The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) : Our National Organization

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) was established on September 9, 1915, by Dr. Carter G. Woodson (December 19, 1875- April 3, 1950), we are the founders of "Black History Month" and we proudly carry forth the work of our original founder, "The Father of Black History".

During the dawning decades of the of the twentieth century, it was commonly presumed that black people had little history besides the subjugation of slavery. Today, it is clear that blacks have significantly impacted the development of social, political, and economic structures of the United States and the world at large. Credit for the evolving awareness of the true place of blacks in history can, in large part be bestowed on one man, Dr. Carter G. Woodson. His brainchild the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc. continues Dr. Woodson's tradition of disseminating information about black life, history and culture to the global community.

ABOUT ASALH

Known as "The Father of Black History" Dr. Woodson (1875-1950) was the son of former slaves, and understood the importance of gaining a proper education, especially when striving to secure and make the most out of one's divine right to freedom. Although he did not begin his formal education until he was approaching the age of twenty, his dedication to his studies enabled him to earn a high school diploma in West Virgina. His first undergraduate degree came from Berea College in Kentucy, and in just a few years' time he went on the earn a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Chicago. In 1912, Dr. Woodson became the second African American to earn a PhD at Harvard University.
In 1915, Dr Woodson, recognizing the dearth of information on the accomplishments of blacks throughout history, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Later this name would change to "The Association for the Study of African American Life and History also known as "ASALH".
Under Dr. Woodson pioneering leadership, ASALH created research and publication outlets for black scholars, leading to the establishment of "The Journal of Negro History " in 1916 and "The Negro History Bulletin in 1937. These publications garner a popular public appeal.
In 1926, Dr. Woodson initiated the celebration of Negro History Week, which corresponded with the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, this celebration was expanded to include the entire month of February. Today "Black History Month" garners support throughout the country, as people of all ethnic and social backgrounds discuss the black experience.
In honor of all the work done by Dr. Carter G Woodson to promote the Study of African American History, ASALH views the promotion of Black History Month as one of the most important components of advancing Dr. Woodson's legacy. To commemorate this Dr. Woodson's effort and consistent focus of excellence an ornament depicting Dr. Woodson is placed on the White House Christmas tree each year.
Learn More at: asalh.org

ASALH: Dorothy Turner Johnson Branch (Central Florida)

Photo: Dorothy Turner Johnson (in the center) enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps and served from 1943-1945 as Private First Class.

In 2002, Dorothy T. Johnson brought together a group of dedicated Central Floridians, to establish The Central Florida branch of ASALH. After several years, the Central Florida branch became defunct and in 2016 Karen Adamopoulos contacted many friends of the branch’s namesake and revived the Branch as the Dorothy Turner Johnson Branch. The DTJ branch was chartered on September 15, 2017. Born in Dublin, Georgia, January 18, 1915, Dorothy Turner Johnson made history when she enlisted in the United States Army (1942–1945) and became a member of the famous "Six Triple Eight" battalion, the only all-African American Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps to serve overseas in World War II. The battalion was renamed the Women Army Corp (WAC). Their task was to help deliver millions of letters to the troops. They were recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their war efforts.

One of the first 300 residents of Celebration, Florida, and a longtime resident of Central Florida, Dorothy Turner Johnson lived to be 100 years old, leaving her mark as a lover of the arts, advocate for reading, storyteller, educator, librarian, and friend.
www.asalhdtj.org

See Orlando Times article about the In Conversation discussion featuring Dorothy Turner Johnson at https://www.theorlandotimesnewspaper.com/dorothy-turner-johnson-a-life-of-service/

Black History Month Theme

When Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week in 1926, he realized the importance of providing a theme to focus the attention of the public. The intention has never been to dictate or limit the exploration of the Black experience but to bring to the public’s attention important developments that merit emphasis.

For those interested in the study of identity and ideology, an exploration of ASALH’s Black History themes is itself instructive. Over the years, the themes reflect changes in how people of African descent in the United States have viewed themselves, the influence of social movements on racial ideologies, and the aspirations of the black community.

