U.S. History, 2010-2011

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When Adding Positions, Format Names of Universities/Colleges With "Heading 3"

Visitors to This Page:

 * 80


 * What's your status?
 * ABD: 24
 * VAP: 14
 * Postdoc: 11
 * TT but on the market: 13
 * Employed but reading out of curiosity: 14
 * Seach committee member: 3
 * Unemployed PhD: 4
 * Adjuncting PhD: 11
 * Lecturer: 2
 * Employed (non-academic) PhD and adjuncting: 3

Specialization breakdown:
 * 17th-18th Century: 9
 * 19th Century: 17
 * 20th Century: 48

Historian - U.S. House of Representatives

 * "The Historian provides historical research for House Members, and oversees the creation of presentations and publications by the office. The Historian supervises and oversees all responses to historical inquiries from the news media, oral history interviews, the Office’s interactive public website and other outreach activities touching Members, the public, students, teachers, and scholars. The Historian leads a staff of more than a dozen professionals including individuals holding M.A. and Ph.D. degrees."
 * Requires Ph.D. and five years experience.
 * Application due August 16, 2010.
 * I believe the previous Historian died suddenly of a heart attack. I've seen some of the Assistant Historians for the House and Senate make presentations at conferences, seems like interesting work.
 * If Bob Remini is dead, it's news to me.
 * Looks as though Dr. Remini, the House Historian, retired at the end of August. Richard A. Baker, Senate Historian, retired in 2009. (9/16)

Oakland Museum of California

 * "Currently seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as an Associate Curator of History. The incumbent performs various professional curatorial activities involving the research and development of collections, exhibits, publications, programs and other museum projects; on-going docent training, response to public queries, and donor cultivation."
 * For full details and how to apply, please visit http://museumca.org/employment-opportunities.


 * The Oakland Museum of California recently underwent a $62 million renovation.
 * Application sent (x2)
 * Is anyone else planning on sending in an application for this position? Yes (x1).
 * Has anyone heard anything yet? (9-21)
 * Nothing yet. (9-22)
 * Although only three people on this wiki have admitted to applying for the job, I imagine it's a highly desired position with quite a few applications. No reason to think it won't take a couple of weeks to sort through everything.
 * Agreed. It'll be especially interesting since this post didn't seem to have an exact due date and my gut tells me they are unlikely to do AHA interviews. Since it is on an entirely different track - I have no idea when interviews will be conducted. (9-23)
 * Received email that application has been received. (9-30) I did not hear anything today. (9-30)

American University

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in public history (geographical specialization/time period not listed, so I posted it here).
 * "The successful candidate should be able to teach graduate courses in public history, oversee internships, and develop new courses in one or more of the following areas: new media, community-based history, or cultural heritage/sites of conscience."
 * Applications due October 1, 2010.
 * They are looking for someone who can do 19th century, but they'll also consider a good 20th century person if he or she complements the work that Kathy Franz is doing.
 * They are especially interested in someone who can do digital media.
 * Advanced assistant highly desirable.

Angelo State University

 * Assistant Professor of History, tenure-track, 19th and 20th century United States military and diplomatic history, subfields may include, but are not limited to, American Civil War, global strategy,guerilla warefare, and non-U.S. military or diplomatic history.
 * Deadline: October 15, 2010

Dartmouth College

 * African-American history, open rank. The department "seeks a historian of the African diaspora in North America, prior to emancipation. The successful applicant will be expected to teach introductory as well as more specialized undergraduate courses in African-American and American history."
 * Deadline: November 1, 2010.
 * Everyone I've known there has been desperate to get out within a year or two. Location apparently sucks. They lost both of their African American historians in the last few years.
 * Hmmm...I've been to Dartmouth several times and Hanover is a beautiful town. It's in rural New Hampshire, which is difficult for someone who thrives in an urban environment, but it's a great community for those who can imagine life outside of a city. Plus, I wonder how many professors are really "desperate to get out" of a tenure-track gig at an Ivy League school!
 * maybe they've been hiring the wrong people, but of the six people i know who left Dartmouth in the last few years, 2 went to schools in Long Island, 1 to Boston, 1 to Manhattan, 1 to Chicago, and 1 to Eugene, OR. they liked the school, but couldn't stand the location. on the other hand, there are some folks in the history department who have been there a long time and must like it there a lot, so hopefully the department will hire someone who actually wants to be there as opposed to the hot young scholar who will pick up and leave at the first opportunity.
 * Interesting. This looks like one of the top jobs out there in US History. Perhaps the "standards" for tenure are very high and people leave... Hard to tell.
 * I've heard that the location is really a problem for some faculty, especially faculty of color. Plus, the department is rumored to be difficult. Celia Naylor went to Barnard. Craig Wilder went to MIT. I don't think tenure was a real issue.

Drake University (IA)

 * tenure-track Assistant Professorship in U.S. environmental history, law, and policy, starting August 2011. A Ph.D. in History is required.


 * We seek an excellent teacher and active scholar to fill a joint appointment and contribute courses to the History Department, as well as Drake's interdisciplinary Program in Law, Politics, and Society. Scholars working through issues raised by gender theory, urban history, and public health are especially encouraged to apply. Ability to teach Midwest regional history is a plus.


 * 3/3 load in an undergraduate curriculum, including required core courses in Law, Politics, and Society.


 * Deadline: November 1

Fairfield University

 * Fairfield University seeks a scholar of U.S. women's history, specializing in the 18th or 19th century, at the assistant professor level.
 * The successful candidate must develop a survey course on colonial America, as well as teach the core-curriculum introductory survey "Europe and the World in Transition, 1500-present." Other duties include working with the Women's Studies Program and possibly other area-studies programs such as Black Studies, depending on training. The successful candidate will also act as liaison with the Graduate Program in Education serving students preparing to teach at the secondary level.
 * Review of applications will begin on November 1, and will continue until position is filled. We will interview at AHA in January 2011, and deadline for interview at that conference is November 15.

Georgia Southern University

 * Tenure-track position of Assistant Professor of African American History.
 * Deadline: October 8, 2010.

Harvard Business School

 * Tenure-track position in the in the Business, Government, and the International Economy (BGIE) unit with experience in "history of public policy, economic history, political history, international history, legal history, or environmental history."
 * "Candidates with background in economics and/or public policy are especially encouraged to apply....Successful candidates will, at the outset, teach a required first-year MBA course on the economic, political, and social environment of global business."
 * Applications due November 22, 2010.

Indiana University East

 * Assistant Professor: "tenure-track position to teach courses, including online courses, in U.S. history, including survey courses, U.S. history to 1865, and specialty courses, in addition to courses in historical writing, theory and methods; ability to teach world history survey courses a plus."
 * "experience developing and teaching online courses (or a strong desire to learn) strongly preferred."
 * Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled
 * The on-line note is a red flag for this job. Unless you like that. I would check on their financial condition.

