Announcing the 2021 David McCullough Essay Prize High School Winners

The Gilder Lehrman Institute is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 David McCullough Essay Prizes. Named for David McCullough—Pulitzer and National Book Award–winning historian and member of the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s Board of Trustees—and honoring his career telling America’s stories and examining its histories, this contest recognizes outstanding high school student research essays with cash prizes of up to $10,000. 2021 Contest Winners More than seventy rising 11th and 12th grade… Read more

Fall 2021 MA Program Newsletter

This fall term marks the fourth year of the Pace–Gilder Lehrman MA in American History Program. During the past nine terms, we have offered 30 courses, admitted 1,500 students, and conferred 277 degrees––thanks to our cohort, faculty, and administrators. To highlight where we have been and where we are heading, we have created this MA Program newsletter. Published each term, it will keep you apprised of student and alumni accomplishments, upcoming courses, and Abraham Lincoln Scholarship… Read more

Announcing the 2021 Frederick Douglass Book Prize Co-Winners, Vincent Brown and Marjoleine Kars

Yale University’s Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition today has announced the winners for the twenty-third annual Frederick Douglass Book Prize, one of the most coveted awards for the study of the African American experience. The 2021 Prize will be shared by two scholars. The co-winners are Vincent Brown for Tacky’s Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War (The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press) and Marjoleine Kars for Blood on the River: A… Read more

Staff Picks from the Gilder Lehrman Book Shop from Cassidy, Alinda, Peter, and Marissa

This holiday season, the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s staff recommends their favorite history books, all of which can be purchased from the Gilder Lehrman Book Shop. Today, we feature GLI staff members Cassidy Hooker, Alinda Borell, Peter Shea, and Marissa Cheifetz explaining why they chose their books, all of which would make fun holiday gifts. Cassidy Hooker, Special Events and Operations Manager Cassidy leads the full life cycle of events at GLI, including the Institute’s annual gala, award… Read more

Giving Tuesday for The Gilder Lehrman Institute

Dear Friend of the Gilder Lehrman Institute, Only 15% of eighth graders across the country are proficient in US history. Only 23% of them are competent in civics. These statistics represent a significant decline since 2014, according to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress report. Last year, many K–12 US history classes were significantly pared back. Teachers and students alike experienced massive school disruptions. Educators now have the herculean task of teaching a… Read more

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Upcoming Events

Inside the Vault

Inside the Vault Join us for Inside the Vault: Anti-Communist Trading Cards: Fight the Red Menace: Children's Crusade against Communism, December 2, 2021, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m.

Book Breaks

Book Breaks Gilder Lehrman Book Breaks features the most exciting history scholars in America discussing their books live with Book Breaks hosts, followed by a Q&A with home audiences.

How Did We Get Here?

How Did We Get Here?

Hamilton Education Program Online

Hamilton Education Program OnlineThe goal of the Hamilton Education Program Online is to help students in grades 6–12 see the relevance of the founding era by using primary sources to create a performance piece (e.g., a song, rap, poem, or scene) following the model used by Lin-Manuel Miranda to create the musical

Self-Paced Courses

Self-Paced CoursesSelf-Paced Courses offer graduate-level instruction in American history—led by the nation’s top historians

Transcribe!

Transcribe!Welcome to the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Digital Volunteer Transcription Project. You may start transcribing documents from the Gilder Lehrman Collection by selecting one of the projects below and logging in with your Transcribe! username and password.

Professional Development

Professional DevelopmentThe Institute offers a wide range of professional development opportunities in American history, from customized in-person training at your school with scholars and master teachers, to rigorous summer teacher seminars and online courses for CEUs and graduate credits.

Affiliate School History Scholarships

Affiliate School History Scholarships