The Benefits of Western History Association Membership

Membership in the Western History Association connects you to a network of writers, scholars, curators, editors, publishers, educators, students, and collectors interested in the study of the North American West in its broadest sense. Founded in 1961, WHA encourages diverse scholarship and welcomes as members individuals from all backgrounds and disciplines. The WHA is committed to the highest academic standards and the advancement of its research and teaching through its award-winning journal, the Western Historical Quarterly.

Membership Includes:

Annual subscription to the Western Historical Quarterly (WHQ), the premier award-winning journal in the field of western history and culture. This peer-reviewed publication features original articles, book reviews, and authentic photographs of the “good, the bad, and the ugly” in the history of the West.

WHQ’s annual awards celebrate the best in Western History:

The Trennert-Iverson Scholarship, Sara Jackson Award, Walter Rundell Award, and the WHA-Huntington Martin Ridge Fellowship honor graduate students who study western history. The WHA-Huntington Martin Ridge Prize and the Graduate Student Prize are given to the author(s) of the most outstanding article in the field of Western History published in WHQ during the previous year.

Each year, the WHA seeks motivated, hard working graduate students to work as its conference grad staff. Check out the WHA Conference website or the WHA Grad Staff page to learn more about this unique opportunity!

Every fall, the WHA hosts its annual conference in a different city around the country. Often co-convened with the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources, the Smithsonian Institution, or the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, these conferences feature the latest research, informative sessions, and engaging speakers. Members receive discounted registration rates and early access to conference programs through our online system.

In addition to the annual conference, the WHA also offers an array of webinars and workshops throughout the year for its members. These events are a wonderful way for those interested in western history to get together and learn from their peers in a less formal setting.

WHA is proud to be an inclusive organization. We strive to create a community that is safe and productive for all. As such, we strongly condemn sexual harassment and discrimination in all its forms. Learn more about our policies and resources for this issue here.

If you have questions about the WHA’s policies on sexual harassment or wish to report a violation, contact the WHA office.