SSHA

The Social Science History Association (SSHA) is an interdisciplinary scholarly organization founded in 1974 to bring social science methods and theories to the study of the past. It connects researchers in history, economics, sociology, demography, anthropology, and other fields through thematic networks focused on shared questions. Its work spans subjects from medieval life and earlier periods to contemporary global politics, emphasizing historical perspectives on human events, social processes, and theory.

SSHA publishes the journal Social Science History and organizes an annual conference, where its networks issue calls for papers and select many of the presentations. The association also supports graduate students with conference travel awards and recognizes scholarly work through book and article prizes, including the President’s Book Award, the Allan Sharlin Memorial Book Prize, and the Founder’s Prize. Membership, conference participation, journal publishing opportunities, and network activities are central ways scholars engage with the organization. Its open, flexible structure aims to create welcoming spaces for early-career researchers and established academics to exchange ideas across disciplinary boundaries.