The Benefits of Western History Association Membership
Membership brings you into a network of writers, scholars, collectors, curators, educators, students, and historians interested in the North American West in its broadest sense. Founded in 1961, the Association is the only organization dedicated to fostering the study of this fascinating period of our nation’s history.
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The WHA conference is a four-day event held each year in a historic western town or city. It features author, historian, and researcher presentations, vendors selling new and rare western-themed books, first edition books & pamphlets, and Old West collectibles, organized and guided field trips to historic sites and museums, breakout sessions, silent and live auctions, and the prestigious Roundup Awards Banquet. Members receive a mailing of pre-Roundup news and a free copy of the program, whether they attend or not.
WHA also sponsors two scholarly award prizes. The Purrington/White Dissertation Prize is awarded annually for the best dissertation on any aspect of the history of the West, broadly defined. Any WHA member who has defended and filed their dissertation in the preceding calendar year is eligible to nominate their work for consideration. The winner of this award receives a $500 prize.
The Society also publishes the acclaimed historical quarterly The Historian, which encourages the pursuit of historical study. Each member receives a one-year subscription as part of their initiation fee. The Historian includes articles, book reviews, and news of Society activities and awards.
In addition to The Historian, WRHS offers numerous books on the North American West. Many of these titles are written by members and can be purchased at the WRHS bookstore. The WRHS library, housed in the Society’s headquarters at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, also has a growing collection of Western history publications and artifacts.
WRHS has several auxiliary groups which support the Society in various ways. Auxiliary membership is available for individuals who are members of a local Phi Alpha Theta chapter or the historical society of their hometown. Each auxiliary has its own dues schedule, which are separate from WRHS membership.
As a member of WRHS, you are eligible to apply to the WRHS Genealogy Committee, which oversees research at the Society’s archives and makes recommendations on the management and preservation of the collections. This is a wonderful opportunity to expand your professional networking and contribute to the ongoing preservation of the archival holdings of this fine organization. WRHS members are also invited to join any of the auxiliary groups, whose dues are paid in addition to membership in WRHS. A complete list of auxiliary groups can be found here. Become a member of WRHS today! Click here to become a member online or download the WRHS Membership Application. Memberships auto-renew each year unless you notify us otherwise.