In 2025, the academic journal History of Humanities (HOH) is set to publish its landmark tenth volume, a significant achievement not only for the journal itself but for the emerging field it represents. Since its inception in 2015 by founding editors Rens Bod, Julia Kursell, Jaap Maat, and Thijs Weststeijn, HOH has established a unique scholarly niche dedicated to exploring the history of humanistic knowledge. This journal pioneered an academic space for examining the evolution, scope, and impact of the humanities as a coherent historical subject, positioning itself alongside venerable disciplines such as the history of science.
The establishment of HOH marked a turning point in the academic landscape, creating a dedicated platform for interdisciplinary research that contextualizes the humanities within broader intellectual, cultural, and institutional histories. Published by the University of Chicago Press on behalf of the Society for the History of the Humanities, the journal has become the definitive forum for scholars seeking to understand how humanistic disciplines have evolved, interacted, and influenced society through the ages.
Over the past decade, HOH has amassed an impressive corpus of research covering a vast chronological and geographical spectrum. Scholars contributing to the journal have investigated topics ranging from the origins of comparative musicology and the complex histories of libraries to more conceptual inquiries such as the “inhumanities” and the phenomenon of scholarly forgetting. This broad thematic span reflects the journal’s commitment to fostering a deep, multifaceted understanding of how humanistic knowledge has been constructed, transmitted, and contested.
One of the distinguishing features of HOH’s scholarship is its interdisciplinary approach, drawing contributors from six continents and diverse fields including art history, archaeology, literary studies, philosophy, and beyond. This global and disciplinary reach not only enriches the journal’s content but also underscores the universality and relevance of the history of the humanities as a field of inquiry in the contemporary academy.
In their reflective introduction to the anniversary issue, the editors articulate the transformative growth of the discipline itself. What began as a relatively marginal area of study has gradually crystallized into a more formalized and recognized academic field, featuring dedicated university courses, specialized faculty appointments, and an expanding international community of researchers. The editors take pride in the fact that HOH has contributed significantly to this development, helping to cultivate a network of over a thousand scholars who participate through publishing, reviewing, and conference presentations.
This growth mirrors broader shifts in how the humanities are perceived within higher education and society at large. By chronicling the humanities’ institutional histories and intellectual trajectories, HOH highlights their enduring significance despite frequent claims of crisis or obsolescence. The journal’s work demonstrates that understanding the past contours of humanistic disciplines is crucial for addressing current challenges and imagining future possibilities.
Looking ahead, the editors emphasize the pressing urgency of the humanities’ history for contemporary issues. They argue that the humanities offer vital frameworks for navigating complex global crises including technological acceleration, climate migration, and political authoritarianism. In particular, they stress the humanities’ indispensable role in shaping ethical, cultural, and intellectual responses to these multifaceted problems, advocating for a historically informed humanism as a source of resilience and inspiration.
From a methodological standpoint, articles in HOH consistently employ rigorous archival research, critical historiography, and theoretical reflection. The journal champions innovative frameworks for analyzing the institutionalization of humanities disciplines, the shifting epistemologies underpinning them, and their sociopolitical entanglements. This technical orientation ensures that contributions to HOH push the boundaries of conventional humanities scholarship, offering nuanced insights that resonate across academic fields.
The tenth volume of HOH also symbolizes the maturation of the Society for the History of the Humanities, which underpins the journal’s mission and fosters dialogue among scholars worldwide. The society’s conferences and initiatives have become pivotal spaces for the exchange of ideas and methodologies, sustaining the field’s dynamism and relevance. As HOH enters its next chapter, it embarks on consolidating its role as both a repository of historical knowledge and a catalyst for critical thinking about the humanities’ place in society.
HOH’s longevity and impact remind us that scholarly inquiry into the humanities’ history is not merely an academic pursuit but a crucial endeavor with far-reaching implications. By elucidating how humanistic knowledge has been shaped by intellectual debates, institutional contexts, and cultural forces, the journal provides tools for understanding the humanities’ contemporary challenges and potentials. This role is particularly vital as the humanities face growing pressure to justify their value in an increasingly data-driven and utilitarian academic environment.
Moreover, the journal’s commitment to international and interdisciplinary scholarship signals a forward-thinking vision. Bridging diverse traditions and methodologies, HOH fosters novel syntheses that illuminate the global intertwining of humanistic disciplines. This approach counters parochial or nationalist historiographies, emphasizing instead a cosmopolitan perspective on intellectual histories vital for embracing complexity in the 21st century.
The editors’ closing reflections on the anniversary issue underscore their conviction that tracing the history of the humanities equips us to confront present and future uncertainties with wisdom and creativity. They call upon scholars and institutions alike to recognize the humanities’ profound capacity to foster critical imagination, ethical discernment, and cultural understanding—qualities indispensable for navigating the profound transformations shaping humanity today.
In sum, the tenth volume of History of Humanities marks a milestone celebrating the journal’s pioneering role and the flourishing discipline it has championed. As an essential venue for cutting-edge research on humanistic knowledge’s historical trajectories, HOH continues to crown scholarly innovation and engagement. Its contributions deepen our appreciation for the humanities’ complex past and reaffirm their vital relevance in addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Subject of Research: History of humanistic knowledge and the development of the humanities as an academic discipline
Article Title: [Not specified in the provided content]
News Publication Date: 2025
Web References:
- https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/hoh/2025/10/1
- https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/685056
- https://www.historyofhumanities.org/
- https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/734359
Keywords: Social sciences
