Webinars
Webinars are online discussions, typically lasting 60 to 75 minutes including a Q&A session. During each live webinar, you can use the Q&A and Chat features to type messages and questions to the panelists and other participants. Webinars are recorded so you can re-watch whenever you want.
Getting Started in Local Advocacy - Live Webinar
October 20, 2026 | 3 - 4:15PM ET |
The history community needs advocacy but often struggles with where to begin. What does advocacy look like for the country’s thousands of small and mid-sized organizations, so often strapped for time, money, staff, and other resources? The answer lies in starting local. Effective advocacy means continual, everyday actions that demonstrate your value and build relationships within your immediate community—in other words, speaking up and proving to your neighbors that you matter. Building on AASLH’s new manual, Speak Up for History: Getting Started in Local Advocacy, this webinar will offer attendees a basic understanding of what local advocacy is and why it matters, ways to translate big ideas into practical and flexible techniques, and concrete examples and tools for getting started.
This webinar is presented as part of AASLH’s new state and local advocacy initiative, Speak Up for History, which offers a hub for concrete tools, guidance, and programming to help practitioners more effectively demonstrate the value of history work to their communities.
Core Issues Briefing Series #3 - Fall 2026 - Doing History in Polarized Times- Live Webinar
October 21, 2026 | 3:00pm ET |
Political and cultural divisions in America today pose great challenges to the history field. While research shows that there is actually broad public support for a full and accurate portrayal of American history, basic disagreements persist. In an increasingly challenging landscape, how can our field navigate disputes about the past, build on areas of consensus, and strengthen the history field? This webinar will explore recent research and tested strategies to help history practitioners work more effectively in today’s fractious discourse.
This webinar is part of AASLH’s Core Issues Briefing Series, which offers consolidated access to the latest research, insights, and guidance on responding to the history sector’s most pressing issues.
AASLH History Hour | October 2026
October 27, 2026 | 3pm EST
Is This Place Haunted? Join us for some spooky fun at October's History Hour, AASLH's free monthly online meet up.
At this History Hour, there will be three rounds of breakout sessions. You'll meet a new set of peers during each round.
Round 1: Tell us Your Ghost Stories
Share ghost stories that you've experienced or heard about at your site or historic sites you've visited.
Round 2: Back to History
When asked, "Is this place haunted?," what techniques do you use to redirect the conversation back to history? How does your site share beliefs about evil and how people tried to ward evil off? What scary things actually happened at your site or one you've visited? How was that history shared in a particularly engaging, memorable, or unique way?
Round 3: Spooky Season Programming
Share and gain ideas for programming at this time of year.
AASLH History Hour, a free informal conversation and community-building event, takes place on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 3 – 4 p.m. Eastern Time. While free, registration is required to participate.
Core Issues Briefing Series #4 - Fall 2026 - Disaster Preparedness for History Organizations and Sites - Live Webinar
October 28, 2026 | 3:00pm ET |
How do you prepare for the worst at your history organization or site? Given increasing extreme weather conditions and other calamities, disaster planning has never been more important. While every history institution is susceptible to disasters of some kind, properly preparing for such events can promote more effective recovery. Attend this webinar to gain a deeper understanding of the risks an organization should consider and how to mitigate them.
This webinar is part of AASLH’s Core Issues Briefing Series, which offers consolidated access to the latest research, insights, and guidance on responding to the history sector’s most pressing issues.
Core Issues Briefing Series #5 - Fall 2026 - Understanding the US History Workforce - Live Webinar
November 4, 2026 | 3:00pm ET |
Who works in the history field today? What backgrounds and experiences do they represent? How are they compensated? And how do they feel about their work? This session will illuminate answers to these questions based on the findings of AASLH’s groundbreaking National Survey of History Practitioners. Attendees will learn about data and insights that can support making informed decisions, advocate for needed change, and building more sustainable institutions through this clearer, more complete picture of the people who power the history sector.
This webinar is part of AASLH’s Core Issues Briefing Series, which offers consolidated access to the latest research, insights, and guidance on responding to the history sector’s most pressing issues.
Level Up Your Site's Membership Program - Live Webinar
November 17, 2026 | 3 - 4:15PM ET |
From low-hanging fruit to pie in the sky ideas, join us to discuss membership programs and learn how to assess and optimize yours for more revenue, retention, and engagement with your community. In this webinar we will identify opportunities for growth, flag practices to retire, and provide tips to stand out in crowded markets.
