The AASLH Annual Meeting is a one-of-a-kind networking and learning opportunity for history professionals, historical sites, historical societies, history museums, military museums, libraries, presidential sites, students, suppliers, and more. Attendees share their passion, ideas, and knowledge with over 800 peers in the field of state and local history. The meeting provides an opportunity to learn from over 80 sessions and 17 pre-meeting workshops that directly relate to the latest issues and trends in the field.

From the New York State Council for the Social Studies and New York State Social Studies Supervisors Association Annual Conference website:

"As educators, we know all too well the importance of teaching our students about the past. Yes, we often reveal to them the magnitude of an event, but do we as historian Daniel Boorstein pointed out, also reveal that event's hidden turning points? Aren't these events equally, if not more important as we engage ourselves into the past? We only need to remind students why we study history; for if we don't then we are doomed to repeat our all too often tragedies. One only needs to examine post WWII genocides as an example of this.

So how can we, teaching 'the next generation,' be sure to emphasize the importance of history and social studies education, and hopefully help transform our future? It is with this theme and objective that I encourage you to place these dates on your calendars for our 72nd Annual Conference: 'Engaging the Past, To Transform Our Future.'

Our committee is busy planning an exciting program that will include a variety of workshops, an extensive museum showcase, a student showcase with live performances, enriching academic forums, a game show with attendees as contestants, and two leading experts as keynote speakers. Dr. David Parker, University of Minnesota, is considered a contemporary muckraker championing against child labor abuse worldwide. His photographs and dialogue will capture the hearts of all. Dr. Parker recently contributed an article in the American Educator titled: 'Before Their Time.' Joining David is Dr. Harry Reicher from the University of Pennsylvania and Touro law schools. Harry will raise the question of how the Nuremberg Laws 'legalized' the Holocaust."