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Collection Overview

Creator:
American Association for the Advancement of the Humanities
Title:
American Association for the Advancement of the Humanities Records
Repository:
Public Policy Papers
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/vx021f13b
Dates:
1977-1985
Size:
16 boxes
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Box 1-16
Language:
English

Abstract

The American Association for the Advancement of the Humanities (AAAH) operated from 1979 until 1982. The AAAH was a general membership organization which supported the humanities in the United States through its involved in legislation, conferences, and producing the monthly publication Humanities Report. The AAAH's records document the administration of the association and include correspondence, board minutes, financial records, and materials on Humanities Report.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The AAAH's records document the administration of the association and include correspondence, board minutes, financial records, and materials on Humanities Report. The records focus on fundraising and the membership of the association, and also include materials related to projects undertaken by the AAAH. Many of the records document the work of the AAAH's chairman, James M. Banner, Jr.

Please see the series descriptions in the contents list for additional information about individual series.

Collection Creator Biography:

American Association for the Advancement of the Humanities

The American Association for the Advancement of the Humanities (AAAH) operated from 1979 until 1982. The AAAH was a general membership organization which supported the humanities in the United States through its involved in legislation, conferences, and producing the monthly publication Humanities Report. The AAAH was incorporated in October 1977 by James M. Banner, Jr. and Theodore K. Raab of Princeton University and opened its office in Washington, D.C. in January of 1979. It initially received funding from the Rockefeller, Ford, and Exxon Education foundations and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and later from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, ATT, and the Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation.

The AAAH was founded to provide a general, independent membership organization to represent all aspects of the humanities in the United States, not just the scholarly community. It focused on three general areas: to support the work of humanists and foster communication and cooperation between them, to promote public understanding of the humanities, and to increase the contribution of the humanities in American life. It was governed by a 15 member Board of Directors composed of individuals involved in the humanities and related fields in the broadest sense, including schools, libraries, and the legal and medical professions. Five board members were elected each year by the membership. Board meetings were held twice a year, with an annual meeting open to both members and non-members.

The AAAH's activities included testifying before Congress, aiding in the founding of the National Humanities Alliance (a lobbying organization for the humanities) and the Community College Humanities Association, participating in a study with the Association of Research Libraries of the distribution of information about library developments to scholars at research universities, investigating the feasibility of creating a business committee for the humanities, and speaking for the broad interests of humanities at specialized humanities organizations. It also produced a monthly newsmagazine, Humanities Report, which was the only independent news source in the United States on the humanities. Humanities Report contained general news on issues, programs, activities, and developments in the humanities, as well as interviews, editorials, letters, and association news. It was distributed to all members of the AAAH. All of the AAAH's activities were handled by four full-time staff members, with James M. Banner, Jr. as chairman, supported by part-time assistants, project directors, and volunteers.

Soon after its inception, the AAAH reached its peak of 3,500 members. However, the association soon encountered difficulties. As an area with a great deal of specialization, many in the humanities did not see the need for this type of organization. It also encountered resistance from scholars who would have preferred it to be a more academic organization, rather than including a broader base of membership. Due to an economic downturn, individuals had less money to spend on dues, young scholars were facing unemployment, and the foundations which were supporting it also faced budget difficulties. By 1982, the membership had declined to close to 2,500. Unable to support itself financially from membership dues, and with insufficient support from the humanities community, the Board of Directors, with the agreement of chairman James M. Banner, Jr., decided to close the AAAH in the spring of 1982.

Collection History

Acquisition:

This collection was received in several shipments from James M. Banner, Jr. from 1984-1990, and formally donated to Princeton University in March 1993.

Appraisal

Materials separated from this collection include duplicate materials and a partial list of the addresses of members and subscribers to Humanities Report.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Adriane Hanson and Sumit Mehta in 2008. Finding aid written by Adriane Hanson in May 2008.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, any copyright vested in the donor has passed to The Trustees of Princeton University and researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of donor-created materials within the collection. For materials in the collection not created by the donor, or where the material is not an original, the copyright is likely not held by the University. In these instances, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have a question about who owns the copyright for an item, you may request clarification by contacting us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Ten audiocassette tapes are located in Boxes 8 and 9.

Credit this material:

American Association for the Advancement of the Humanities Records; Public Policy Papers, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/vx021f13b
Location:
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library
65 Olden Street
Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
(609) 258-6345
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Box 1-16

Find More

Related Materials

A collection at the Mudd Manuscript Library of particular relevance to the American Association for the Advancement of the Humanities is the Council of the Humanities Records.

Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the organizational history note: "Fact Sheet" by the American Association for the Advancement of the Humanities, February 1982; American Association for the Advancement of the Humanities Records, Box 7, Folder 5; Public Policy Papers, Special Collections, Princeton University Library. "Organizing the Humanities: AAAH's Vision Ten Years Later," by James M. Banner, Jr. Change , March/April 1989, p. 45-51.

Subject Terms:
Humanities -- Government policy -- United States.
Humanities -- United States.
Nonprofit organizations -- United States.
Genre Terms:
Administrative records.
Correspondence
Minutes.
Names:
American Association for the Advancement of the Humanities
Humanities Report
Banner, James M., 1935-