, this deserves an award!”? Good news–you can nominate it for the NCPH Book Award by November 1, 2026: https://ncph.org/about/awards/book-award/

We’re seeking nominations for the best book in public history published between 2025-2026. The award consists of a $1,000 cash prize and a certificate, both presented at the NCPH Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri this April.

Whether about or growing out of public history, successful contenders will clearly display the public aspects of their conception, development, and ex*****on, and how they illuminate issues and concerns significant to audiences beyond the academy. Entries may be monographs, edited collections of articles or essays, or any other published work of comparable scope. Singly and jointly authored/edited works are welcome, as are international topics.

10/14/2026

If you’re hoping to present at NCPH 2027, you can still submit a poster proposal by the October 18, 2026 deadline!

The poster session will be held at our conference hotel on April 22, 2027, in St. Louis, Missouri. During the poster session, presenters share their projects with conference goers in one-on-one discussions. It can be especially useful for works-in-progress and for projects in which visual or material evidence is a central component.

Find the submission instructions at: https://ncph.org/news/ncph-2027-call-for-posters-now-open/.