Onsite and Virtual Workshops
Workshops are one to two day in-person or virtual training events. We offer several workshops every year in various locations around the country as well as online. Each workshop offers participants a chance to engage in intensive learning and discussion with faculty and classmates.
Deaccessioning Deep Dive - (October 2026) - Virtual Workshop
October 21, 2026 | 1-4 PM ET | Deaccessioning Deep Dive - (October 2026) - Virtual Workshop
Your cabinets are full. History isn’t getting any shorter. Your museum is ready to refine its collection, getting rid of items that don't fit the mission that are draining your site's time, space, and funds. Join this workshop to learn about ethical and appropriate deaccessioning plans.
NAGPRA Essentials for History Organizations (Oct 2026) - Virtual Workshop
October 22, 2026 | 1 - 4 pm ET | NAGPRA Essentials for History Organizations is a half-day virtual workshop for history practitioners and administrators to learn about the principles and practices of the Native American Graves and Repatriation and Act and how it impacts their work.
Basics of Archives Management - (November 2026) - Virtual Workshop
November 18, 2026 | 2-5 PM ET | Basics of Archives Management - (November 2026) - Virtual Workshop
Basics of Fundraising - (November 2026) - Virtual Workshop
November 19, 2026 | 1-4 PM ET | Basics of Fundraising - (November 2026) - Virtual Workshop
Strengthening History Communication: Reframing the Value of History and Your Institution (January 2027) - Virtual Workshop
January 13, 2027 | 1 - 4 pm EST | Strengthening History Communication: Reframing the Value of History and Your Institution is a half-day virtual workshop for history practitioners to learn how to communicate about their work more effectively to the public and media.
Growing and Sustaining Your Membership Program - (January 2027) - Virtual Workshop
January 14, 2027 | 1-4 PM ET | Growing and Sustaining Your Membership Program - (January 2027) - Virtual Workshop
Instructor-Led Online Courses
Instructor-Led Online Courses are typically between four to eight weeks long. They offer each student a chance to engage deeply with subject material over an extended period of time. Keep on track with regular video chats and other interactions with accessible faculty, and discuss the course material with classmates in online forums.
Introduction to Financial Management (Winter 2027) - Online Course
January 11 - February 7 | Introduction to Financial Management is an AASLH online course. This four-week course, taught by instructor Rebekah Beaulieu, provides an introduction to financial concepts, from understanding expenses and income to how to establish an endowment. Successful completion of this course will earn one credit toward the Small Museum Pro! certificate from AASLH.
Museum Education and Outreach (Winter 2027) - Online Course
January 11 - March 7, 2027 | Museum Education and Outreach is an AASLH online course. This eight-week course, taught by instructor Bethany Hrachovec, teaches participants how they can facilitate visitors’ meaningful and memorable experiences in the informal environments of museums. Successful completion of this course will earn one credit toward the Small Museum Pro! certificate from AASLH.
Collections Management 100 - Collection Development (Winter 2027) - Online Course
January 11 - March 7, 2027| In this course, participants will learn about the general principles underlying the idea of being a “collecting organization,” and how collections support the mission of a museum or history organization. Students will explore the purpose of a Collection Management Policy and how it relates to other core museum documents, create the Foundational Statements and Collection Development sections of their collections management policy and operationalize those components using example objects.
Courses on Demand
AASLH Courses On Demand are online courses designed by history professionals that can be accessed and followed independently at any time. They offer accessible primers on relevant topics that can be completely customized to the student's schedule. Courses share presentations and readings, but do not include mandatory meeting times or instructor or classmate interaction.
Creating Engaging Social Media Content for History Organizations - On-Demand
In our increasingly online world, museums need to start thinking of social media as a program, not just as a marketing tool. In this course, we will learn some of the most effective strategies for engaging your audience on social media.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for History Organizations - On-Demand
For the first time in history, there are multiple generational cohorts in the workforce, and the cultural climate in the workplace has shifted. This course is designed to assist leaders in bringing awareness to cultural differences and backgrounds and train staff on how to celebrate them and work together. In this course, we will discuss what DEI is and to effectively drive it as a culture within your organization.
Program Planning for Nonprofits - On-Demand
In this course, students will be introduced to the Program Planning Cycle. The cycle includes identifying your organization’s needs, target audience, and resources. At the end of the course, students will have a framework to carry out program planning at their own organization, while having evaluated the current programs at their organization along the way.