King's College

 * Tenure-track assistant professor who will teach one-semester surveys on American history within the Core curriculum and on American history for the history department. No research or teaching interests other than American history specified. 8/28
 * Deadline November 22, 2010

Missouri State University

 * A tenure-track position at the Assistant, Associate or Full Professor level in African American History. Period and research area are open. PhD in hand by the beginning of August 2011. Ability to enhance the African American Studies Program is preferred.
 * Screening of applicants will begin on September 27, 2010 and will continue until the position is filled.
 * Received letter acknowleding receipt of application (9/30).

National University

 * full-time appointment in U.S. History at our Academic Headquarters in La Jolla, California. Rank dependent on experience.
 * Review of applications began July 15, 2010
 * Having taught at a similar institution, I say with all seriousness: you may want to pass on this one (8/12)
 * to the poster above, can you expand on that comment? (8/24)
 * VERY limited resources; everything is about how much money you are bringing in; constant harassment about student enrollment numbers; felt like I was truly working for a corporation; was not a pleasasnt experience; so much happier that I'm not working for them anymore. I guess the bottom line is this: if you went into academia to be a bona fide professor, teaching at places like National will really diminish that experience. You'll feel like an employee at some glorified company that calls itself a university. I never felt like a real professor (8/30)
 * Received an email requesting a phone interview. But the above exchange leaves me quite a bit less excited than I might be. (9/13)
 * Phone interviews will be completed today. They're hoping for someone who can start in Jan (!) (9/30)
 * Apparently they will invite candidates to their La Jolla campus for further interviews at the end of October. (9/30)

New York University

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in Asian American or Asian diaspora studies
 * Applications due November 15, 2010

Oxford University
(And if we're playing 'I'm an anonymous person but please respect my authority and believe my claims about my experience'...I've also been involved in job searches, except my experience is with Oxbridge Professorships, so actually of relevance, and I have never seen an application from a *student* - i.e. non-completed PhD - for such a position. It is not normal practice here, whatever is common in Illinois).
 * Rhodes Professorship of American History. Open to scholars of any period of the history of the United States and its antecedents. Its holder is the senior member of a group of five American historians in the Oxford Centre for Research in US History, housed in and supported by the Rothermere American Institute.
 * Deadline October 4, 2010
 * Is anyone applying for this job??
 * Seems like it would be beyond our reach, no?
 * What or who do you mean by our reach? Americans? Individuals outside the US, in addition to historians at various stages in their careers, look at this wiki. I don't know what you mean.
 * not the OP, but...this is a UK professorship, not a US professorship; that means it's two promotions above a fully tenured appointment (lecturer is tenured, then senior lecturer, then - rarely! - professor). It's probably one of the most prestigious (or at least coveted) positions in American history in the whole country. Therefore it's an *extremely* senior hire, and I would sincerely doubt that anyone genuinely a contender for this position would need this wiki to learn about it, or track when interviews are being held.
 * With this sort of position, they have 2-3 candidates already in mind, and their top choice was probably identified before the ad was even written. Basically, John Thompson is retired and they need a new senior person in his place. [John Thompson retired the better part of 5 years ago after teaching at Cambridge for 40 years. It's to replace Richard Carwardine. Prior to Carwardine the chair was held by Daniel Howe if that gives you an idea of the calibre they're looking for.]
 * I thought they were looking for someone ABD for this.
 * Based on what exactly? Wishful thinking? (9/20)
 * I just have a good feeling about it. I think when they see my file, they'll know I'm the person for the job. (Actually, I was kidding with this comment, but I suppose there's no place for humor in the dead serious world of the wiki).
 * I'm sorry, I can just imagine some poor ABD sitting at the other end of a computer screen saying, "But why wouldn't they want to hire ME?!?"
 * To be fair to the ABD person above and with all due respect to the much needed humor, could they have been looking at this job? https://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=41196
 * You should apply for all jobs for which you qualify. Getting a job is the only reason to apply for a job, of course, but there are additional benefits even if you don't get the job. Influential people in your field become acquainted with your name and work. They follow your career as you start to publish, perhaps win awards, etc. They might invite you to participate in a conference or join a workshop. So, apply.
 * Uh, I think advising an ABD to apply so that their name is 'known' is cruel, given that their name will be 'known' (if their CV even makes it past the administrator, which it probably won't) for not having a fricking clue about this position and/or having a massively inflated sense of their abilities!
 * I agree that it's probably a good idea to apply for all jobs for which you qualify. There are lots of reasons to do so. With that said, the job here--Rhodes Professorship--is not for someone who is ABD. S/he wouldn't qualify nor would an assistant professor.
 * There's nothing "cruel" about it. Applying for jobs at big name universities is one way to draw attention to your work. Everyone knows the score, and those profs at Oxford are advising their students to apply for everything as well. You have nothing to lose but your stamps. You may not get that job at Oxford, Harvard, or wherever, but prominent people in your field will now be aware of your name and that you are working on an important topic in your field (and, by the way, "administrators" don't nix files. The secretaries set up the files and the search committees paw through them. Each member of the committee has his or her favorites and they debate the merits and come to some sort of agreement).
 * As the commenter above has pointed out, AGAIN, a UK professorships is a senior hire. An ABD applying to this is doing nothing for themselves except making it obvious that they're a. too ill-informed to know what a UK Professorship is and/or b. obnoxiously pushy. If you want to get 'known' go to a conference, don't waste people's time sending them applications which they won't read once they've glanced at your CV! It's not going to impress anyone. I can absolutely confirm that 'profs' at Oxford are NOT advising their yet-to-finish Phd students to apply - that would be ludicrous!
 * Well, I've served on 8 search committees at an elite research university over the course of 17 years and I can tell you for a fact that people at all levels apply for all levels of jobs (senior people also apply for assistant professorships). When an ABD applies for a senior position, you don't think they're "pushy." You know they are doing everything they can to get a job. If the search is in your own field (and most committee members have something to do with the search field), you take note of the person if you think they have potential. True, you might not take the time to read their writing sample (at least in its entirety), but you will read their letter and CV and, if your curiosity is piqued, their recommendations. You might even thumb through the writing sample. One advantage of serving on a search committee (because it is a very heavy service obligation) is that you get to know who's doing what in your field. But, hey, if you don't like this advice, don't follow it.
 * Kind of sad that we're all so desperate that an obvious joke (not made by me) spun out of control like this, but on the other hand, it did lead to some interesting advice.
 * Yeah, the advice is "the UK job market is not identical to the US one, and if you follow instructions given by people who've no idea how it works on the other side of the Atlantic, you'll look like a tit!" :D
 * Having served on a CHAIR SEARCH COMMITTEE in which three ABD's sent in application materials, I personally can attest that it looks foolish for both the applicants and their advisors. How can an ABD claim to be able to lead a department with several well-published full and associate professors and not expect to be seen as anything but foolish, pushy, and utterly obnoxious? I'm not in the UK, but I would heed the sage words of the previous poster.
 * I think I've misinterpreted the purpose of this web site. I'm really sorry if I've insulted anybody or given advice that others think is unwarranted. I just thought I was being helpful but I guess I was not. I'm really sorry. I'll save my advice for those who ask for it. Goodbye.

