On the third Monday of every January, the United States celebrates the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., the iconic Baptist minister and activist who became one of the best-known leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.
Image: Martin Luther King Jr., March 26, 1964. Photograph by Marion S. Trikosko. (Library of Congress)
K–12 teachers: Study with world-renowned scholars and earn PD credits. Learn about our professional development opportunities this summer:
Image: Teachers on the Gettysburg Battlefield (Photograph by Jason Minick)
20 Programs
In Person & Online
The Gilder Lehrman Institute is proud to offer the Frederick Douglass Scholarship to support graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who are committed to K–12 teaching. Graduates of an HBCU who are current or aspiring K–12 educators, and who apply to or are enrolled in the Gettysburg College–Gilder Lehrman MA in American History, are eligible to apply.
Value: Up to 10 graduate courses covered (valued at $750 each, up to $7,500 total)
Spring MA Program Application Deadline: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Spring Scholarship Application Deadline: Sunday, January 25, 2026
Image: Engraving of Frederick Douglass from Frederick Douglass, My Bondage and My Freedom, 1855 (The Gilder Lehrman Institute, GLC05820)
K–12 educators and aspiring educators can earn their graduate degree in this affordable, online, accredited program. Applications are open year-round and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Spring course registration is now open.
Image: Master’s Degree in American History Commencement at Gettysburg College (Photograph by Jason Minick)
Congratulations to Justene Hill Edwards, the winner of this year’s Frederick Douglass Book Prize!
Her book Savings and Trust: The Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman’s Bank (W. W. Norton and Company) will be celebrated on February 12, 2026, at Trinity Church NYC. The award ceremony will be free and open to the public.
The 2026 Citizenship Challenge contest is now open, allowing students in our Affiliate School network to creatively showcase their understanding of American history, civics, and the naturalization exam by creating a new exam question.
This new Self-Paced Course examines twelve military engagements—on both land and sea—that had a major impact on the course of American history.
Image: “6. Landing at Inchon,” Fight the Red Menace: The Children’s Crusade Against Communism trading cards, Bowman Gum Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1951. (The Gilder Lehrman Institute, GLC09627.06.01)
15 Professional Development Hours
Our master’s degree program gives K–12 educators an affordable way to earn a graduate degree while working full time.
Explore American history from your own home, in your own time, and at your own pace! Educators can obtain professional development credit.
Begin your journey through African American Studies by exploring primary sources, essays, and videos, organized by course unit.
Deepen your knowledge of this holiday with historical documents, essays, videos, and lesson plans from the Gilder Lehrman Institute.
A Black patriot urged lawmakers to extend the Declaration of Independence’s promises to African Americans.
Join us to celebrate Justene Hill Edwards, winner of the Frederick Douglass Book Prize!
Students are eligible for the Gettysburg College–Gilder Lehrman Institute History Scholarship.
Submit your best creative piece for the chance to see Hamilton in New York City!
Apply for one of five scholarships to Washington College open to Affiliate School students.
Welcome to the Hamilton Education Program, which is free and open to students in grades 6–12, anywhere, whether learning at home with their family or under a teacher’s supervision at school.
In creating the musical Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda transformed historical documents into powerful art that challenges our understanding of the past and present. You can do the same.
Image: Students at a performance of Hamilton
Every Sunday at 2:00 pm ET (11:00 am PT) on Zoom
Join us for our weekly interview series in which historians discuss their acclaimed books followed by a Q&A with the at-home audience. Please click on any of the upcoming episodes to register. You can purchase any of the books featured on our bookshop.org page, for which we receive an affiliate commission.
Gettysburg
A Place Called Yellowstone: The Epic History of the World’s First National Park
The Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic
For the first time, we are pleased to offer annual and one-month subscriptions to the Gilder Lehrman Collection. Access includes the ability to view and download images from the Collection.
Why subscribe for a month or a year?
*Subscriptions are non-refundable.
The Online Journal of the Gilder Lehrman Institute
Published four times a year, History Now features essays by the nation’s leading historians for teachers, students, and general readers.
History Now is free for everyone and does not require a subscription or login.
See all official press releases for our important events, significant programs, and special initiatives.