The changes notwithstanding, the list reveals an overarching continuity in ASALH–our dedication to exploring historical issues of importance to people of African descent and race relations in America.

USE OF THE THEME

The public is encouraged to use the theme, and permission to use the Executive Summaries is extended to all. The only requirement is to cite asalh.org.

2026 Black History Theme

A Century of Black History Commemorations

2026 marks a century of national commemorations of Black history. Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, George Cleveland Hall, William B. Hartgrove, Jesse E. Moorland, Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps institutionalized the teaching, study, dissemination, and commemoration of Black history when they founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) on September 9, 1915.

In 1925, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson planned the inaugural week-long observance of Black history, he could hardly have anticipated the imprint he would leave on the world. From Negro History Week to Black History Month, ASALH has carried forth the tradition, and the observances have become part of the warp and weft of American culture and increasingly the global community. For our 100th theme, the founders of Black History Month urge us to explore the impact and meaning of Black history and life commemorations in transforming the status of Black peoples in the modern world.

As part of the global African diaspora, people of African descent in the United States have viewed their role in history as critical to their own development and that of the world. Along with writing Black histories, antebellum Black scholars north of slavery started observing the milestones in the struggle of people of African descent to gain their freedom and equality. Revealing their connection to the diaspora, they commemorated the Haitian Revolution, the end of the slave trade, and the end of slavery in Jamaica. They observed American emancipation with Watch Night, Jubilee Day, and Juneteenth celebrations. Eventually they feted the lives of individuals who fought against slavery, most notably Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The scholar Arthur A. Schomburg captured the motivation of Black people to dig up their own history and present it to the world: “The American Negro must remake his past in order to make his future.”

When Carter G. Woodson, as director of the Association, established Negro History Week, he did so as part of that tradition. Yet, by concentrating the attention of the American public on the scientific findings of historians, he sought to turn the commemorations more forthrightly into a far-reaching, organized, and sustained effort to transform how Black folks viewed themselves and how the world viewed them. Year after year, he built Negro History Week into an African American and American cultural institution. He set the themes and provided materials to illustrate the contributions people of African descent had made to the movement of history and modern culture. As his contemporary W. E. B. Du Bois put it, “He literally made this country … recognize and celebrate each year a week in which it studied the effect which the American Negro has had upon the life, thought and action in the United States. I know of no other man who in a lifetime has unaided built up such a national celebration.”

Since the passing of the founder, ASALH has continued his work, making Negro History Week and Black History Month an even more deeply rooted American institution. On February 10, 1976, during the United States Bicentennial, President Gerald R. Ford became the first president to issue a message recognizing Black History Month. Then in 1986, Congress passed Public Law 99-244 designating February as Black History Month. These efforts have made February the month when Black history finds its way not simply into the schools of the American nation, but also into cultural heritage sites (museums, archives, libraries, parks, etc.), public squares, workplaces, houses of worship, and homes across the land and across the oceans. These institutions offer sites to discover and learn more about African American history through programming, camps, book displays, and exhibitions.

To understand the modern world, especially nations where Black peoples form a significant population, one must grapple with the impact that the public observances have had on the past and the present. This year, when we are also commemorating the 250th anniversary of United States independence, it is important to tell not only an inclusive history, but an accurate one. We have never had more need to examine the role of Black History Month than we do when forces weary of democracy seek to use legislative means and book bans to excise Black history from America’s schools and public culture. Black history’s value is not its contribution to mainstream historical narratives, but its resonance in the lives of Black people.

Mission of ASALH

The mission of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH®) is to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community.

Get Involved

We are a growing community-centered organization focused on preserving, promoting, and sharing the history of African American life and culture. Learn about ways to bring your gifts to the branch by attending a monthly meeting. If you'd like to become a member of ASALH, here are ways to join. Individual dues to join the local branch are $30.