Initiative for Humanities and Culture
New and increasingly complex challenges — political, cultural, technological, and
financial — are profoundly altering conditions for the humanities in the United
States. The Academy's Initiative for Humanities and Culture provides a framework
for examining the significance of the humanities to our national culture and for
developing resources and policies to ensure the health of the humanities in the
21st century.
This initiative is the latest in a long series of projects that reflect the Academy's
commitment to the humanities. The Academy joined with a small group of learned societies
to found the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) after the First World
War, and was later instrumental in forming the Independent Research Libraries Association.
In the mid-1970s, the Academy was the principal catalyst in the development of the
National Humanities Center in North Carolina, now regarded as one of the world's
leading institutes for advanced study. The Humanities and Culture Initiative furthers
the Academy’s tradition of leadership by advancing research about the humanities
in American life.
The Initiative is led by a committee of distinguished Academy Fellows, co-chaired
by Patricia Meyer Spacks (University of Virginia), Steven Marcus (Columbia University),
Denis Donoghue (New York University), Francis C. Oakley (Williams College), and
Leslie Berlowitz (American Academy).
Current Projects
- Commission on
the Humanities and Social Sciences:: Answering a bipartisan call from members
of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, this Academy Commission
is responding to the following question: "What are the top ten actions that Congress,
state governments, universities, foundations, educators, individual benefactors,
and others should take now to maintain national excellence in Humanities and social
scientific scholarship and education, and to achieve long-term national goals for
our intellectual and economic well-being; for a stronger, more vibrant civil society;
and for the success of cultural diplomacy in the 21st century?" See Press Release
- Humanities Indicators: The
Academy, in collaboration with humanities institutions throughout the country, is
establishing a framework and institutional base for the compilation, analysis, and
publication of comprehensive longitudinal statistical data about the humanities.
See Press Release
- Humanities Departmental Survey:
This project is designed to collect new data about the humanities in higher education.
A newly developed survey instrument was administered as a pilot project during the
2007-2008 academic year to approximately 1,500 college and university humanities
departments.
- Scholarship on the Humanities:
This series of related studies analyzes the evolution of humanities disciplines
and institutions, examines the conditions and intellectual climate in which they
operate, and assesses the role and value of the humanities in society.
- Humanities Resource
Center Online: This website provides humanists, administrators of humanities
organizations, educators, and the general public with information and data about
the humanities in the United States.
Past Projects
- Considering the Humanities: This
study mapped the development and evolution of seven humanities disciplines over
the last century.
- The Humanities and the Dynamics
of Inclusion Since 1945: This study examined how the humanities have incorporated
previously marginalized groups
- Tracking Changes in the Humanities:
Humanities scholars and educational policy researchers came together to identify
common research questions and to shape initial efforts to refine and improve the
method of data collection and analysis in the humanities disciplines. statistical
data available about the humanities.
- Foundation Funding for the Humanities:
This report examined and analyzed changes in U.S. foundation support for the humanities
method of data collection and analysis in the humanities disciplines. between 1992
and 2002. See Press
Release
- Making the Humanities Count: To understand
where the humanities in the United States are headed requires understanding the
state of the humanities today. This 2002 report evaluated existing humanities data,
assessed their usefulness, and argued for a coordinated, systematic, and sustained
method of data collection and analysis in the humanities disciplines.
- 1990s
- 1980s
- 1970s
- 1960s
Return to Academy Projects
|