H-Net

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

H-Net is an interdisciplinary online discussion forum for scholars in the humanities and social sciences that consists of over 150 topic- or discipline-specific listservs. Many of the lists deal with various areas of historical study. Within two years of its founding, H-Net was recognized as being "among the most dynamic and effective contributions" to the internationalization of scholarship.^[1]

H-Net began in 1992 as an initiative of Prof. Richard Jensen of the History department at the University of Illinois at Chicago, to assist historians "to easily communicate current research and teaching interests; to discuss new approaches, methods and tools of analysis; to share information on access to library catalogs and other electronic databases; and to test new ideas and share comments on current historiography."^[2] H-Net is now organized as an international consortium of scholars in the humanities and social sciences and its networks are hosted by Michigan State University.

The H-Net Network has grown until it is now endorsed by many academic professional organizations. For many disciplines and interdisciplinary subject areas the related H-Net listserv is the primary internet forum for scholars. In addition to hosting listservs for specific academic disciplines, H-Net commissions book reviews and posts academic job listings, and according to the organization's website, H-Net lists have over 100,000 subscribers in 90 countries. Individual listservs are moderated by editors selected by H-Net who are typically established scholars within the relevant discipline.

[edit] Notes

^ Steven A. Leibo, "H-Net and the Internationalization of Scholarship," Perspectives: The Newsletter of the American Historical Association, 33: 5 (May-June 1995).
^ Richard Jensen, "H-Net announces 13 new scholarly lists in history," E-Mail of 24 Jun 1993; Thomas Zielke, "Official Introduction of The History Network " E-Mail on GRMNHIST - German History Forum, 23 Feb 93

[edit] References

Richard Jensen, "Internet's Republic of Letters: H-Net for Scholars," (1997). A discussion of H-Net and its origins from the perspective of the founder.
Mark Lawrence Kornbluh, "H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences OnLine," Perspectives: The Newsletter of the American Historical Association, 37: 2 (February 1999).
Joel D. Kitchens, "Clio on the Web: An Annotated Bibliography of Select E-Journals for History," Perspectives: The Newsletter of the American Historical Association, 38: 2 (Feb. 2000).
John McClymer, The AHA Guide to Teaching and Learning with New Media, (Washington: The American Historical Association), 2005.
Andrew McMichael, "The Historian, the Internet, and the Web: A Reassessment," Perspectives: The Newsletter of the American Historical Association, 36: 2 (Feb. 1998).