Rutgers University.

 * U.S. Women’s and Gender History, rank and field open, for a position to begin in July 2011.
 * Application (online) due Nov. 1, 2010.
 * Received email confirming that my application was received (09/29/10)

Texas A&M University

 * One or two tenure-track assistant professorships to begin in September 2011 in the history of the United States in the nineteenth century and/or the history of the United States in the twentieth century. All fields of specialization are welcome for both positions... "We especially encourage candidates whose work crosses geographical, racial, ethnic, gender, and/or cultural borders and who present their research in a broad comparative framework."
 * Deadline: November 8, 2010.

Texas State University San Marcos

 * Tenure-track assistant or associate professorship in the history of War and Society since 1750. Posted 9/24: https://h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=41290.

Towson University

 * Assistant Professor, African American History All fields EXCEPT post 1945.
 * Electronic applications only. Send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, course syllabi, official graduate school transcripts, and a writing sample (article or dissertation chapter) to histsearchafam@towson.edu by October 11, 2010.

University of California-Berkeley

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in U.S. History. "Scholars in the fields of women, gender, and sexuality and/or the history of slavery are especially encouraged to apply."
 * Applications due October 1, 2010.
 * Any inside info on whether a history of slavery specialty will be considered without a women/gender/sexuality specialty? The job description makes it seem like they really want both, but that "and/or" bit muddles things a bit.
 * It sounds like they are not exactly sure which field they want, I think the slavery specialty is in addition to the rest and not instead of the other areas but this could also be a way to hedge one's bets.
 * Well ok - two things: the first is that Berkeley hasn't had anyone doing women, gender, and sexuality primarily for a number of years now. The second is that they are probably trying to replace Jennifer Spear, who left a few years ago - she did slavery with an emphasis on gender and sexuality issues.
 * Not promising that they use the grammatically redundant "and/or" when "or" means the same thing.
 * Not really. They obviously want someone in the history of slavery who works on gender and sexuality. But they need specialists in both fields, so they are advertising in both fields, hoping they'll get someone with both specializations but, at the very least, they'll get a specialist in one of the fields. This is very common in departments that need to fill 2 slots but are only given 1 slot by the Dean. It's always best to have at least 2 very strong specializations when you are on the market because you'll appeal to multiple constituencies in a department. Examples: urban history AND gender history; labor history AND African American history; military history AND cultural history, etc.
 * They are filling two positions, actually.
 * According to the link above, the position is listed as a single hire. If they were looking to fill two positions, they would post two notices, I should think.
 * I just want to clarify as someone with a reasonably connected grapevine, I have heard that the SC will be considering making two hires out of the applicant pool. (8/30)
 * on "reasonably connected grapevine" unless you know this directly from the department or sc, doesn't mean much.
 * Isn't that the point of this entire wiki? To share rumor and gossip with eager young applicants who don't stand a chance at a position like this? (8/31)
 * There are two separate job posts: one for women, gender, or slavery at assistant level AND the other for european history for assistant or associate level.
 * Ok, kiddos. I'm going to try this one more time. The rumor is that Berkeley will try to hire TWO US historians from the applicant pool brought together for this job ad. It has nothing to do with the European history search, as mentioned above. (9/3)
 * I buy that.
 * I received some confirmation that Berkeley will attempt to hire two historians from this search. It depends on the funding and how much they like the applicant pool. (9/16)
 * I'm at Berkeley and my informal understanding is that they want someone who does women/gender/sexuality but were worried they might not fill the position, so they added the slavery thing as well, because that's also something they've needed since Leon Litwack retired. I doubt they are seriously thinking about hiring people outside of those two specialties, despite the open-ended nature of the ad. I haven't heard anything about the possibility of them making two hires, but it seems plausible enough (9/17). Scratch that last bit: they're indeed hoping to make two hires (9/23).


 * What's this?! A rumor on the wiki turned out to be TRUE?! It is almost hard to believe. (9/24)
 * CALLED IT FIRST, Y'ALL.
 * So, at the end of my assigned url for letters of reference is the number 423. I'm not overly computer savvy, but do you think this means mine is the 423rd application they've received? Good luck, y'all.
 * To you as well. My url for letters of reference also ended in 423. I do not think it's an indication of where you are in the queue. (Though I don't doubt it's a crowded field!)

University of California Merced

 * Tenure Track Faculty, Assistant Professor. US History with an emphasis on comparative race and ethnicity and a research focus on Chicano/a and/or Latino/a topics.
 * Deadline: 11/15/10

University of California, San Diego

 * Assistant Professor, African-American History; "Preference will be given to scholars at the Assistant Professor level but excellent candidates at other levels will also be seriously considered. Chronological period and specialization are open. We welcome applications that fall under the broad conceptual rubric of the African Diaspora, as well as those with a particular focus on North America."
 * Review of applicants will begin November 1 and will continue until position is filled.

University of Hawai‘i - West O‘ahu

 * tenure-track assistant or associate professor in U.S. history. Position also entails teaching courses in world civilizations, and "an interest, and ability to teach a secondary field in Hawai‘i or Pacific history."
 * review of applications begins after October 1

University of Houston

 * Tenure-track assistant professor of Latino/a History with expertise in transnational issues
 * Application due Dec. 1, 2010

University of Northumbria (UK)

 * Lecturer/Senior Lecturer (tenured position) in 'American History, pre-1945)
 * It is likely that the search committee want this position to start in the academic year 2010-11
 * "You will be an early career or established research active academic with a relevant PhD and/or equivalent postgraduate or professional qualification/experience"
 * Deadline: 19 August 2010
 * Selection date: 19 October 2010

University of Rhode Island

 * Deadline: November 1. Apply at https://jobs.uri.edu
 * Details from HR posting: "Teach the first half of the U.S. survey, an introductory course in environmental history, an upper level history course on the Civil War, and other courses in the area of specialization."
 * anyone have more info on this? seems like an odd assortment!

University of South Carolina, Beaufort

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in US history
 * Specialization should include Southeast, especially South Carolina and Georgia low country

University of Texas at Dallas

 * Tenure-track Assistant Professor of American History, specializing in nineteenth or twentieth-century Women’s and/or Gender History.
 * Application review will begin November 15, 2010, and will continue until the position is filled.

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in U.S. Environmental History. "The successful candidate will teach a 4-4 load comprised of two or three preps consisting of a combination of U.S. History survey sections, a global/comparative environmental history course, and one upper level U.S. environmental history."
 * Applications due November 29, 2010.

Wayne State University

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in 19th and 20th century U.S. urban history
 * Application deadline not specified on H-net; looks like November 15, 2010

West Virginia State

 * full-time, tenure track, assistant professor beginning January 15, 2011.
 * Applicants must possess a terminal degree in history and must have a strong background in United States history, as well as a general knowledge of Western Civilization. Research and teaching experience in public history, local and regional history would also be helpful.
 * Applications due October 15, 2010. Review of apps begins October 15, but they won't consider any postmarked later than September 30.

