The online version of the December issue of Perspectives on History is now available to AHA members (sign in to member services to gain full access). Nonmembers can preview a portion of each article during the first month of the issue’s release.  After one month, the content will be freely available to all. Nonmembers can now access the November issue of Perspectives on History.

Introduction
This issue begins with Barbara D. Metcalf saying “Hasta la vista and Farewell,” as her term as AHA president comes to a close. In her article she notes the recent Virginia textbook controversy, which Jim Grossman addresses in “Historical Malpractice and the Writing of Textbooks,” and the History News Network, discussed in Joyce Appleby and James M. Banner, Jr.’s article “The History News Service: Fourteen Years On.”

News
In recent news, the National Humanities Alliance is gearing up for Humanities Day and looking for historians to participate, Robert B. Townsend reports on recent History Doctoral Program data from an NRC report, and we recognize donors to the association. Also, be sure to submit proposals for the 2012 Annual Meeting and note that the AHA 2012 Program Committee is encouraging panel, roundtable, and demos of technology pertaining to research, communication, archiving, and other activities related to scholarship.

Election
This issue covers both the election results for the AHA’s new officers and committee members, as well as the last month’s U.S. election. Julian E. Zelizer looks at the November 2, 2010, U.S. election and explains “Why Midterms Matter,” while Lee White delves into “The Impact of the 2010 Congressional Election” and explains how history programs (like Teaching American History grants) will be affected. White also takes a snapshot of current happenings in Washington for his December News Briefs.

Profession
Read articles by Robert B. Townsend on using new media to teach history, and by Katharine Hijar on the right etiquette for the job market.

“Lessons of History” by Christopher Tomlins adds a new, nuanced layer to the Art of History series, while Charles F. Howlett takes a look at “American Peace History since the Vietnam War” for the State of the Field column.

Letters to the Editor & In Memoriam
The December issue contains a number of Letters to the Editor, covering topics of research threads, public history, The Battle of Algiers, scholars and teachers, and the annual meeting as a rite. We also remember the late Werner Thomas Angress and John Anthony Scott.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.