This Thanksgiving, the staff of AASLH extends our gratitude to our nation’s museums and historic sites and the people who work in them.

We know that for many of you this year has not been easy. Restrictions on history content, attempts to dismantle the federal agencies that support museums, cancelled federal grants, and the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history are some of the many challenges our field and its workers have experienced this year.

We also know this: history organizations and the people who work and volunteer for them are remarkably resilient. You are determined to keep sharing history with your community no matter the obstacles thrown your way.

For that, we are thankful.

At AASLH, our mission is to provide advocacy, resources, and leadership to help the history community thrive.

Together, we increased our advocacy efforts. Congress heard from our field more frequently than they ever had before. AASLH submitted a declaration in one lawsuit in defense of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and helped lead a coalition of partners in filing an amicus brief in a lawsuit in a parallel case.

Earlier this year, more than 3,700 of you took our survey to find out who works in the history field, how they’re compensated, and how they feel about their work. We’ve shared initial findings. In 2026, we’ll provide more information on the results through programs and publications. We hope that the resources provided in this effort will improve workplaces throughout our field.

We’ll continue to offer leadership to help you do good history. A major initiative set to launch in 2026 will focus on offering inspiration, guidance, and connection from within and beyond the history sector to uplift our field’s vital role in supporting a thriving democracy.

We do these things because we know that no matter how resilient and determined someone is, they still need support. We especially thank our members and donors whose financial investment makes this support for our field possible. If you are not already part of our community, we invite you to become a member or make a donation.

We hope that over the course of this holiday season you are able to rest and recharge. Next year’s commemoration of the U.S. 250th anniversary will see a welcome increase in interest in your organization and your work. AASLH will be there to support you and help you thrive.