William Jewell College

 * Tenure-track assistant or associate professor in U.S. History. "Primary field in United States history, colonial or 19th century preferred, secondary field(s) in Latin America, East Asia, and/or Sub-Saharan Africa highly desirable."
 * Applications due October 1, 2010.

California State University-Northridge

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in the "history of the United States, Colonial to 1824, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic desirable." Also looking for "ability to teach courses covering the broader Atlantic world."
 * Applications due November 15, 2010 but will be accepted until the position is filled.

Colby College

 * Assistant professor in Colonial and Early American History (pre-1600 to 1820), ability to teach the American Revolution or Native American history a plus.
 * Applications due November 15, 2010.
 * I see that Colby is once again searching for an early Americanist--something like the sixth time in as many years, at least. What's the deal there? Can they just not keep anybody, is the department tough to work with, is the salary too low, or what?
 * This position was advertised last year but changed to a VAP, no?
 * Yes, but now it's tenure-track. I just wonder why they can't seem to keep anybody in that particular position. Have they just had bad luck hiring folks who leave later for their own reasons? I'm interested, but want to know the lay of the land.
 * Last year's wiki suggests the department cancelled the search after the committee was too divided to settle on one candidate - does anyone know if this is department doublespeak or not?
 * Colby's last Early Americanist left for McGill about 2 years ago; last year's committee brought candidates to campus but no offer was extended. Unlcear if committee was divided, candidates were underwhelming, or a strange combination.

College of Wooster

 * Early America/United States History Before 1877.
 * The successful candidate will be expected to teach the U.S. history survey and upper-level courses in his/her area of specialization, including a course or courses that could be cross-listed in the College’s program in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
 * Applications received by November 15, 2010 will receive full consideration.
 * This college has a good reputation in Ohio and it is a good job. Location is not great but certainly worth applying.
 * "Location is not great" is in the eye of the beholder, the campus is beautiful, in a town with a rich intellecttual tradition, a short driving distance from several major metropolitan areas (Cleveland and Columbus). New York City it isn't, but it has manifest charms for those willing to "be where they are."

East Tennesee State University

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in Early American History (to 1815)
 * Application Due: 12/31/2010

Georgia Gwinnett College

 * GGC invites applicants for faculty positions in Colonial America/Early Republic History starting August 1, 2011. The primary teaching responsibilities for this position include lower-division US and World history surveys, but the ability to teach an upper-division course on the history of Colonial America, as well as to develop more focused courses within the candidate's field of specialization is desired.
 * Open until filled.
 * "In accordance with Board of Regents Policy governing GGC faculty, successful applicants will be eligible to receive 5 or 3 year renewable appointments. Traditional one year appointments may also be approved."

Mary Baldwin College

 * tenure-track assistant professorship in early American history (1600-1820)
 * Secondary field in Virginia history, American religious history, American West, or Appalachian history desired.
 * Review of applications will begin November 10.
 * You might want to check into the financial condition of this institution. It was mentioned in a Chronicle column concerning institutions with some financial issues.

Marietta College (OH)

 * tenure-track, assistant professor position in the social history of colonial North America.
 * Teaching responsibilities include both halves of the US survey, and upper division courses in the candidate's areas of interest. Ability to teach courses in the area of race and/or gender is preferred.
 * Deadline: Oct. 31

Princeton University

 * Tenure-track assistant professor on the American Revolution and 18th Century North American history.
 * Applications due October 15, 2010.

Providence College

 * Tenure-track assistant professorship in Colonial American and Atlantic World history beginning fall 2011.


 * Specialization in ethnic or immigration history, religious history, or political history desirable. Competence to teach in the Development of Western Civilization program and the American surveys is required.


 * Deadline: October 29

SUNY Buffalo

 * Tenure-track assistant professorship in the history of the era of the American Revolution and/or the Early Republic.
 * Deadline: November 1

University of Cincinnati

 * Review of materials will begin December 1, 2010.
 * tenure-track, assistant professor position in the history of colonial British North America. Specialists in Native American history or the Atlantic World are encouraged to apply.
 * The candidate should expect to participate in teaching the United States surveys as well as undergraduate and graduate courses in his/her specialty.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

 * tenure-track beginning assistant professor position in American history, colonial through the early national periods (1600s to 1815)
 * All subfields invited to apply; department especially welcomes applicants working in Atlantic world, borderlands, slave trade and slavery, gender and sexuality, military, legal or environmental history.
 * All materials (including letters of reference) must be submitted by the closing date of November 8, 2010.

University of Southern California

 * Assistant Professor, early modern North America and/or the Atlantic World: "a scholar of the history and culture of early modern North America and/or the Atlantic World whose teaching and research interests fall primarily in the period from the sixteenth century through the eighteenth century."
 * We welcome applications from candidates with expertise on any region or culture of North America and/or the Atlantic World, including scholars of the Anglo-American colonies, indigenous peoples, New France, northern New Spain, and the Caribbean.
 * Applications including a c.v. and three letters of recommendation must be sent by November 10, 2010, to [mailto:earlymodern@college.usc.edu earlymodern@college.usc.edu].

Utah State

 * tenure-track, assistant professorship in Colonial and Revolutionary America (to 1800)
 * Review of applications begins 18 October 2010 and continues until position is filled.

Yale University

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in Early American History.
 * Deadline September 1, 2010
 * My understanding is that they searched for a senior hire last year, but that search failed. So this REALLY is a search for an assistant level hire. Albeit, a really good one.
 * Got letter saying my materials were received.
 * Have not received letter yet. Should I be worried? How many have received a letter? (9/16)
 * I just received ethnicity/race survey, but nothing else. (9/16)
 * Sent materials via e: & snail mail ("deadline September 1" wasn't clear to me -- materials in hand, or merely postmarked?) and received confirmation the same way just after Labor Day. The paper letter also included the AfAc card to return anonymously. (9/16)

19th Century
Man-o-man. Could 19th century be any worse?

Yup, half of these could be cancelled. Are we missing anything here? hnet, aha, chron of higher education? is this it?

Don't forget to check the "Multiple/Open" section at the top of this page; many of these either specify a 19th c. speciality, or are at least open as to time period.

It was just as bad, or even worse, last year.... But getting better of late?

Yes I'd say that, with the recent job postings, it's getting better, but still tight. (9/28)

Boston College

 * Tenure-track, open rank position in 19th Century U.S. History. "Scholars with specializations in political, socio-economic and cultural history are encouraged to apply; and nominations are also encouraged."
 * Review of applications begins October 1st, 2010.
 * I have a feeling there may be an inside candidate here. Can anyone closer to the situation comment?
 * There is no point in applying for this position. Christian Samito is getting the job. I can’t see anyone beating him.


