FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Earl Lewis, University of Michigan, Receives the Roy Rosenzweig Distinguished Service Award from the Organization of American Historians 

BLOOMINGTON, IN—The Organization of American Historians (OAH) today announced that Earl Lewis, University of Michigan, is the recipient of the OAH’s 2024 Roy Rosenzweig Distinguished Service Award, which is given to an individual whose contributions have significantly enriched our understanding and appreciation of American history. The Award was presented during the OAH’s 2024 Conference on American History.

“The OAH must make the case for history and the common good . . . and we must never forget that what we do addresses the work of freedom. History teaches us our freedoms should not be taken for granted.” With these words, Earl Lewis, Thomas C. Holt Distinguished University Professor of History, Afroamerican and African Studies, and Public Policy, and also the founding director of the University of Michigan Center for Social Solutions, and 2018–2019 OAH President, simultaneously concluded his term as president and launched the most significant fundraising campaign in the organization’s history—a five year, $500,000 challenge seeded by his $50,000 donation.

Lewis’s generosity capped a transformational OAH presidency. During his tenure, the OAH became a more forward-facing, deliberately inclusive organization. Initiatives during Dr. Lewis’s presidency assisted OAH members in their efforts to become more publicly engaged and expanded access within the profession to participate in the annual conference.

For the full list of OAH 2024 award and prize recipients, please visit the OAH website.

About the Organization of American Historians

Founded in 1907, the Organization of American Historians (OAH) is the largest professional organization dedicated to the teaching and study of United States history. The mission of the organization is to promote excellence in the scholarship, teaching, and presentation of American history, and to encourage wide discussion of historical questions and the equitable treatment of all practitioners of history. The OAH represents more than 6,000 historians working in the United States and abroad. Members include college and university professors, precollegiate teachers, archivists, museum curators, public historians, students, and a variety of scholars employed in government and the private sector.

The OAH is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and is an external agency of Indiana University. Visit us at www.oah.org.

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Media Contact: Kym Robinson
Office: 812.855.5430 | E-mail: kymarobi@oah.org