 * Were I the inside candidate, I'd sure appreciate people putting the competition off!
 * Christian Samito earned his PhD from Boston College--would this not exclude him as a candidate for a tenure-track position???
 * No, it doesn't exclude him for the position. I'm starting to think that he is the inside candidate. His book was just published. But, in that case, why is the job ad so open?
 * There is every point in applying for this position--it is an excellent position at a very good institution in a strong department. Worrying about a potential internal candidate is really a waste of time. The job ad is open and at all ranks. This is telling.
 * Samito rocks. His publications are better than most tenured professors. I would give him tenure immidiately.
 * Maybe he does, but that means very little. Tenure immediately? Wow, he must be stellar. People should still apply.
 * I would ABSOLUTELY still apply. BC takes their searches really seriously, and I am certain that all candidates would be fully evaluated.
 * psyched out?
 * Word on the "street" is that this is a replacement for David Quigley, going into BC admin, and that the candidate of choice will focus on Civil War and Recon. Also, it's likely they will want an established historian.
 * I heard the same thing: They are definitely looking for a senior hire.
 * Received email confirmation of application and diversity forms (10/4)

Colorado State University-Pueblo

 * Assistant Professor of History - Nineteenth Century America (tenure-track)
 * The occupant of this position will teach history classes covering nineteenth-century America, especially the American Civil War. Other possible but not required subfields the department would like the candidate to teach are women's history, Native American history, African American history and historiography. Knowledge and or experience teaching historiography and/or the history of a continent besides North America will be especially welcome.
 * Applicant materials received by December 1, 2010 are ensured full consideration; position is open until filled.

East Tennessee State University

 * tenure-track assistant professor in Nineteenth Century Appalachian History.
 * Desirable sub-fields would include public history, environmental history, or other specialties that complement Department offerings. The standard teaching load is 3/3.
 * Application Due: 12/31/2010

Georgia College and State University

 * Assistant Professor: "historian in the field of Civil War and Reconstruction history."
 * Special consideration will be given to those candidates who can teach upper-level courses in one or more of the following areas: women’s history, slavery, the African diaspora and Atlantic World, and nineteenth-century American South.
 * Review of applications will begin November 15, 2010 and continue until the position is filled.

New York University

 * Tenure-track, assistant professor in 19th century U.S. history, including transnational approaches. "The department especially encourages applications from candidates working on slavery, legal history, political economy, or gender."
 * Deadline for applications (online) is November 15, 2010.

Old Dominion University

 * Tenure-track, assistant professor in modern American History (late 19th-early 20th century).


 * "Specialty open, but preference for a transnational perspective, including the history of immigration, the environment, or economic interactions."


 * Review of applications begins October 15, 2010.

Saint Louis University (MO)

 * Assistant Professor: "full time tenure-track position in United States history in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. The department is open to all subfields but encourages applications in gender, immigration, and religion."
 * Review of applications will begin November 15 and will continue until the position is filled.

Salisbury University

 * This one was cancelled last year due to budget issues. Looks like a really nice area to live and work.
 * Assistant Professor of History, 19th and early 20th Century America, Cultural/Intellectual.
 * Applications received by November 15, 2010 will be given first consideration.
 * It is a very isolated part of Maryland but unique too.

University of Chicago

 * Tenure-track Assistant Professor in the field of nineteenth century US history.
 * "The area of specialization is open, although the Department encourages candidates to apply who are working on culture, the visual arts, law, economics or governance."
 * Deadline is January 7, but review begins on November 1, and "early application is strongly recommended."
 * Whose job is this??
 * Inside word is that this is a replacement for either Neil Harris or Bill Novak depending on strength of pool.

University of Mississippi

 * tenure-track assistant professor with a specialization in the history of the United States during the Civil War Era.
 * The teaching load will be two courses per semester.
 * Responsibilities will include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and helping to further the program of the department’s Center for Civil War Research (http://www.civilwarcenter.olemiss.edu).
 * Open until filled; applications completed by November 5, 2010 are guaranteed full consideration.

University of Oklahoma - The Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage in the Department of Classics and Letters

 * Assistant or Associate Professor. "The applicant should have a speciality in American intellectual history, political culture, or political theory of the 19th or early 20th century with consequences for our understanding of American constitutionalism."
 * Deadline: November 1, 2010.

West Virginia University

 * Associate or Full Professor in American Civil War Studies.
 * Deadline: Oct. 15, 2011.

Bowling Green State University

 * Two tenure track assistant professor positions in 20th century US history: (1) African American and (2) Diplomatic/Military


 * Diplomatic History: diplomacy, international relations, conflict resolution, and US military campaigns of the 20th century. Expertise in the history of US involvement in the Middle East or Southeast Asia is highly desirable.


 * African American History: expertise in policy history and women's history highly desirable


 * Applications due November 30, 2010
 * You might want to check the status of their Ph.D. Program. I have heard it might be terminated. Lots of retirements by the looks of it.

California Polytechnic State, San Luis Obispo, CA

 * Tenure track assistant professor in 20th-century history. "Specialization in political, U.S. and the world, or public history. Ability to teach both halves of the U.S. survey desired."
 * Review of applications begins November 15, 2010
 * Any idea if they're going to attempt to fill more than one line? These are pretty disparate specialties. (9/27)

Colby College (VAP/Faculty Fellow)

 * One-year replacement position in Modern (Twentieth-Century) U.S. History. "The successful candidate would be expected to teach four courses, including a survey of U. S. history since 1865, one course in African American history, and two courses in twentieth-century U.S. history."
 * Applications due December 1, 2010.

Cornell University

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in 20th Century U.S. History focusing on political, economic, or constitutional/legal history.
 * Applications accepted between September 1 and October 8, 2010.
 * Is this basically for someone slipping into Polenberg's position as he winds down? (Looks like he's teaching a course per year.)
 * yes. he is on phased retirement.
 * Thanks for the word.
 * A/A link received via regular mail. Chair's letter states "we will be in contact with you in due course." (9/17)

Cornell University (ILR)

 * Tenure-track Assistant Professor position in 19th or 20th Century US History in the Department of Labor Relations, Law, and History, within the ILR School. "We are interested in social, political, or policy historians whose scholarship engages questions of work, inequality, the economy, or political culture. We are particularly interested in scholars whose work places the U. S. in an interdisciplinary, comparative, and/or transnational perspective."
 * Applications due October 1, 2010.
 * Anyone know the details on the ILR School?
 * It is the College of Industrial & Labor Relations. Several US historians have appointments in it. This is a part of the State Univ of NY, founded after WWII to train leaders of the labor movement. Now it is a small, general undergraduate social science college, primarity for residents of NY state. Many of the students treat it as a pre-law curriculum. It is the smallest undergraduate college at Cornell.
 * Received acknowledgement and request for ethnographic details 9/20
 * Ethnographic details? Like how you would work as a participant observer? Their most prominent labor historians are Nick Salvatore and Jefferson Cowie. So I wonder whether this position complements or replaces them.
 * It is a replacement for Clete Daniel, who died suddenly last spring.
 * Oh, that's sad. He was apparently a great teacher. Now I feel bad for being a smartass.
 * The H-net ad made it seem like one could apply online (link: "apply here") -- but it just gives a snail mail address. Guess I'll be printing and putting something in the mail, or are people emailing stuff to Salvatore? Or is there a web form I'm missing?
 * I applied for the other job at Cornell (not ILR) and had the same question. I just snail mailed and it was ok.

Georgia Gwinnett College

 * GGC invites applicants for faculty positions in the history of the 20th Century United States starting August 1, 2011. The primary teaching responsibilities for this position include lower-division US and World history surveys, but the ability to teach an upper-division course on the history of the United States since 1945, as well as to develop more focused courses within the candidate's field of specialization is desired.
 * Open Until Filled
 * "In accordance with Board of Regents Policy governing GGC faculty, successful applicants will be eligible to receive 5 or 3 year renewable appointments. Traditional one year appointments may also be approved."

Gustavus Adolphus College

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in 20th Century U.S. History.


 * "We seek candidates [...] in one of the following areas: U.S. in a global context, the environment, and/or popular culture. The successful candidate should have an interest in developing and implementing curricula that address multicultural issues."


 * Application due November 5, 2010.

Morgan State University

 * Tenure-track assistant or associate professor in 20th century African American history with sub-specialties in gender/women's studies and diasporic studies
 * Application due Dec. 1, 2010

Moravian College

 * post-1877 American historian
 * Deadline: November 10, 2010

University of New Hampshire

 * Tenure Track Assistant Professor of History, U.S. since 1930 (all specliazations)
 * Deadline: November 1, 2010
 * Note: I cannot find an H-Net or AHA posting for this job, though I contacted Ellen Fitzpatrick, the chair of the search, and she assures me it is still open (10/4)
 * Send letter of application, CV, and 3 letters of reference to Professor Ellen Fitzpatrick, Chair of the Search Committee, Department of History, Horton Social Science Center, University of New Hampshire, 20 Academic Way, Durham, NH 03824-3586
 * This was posted to the AHA on 8/20.
 * Huh - that's what I thought, but I couldn't find it by searching through their jobs... (and no one put it up here...)
 * Posted on H-Net today (10/5).

Northwestern University

 * Open rank. "Senior candidates should demonstrate distinction and national reputations in their fields; junior candidates should demonstrate high promise of excellence in scholarship and teaching."
 * October 1, 2010.
 * Several years ago Northwestern ran a search for two 20th c. U.S. historians, one junior and one senior, at least one of which had to be U.S. in the World. Now they're running this open-rank search for a 20th c. U.S. person and another search for a junior U.S. in International History person. Is this the same search revived several years later? I don't know what happened to the earlier search.
 * Yeah, I recall the same search. This one seems open to all fields rather than just "U.S. in/and the world" or whatever it was. The "open rank" part of this might scare me off, though. If they are going to be bombarded with app's from full professors, it might not be worth the effort.
 * They hired Michael Allen for the 20th-c position. They continue to search for a US international historian. This search is to replace Nancy MacLean.
 * A look at their web site shows that they have four lecturers (almost all with PhDs from very good schools) who all teach some aspect of 20th century U.S. Does anyone know if they are all inside candidates or if Northwestern makes a practice of not hiring lecturers onto the tenure-track?
 * They are not inside candidates.
 * Lecturing is very much a double-edged sword in these cases. Sometimes it can serve as a trial run for a TT position -- you'll get on the radar screen of faculty, and they'll decide that you're ready for a permanent gig. But I've seen it work out differently as well -- faculty will think you're old hat, and that someone shiny and new from a different place is somehow better simply because s/he isn't so familiar.
 * Received e-mail confirmation that my application was received. (9/16)
 * Have those who applied since 9/16 received confirmation of receipt? I emailed my materials on 9/22 but no word yet. Thanks.
 * I applied 9/22 via email and have not received confirmation either. I'm hoping they're just swamped. (x2)
 * I got an "Equal Opportunity Employment Self-Identification" email on 10/4

Notre Dame

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in 20th Century Cultural and/or Social History
 * Applications due October 1, 2010.
 * Received acknowledgment (09/24/10) (x3).

Old Dominion University

 * Tenure-track, assistant professor in modern American History (late 19th-early 20th century).


 * "Specialty open, but preference for a transnational perspective, including the history of immigration, the environment, or economic interactions."


 * Review of applications begins October 15, 2010.

Rider University

 * Assistant Professor, 20th Century U.S. History, "who focuses on women's history/gender history, immigration history and/or ethnic studies".
 * Application (online) due November 1, 2010.

Rochester Institute of Technology

 * Tenure-track, assistant professor in 20th century US History, with a preferred focus in post-1945, public, or science/medicine/technology.
 * Application due November 15, 2010

Saint Louis University (MO)

 * Assistant Professor: "full time tenure-track position in United States history in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. The department is open to all subfields but encourages applications in gender, immigration, and religion."
 * Review of applications will begin November 15 and will continue until the position is filled.

Texas Christian University

 * Assistant or Associate Professr in 20th Century U.S. history with a research specialty in Urban history, African American history, or Mexican American history.
 * Application due November 25, 2010.
 * This institution has lots of money for research and a very good reputation in Texas. Also, a good location, TX wise.

University of Connecticut

 * Tenure-track assistant professorship in post-1945 United States history. "Preferred Qualifications: research specialization in law and society or political history, with interests in political economy, globalization, or human rights"
 * Application due: October 29, 2010.
 * Any speculation or inside info on this one? (I am trying to parse out the importance of the tail end -- "political economy, globalization, or human rights.")
 * I'm not sure there's any inside info to be had. In recent years the department and university have really pushed the globalization and human rights angle at all levels and in all fields (from an endowed chair to a 100-level survey course on human rights). It looks like they want someone who can contribute to that.

University of Tampa

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in US History since 1877
 * Desirable fields: US South, Florida and the Caribbean, labor, immigration, environment, or sexuality.
 * Application due: November 15, 2010

University of Toledo

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in U.S. Social and Cultural History, post 1920 preferred. Preference for speciality in labor and urban history.
 * Position begins January 2011.
 * Applications due August 15, 2010.
 * Any word on this one yet? Is there an inside candidate?
 * Got letter saying that materials had been received back in August - nothing else since then.
 * Phone interview scheduled for Oct. 1

Wellesley College

 * Full-time, tenure-track assistant professorship in twentieth-century U.S. history, research specialization is open.
 * Applications due October 15, 2010.
 * Does anyone know if this job is real/what's up with the dept? They've been running a search for a 19th centuryist since I've been on the market (5 years now) and cancel it after oncampus every year; I'm wondering if the 20th-cen job is going to be subject to the same endless circle.
 * If it makes you feel any better, last year's 19th-century search most definitely resulted in a hire.
 * Does anyone know if they would like separate statements of teaching philosophy and research interests, or if these should be included in the cover letter?
 * Not sure either, but I'm going to put it in the cover letter (i.e. the "detailed" part) 9/14
 * It seems like they have hired several people over the past several years. Lots of younger faculty.
 * This is an excellent position and is highly desirable.

California State University-Fullerton

 * "The History Department at California State University, Fullerton invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor of the history of the U.S. and the World, any time period. In addition to teaching courses in the history of the U.S. in a transnational world as well as the history of U.S. foreign relations, the successful candidate will be able to teach the world history survey courses and U.S. survey courses, advanced undergraduate courses in the area of specialization, and courses in historical writing, theory, and methods. The successful candidate will be competent in a language appropriate to the research specialization."
 * Application due November 8, 2010
 * Anyone able to discern what the teaching load is for this position? A: I believe the usual for a Cal State school is something like 3 or 4 courses per quarter/semester.
 * Why did all the conversation that occurred on this job search - i.e., the adjunct who wrote in to talk about working conditions at Fullerton - get deleted from this post? I can't help but wonder who is censoring information like this when this is supposed to be a place to dialogue about the good, the bad and the ugly. I remember the chair wrote in at one point to dispute what the adjunct had said, but where did all of this information go? Did the chair of the program at Fullerton delete this posting? Just curious (10-5).
 * A: Part of it was moved to the Discussion page.

Colgate University

 * Tenure-track assistant professor position in Peace and Conflict studies.
 * The Program is particularly interested in candidates whose scholarship focuses on the structural dynamics of trans-national or trans-regional conflicts, and who engage sophisticated methodological and theoretical approaches in their study. Empirical grounding in a particular conflict history, region, transnational, or transglobal system or process is highly desirable
 * Applications due October 25, 2010

Embry-Riddle University

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in US foreign relations
 * Applications due November 15, 2010

Louisiana Tech

 * Tenure-track position for FALL 2010 " to teach survey courses in world and United States history, and advanced and graduate courses in U.S. diplomatic history, modern western European history, and other area(s) of specialization as determined by qualifications."


 * "Secondary area(s) must be compatible with needs of department."


 * Applications being considered immediately.
 * One should note this position was listed as "US history, post 1815"
 * 7/26: Received notice that the search has been canceled for budgetary reasons. Possiblity of reopening for 2011.

Northwestern University

 * Assistant professorin the field of the United States in International History.
 * Candidates should expect to offer a teaching sequence in U.S. foreign relations, broadly conceived, as well as more specialized courses.
 * Application due November 1, 2010.
 * FWIW a few years ago one of the top profs here was on an AHA panel on job searching and said that anyone whose recs did not bear the current year's date was immediately dismissed from consideration. Since my &^(% advisor can't be bothered to update my recs, and I'd spent a load of time on applying to a job there, it ticked me off, but now it might be useful to somebody!
 * I agree with the above. I know that several search committees only count current letters (the calendar year), so out of date letters are not useful at all.
 * It is very sad to hear these stories of utter professional negligence on the part of academics - I am on the employed side of the fence, just tenured and assigned to an administrative post in my department and the more I learn about the malfeasance, laziness, and outright acts of career sabotage inflicted on grad students seeking jobs the more depressed I become...
 * Glad to see someone on "that" side of fence (for once) actually writes from the cuff. Thank you. But...you may want to take note that it's not only "grad students" seeking jobs...(9/5)
 * Point taken re: not only "grad students" seeking, but I assumed that someone relying so heavily on her/his advisor could not be all that far removed from that status...
 * Several years ago Northwestern ran a search for two 20th c. U.S. historians, one junior and one senior, at least one of which had to be U.S. in the World. Now they're running this search for a junior U.S. in International History person and an open-rank search for a 20th c. U.S. person. Is this the same search revived several years later? I don't know what happened to the earlier search.
 * They hired Michael Allen for the 20th-c position. They are continuing their search to replace Mark Bradley. The new 20th-c search is to replace Nancy MacLean.
 * Did Nancy MacLean retire?
 * She moved to Duke for personal reasons.

Purdue University

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in 20th-century US foreign relations, diplomacy, or US in the World


 * Deadline: November 15, 2010/
 * Does anyone know what "evidence of scholarly and teaching effectiveness" means? I assume teaching effectiveness means reviews or evaluations, but what is scholarly effectiveness? Isn't that on your CV? Please advise.
 * Basically what this means is that the school wants to see that they are hiring a competent researcher and teacher. Have you published? Presented at conferences? Do you have a book contract? Achievement in these areas demonstrates scholarly effectiveness. Teaching evaluations, sample syllabi, and so forth can demonstrate teaching effectiveness.
 * Purdue's history department traditonally likes to hire aggressive, research-oriented, young faculty. Check out the profiles of the current assistant and recent associate professors. Do you match their achievements? If you haven't published in decent journals or in edited books from respected presses, you are probably out of luck Book contracts or at least a press willing to acknowledge they are considering your manuscript will probably be the important in today's market. 2/2 teaching load....

Rutgers University, Camden

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in History: US Global, America in the Wider World, 1860-1960
 * Looking for a scholar whose research and teaching locates US institutions and actions within larger, transnational dynamics from the mid-19th through the mid-20th centuries. Areas of interest: comparative emancipations; domestic sources of imperial power; origins and development of globalism and neocolonialism; immigration, migration, and urbanization.
 * 2-2 teaching load
 * Applications due December 15, 2010
 * Any idea if this is replacing someone? The areas of interest sound a lot like Lorrin Thomas's... (10/2)

Syracuse University

 * Tenure-track assistant professorship in the history of the U.S. in the world, American international relations, or U.S. diplomacy.
 * Deadline (online): October 15, 2010.
 * Did someone retire? Seems like a few positions at Syracuse over the past few years?
 * Yep, they're filling retirements. This position once belonged to William Stinchcombe.

University of Nevada, Reno

 * Assistant Professor, History, United States in the World, 20th Century. We seek a scholar who specializes in the cultural history of the United States and its interactions with other parts of the world. The successful candidate should be prepared to participate in the university's Core Humanities program as well as teaching more specialized courses, including an upper-division course in the United States, 1877-1945, and graduate seminars.
 * First interviews will be conducted at the upcoming annual meeting of the AHA in January.
 * Deadline: 11/08/2010
 * Isn't Thomas Smith, the Vap at Reno, a more a perfect fit for this position?(10/1)
 * So...is he the "inside candidate"? (10/5)
 * No offense, but people need to stop fretting about "inside candidates" on this or any other posting!!! Git 'er done!!!

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

 * tenure track assistant professorship, who will also be designated the Richard M. Krasno Fellow in the Curriculum in Peace, War, and Defense
 * Competitive candidates must have promising records of research in modern U.S. foreign relations, foreign policy, or international relations. Applicants should have a strong interest in global and/or international history. Expertise in one or more regions or countries outside the U.S. desirable.
 * Consideration of applications will begin on October 15, and the search will remain open until the position is filled.
 * Received email confirming the receipt of my application (09/29/10).

University of Texas at Austin

 * Tenure-track postion in global policy studies at the the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law. "Disciplinary affiliation is open to candidates from any appropriate discipline, including but not limited to: law, economics, history, political science, sociology, geography, and public policy."
 * Applications due December 1, 2010.
 * Can someone explain "global policy studies"? I asked a UT prof, and he had no idea...

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

 * Tenure-track assistant professor in US and the World.
 * The candidate will be expected to develop an introductory course on the U.S. and the world, and teach related upper-level courses in History and interdisciplinary courses pertaining to democracy and justice
 * Preferred: Candidates prepared to teach a course on Asia, Africa, the Middle East and/or Latin America.
 * Applications due November 1, 2010
 * Not my area, but I feel like I've seen this one for the last couple of years.
 * It is very similar to last year's call. The department has made some recent hires, but none were in this area
 * Received email acknowledging the receipt of my application (09/30/10).

Discussion
For those who have been on the market previously, would you be willing to compare the number of jobs to years past? (8/26)

It's early to tell, but things feel quite slow and weak this year, as they have for the last 2 or 3 years.

I study the nineteenth century and this year is much worse, in my opinion (9/17)

I study 20th c. I would argue that the market is far better than it was at this point the past two years. It is only late August--we haven't yet entered the high-volume season for postings (September/October). (8/30)


 * Agreed, I think the 20th century numbers are up

Thanks to the above posters. Based on last year's wiki, and the information provided by my department, it is easy to put together a fairly detailed timeline for the job market - but these timelines usually list "July-October" as when most jobs are posted. I was curious if there was going to be a bit more of a wave in the coming weeks. (8/29)

I seriously doubt there will be a wave soon, though there will probably be more ads than last year. Having said that, it is vital that the searches are not cancelled. Last year lots of searches were cancelled mid-year. I wonder how many of those cancelled searches from last year will be running this year (as a repeat). A wave seems unlikely. The high season is soon to be here so I hope it is coming. (8/29)

A question about how to find out a search committee chair: all the cover letter advice I've read so far suggest that it is best to address cover letter to a sc chair (I'm new to the job market this year). And all the advice article indicate that If job posts do not have the names of the chair, we can call and ask for the name. Based on what I read, it seems a reasonable request. But when I asked a * university for the sc chair name, they said they don't advertise the names as if that violates some kind of privacy issues. What's you opinion? Do you always address your cover letters to specific people? Does it matter? Any advice on writing a cover letter from those who were successful at landing jobs? Wondering if any of you would weigh in on something I heard from a colleague. Is it true that if you have not been asked to apply for a job then your chances are next to none?
 * You may already know, but if not, the Chronicle displayed a plethora of jobs yesterday (8/31)
 * Why did H-Net mess with the format of their Jobs Page in the middle of a job hunt? It's annoying! (9/1)
 * The new format is terrible! The old format was so much better. I mean, really, who could look at that and think it was an improvement? (9/1)
 * Agreed. It's useless.
 * I like the new display much better. I don't have to scroll through lots of different fields, seeing many duplicate listings, when I do a search. Much easier to view now. (9/2)
 * Nope - the new format sucks! (9/2)
 * If the job ad lists a contact name, use that. If not, just say "To Whom It May Concern." I can't imagine anyone discounting your application because it is not addressed to a chairperson who is not listed in the ad.
 * I've seem people use "To Whom It May Concern" -- I've also seen "Dear Sir or Madam." Personally, I choose to resolve this problem by omitting the salutation altogether when a name was not given in the ad and instead using a header that incorporates the name of the position. Thus "Letter of Application for Assistant Professorship in [insert area here]." For what it's worth, I got dossier requests/interviews/offers resulting from job letters addressed this way. Essentially the person above is right: there are several reasonable solutions to the issue, and what matters more is the content of the letter, rather than the way it is addressed.
 * I say "Dear Search Committee." Honestly though, unless you're addressing people by their first name only, people do not care about this stuff.
 * I usually put, "To the Members of the Search Committee." (x2)

Alright savvy job market veterans. We're nearing mid-September and job postings appear to have slowed down since Labor Day. Any thoughts on the state of the market this year, as compared to last season?
 * I am on the search committee for one of the jobs posted above and I beg you not to believe your colleague. How do you expect us to find the best candidates if you do not apply. Apply to anything that is even close to your field as far as I am concerned. Ignore rumors about inside candidates, what type of historian they are looking for, or anything else for that matter. If you look back at past wikis you will find those rumors are almost always false. (9/13)
 * That is absolutely not true. In my experience, schools very rarely ask specific people to apply. Those that do are generally the top schools and are looking for someone with tenure or at least an advanced assistant. I can only think of two people that I know (nationwide) who were asked to apply somewhere. (9/8)
 * Agreed, not true. Might be an older notion of the "good ole boy" network. I've had friends invited to apply for positions who were then turned down. Imagine if you're on a search committee and have someone in mind, but then get 100 outstanding applications. You could easily be convinced that a better candidate is in your stack of applications. I would pay more attention to the language of the job ad. If you study gender and sexuality and the job ad is looking for someone who does immigration history - then you might not want to waste your time. (9/8)
 * Not true! Nobody asked me to apply for the job I currently hold. One of my colleagues has been asked to apply for three jobs and didn't get any offers. One of the common reasons for inviting candidates to apply is if the search committee wants to make sure they have a strong pool. Sometimes a department has to demonstrate they have a good pool of applicants before the dean will let them go ahead with campus visits.


 * About as clear as whether the Democrats will gain a greater footfold in Congress after mid-term elections. Your guess is as good as mine.(9/10)
 * Well, I am not an African-american, or Islamic, or women's historian, which is all that departments seem to be interested in hiring this year. So, it is bad.
 * Rough count: of the 55 jobs advertised, 45 do not fall under the rubrics you describe.
 * Looks like a tough year for 19th century and a slightly better year for 20th century. US and the World or US/International or US Foreign Policy (whatever) continues to grow.
 * It is most definitely not a good year for 20th century (except perhaps relative to other centuries/sub-field specialties), or any US field by and large. Take a look at the 2008 archived wiki page to see a year, at the time considered "bad" but still with quite a few more positions across the board. 2010-11 is a very bad year on the market. Period. Let's hope for few to no search cancellations, at least.
 * It is WAY too early to compare this year's market to the market for an entire year (2008 or otherwise). We are still three months out from the AHA--many administrators are just now establishing budgets, and many departments have just held their first faculty meetings and only now have a firm sense of funding/need. We are really only one month into the pre-AHA market, with three months remaining. Then we have a secondary market. Things could go in MANY directions. [and . . . did you hear . . . the recession ended over a year ago! . . . surely everybody will now be dying to employ us!] (9/22)
 * It looks like another good year for early Americanists. Why are more graduate students not writing focusing on earlier time periods? Based on the job market over the last four or five years there are normally twice the number of early jobs than 19th century jobs. It is also a far better funded field (postdocs, fellowships, grants, etc.) per capita.