Papers
About Papers
Recent Papers
Find Papers
Editorial Guildlines
About Papers
We are looking for short papers on important historical topics that might be of interest to policy makers, the media or the general public. Please contact submissions@activehistory.ca if you are interested in publishing a paper on the site.
Please look at the papers on History and Policy for an idea of the type of papers we would like to post on this page.
Recent Papers
Larry A. Glassford, Citizenship Literacy and National Self-identity: The Historical Impact of Curriculum and Textbooks in Shaping the Character of Ontario [Education, Nationalism]
David Webster, Narratives of Colonization, Decolonization and Recolonization in Papua [International, Nationalism]
Gérard-François Dumont, The Berlin Wall: Life, Death and the Spatial Heritage of Berlin [International, Urban history]
Yves Montenay, Pourquoi le Vietnam s’en tire et Cuba s’enfonce, Why is Vietnam Recovering, while Cuba is Sinking? [International]
Paul Axelrod, Universities and the Great Depression: Then and Now?, February/March 2009 (Courtesy of ‘Academic Matters: The Journal of Higher Education’) [Education]
Find Papers
Active History Editorial Guidelines
Activehistory.ca is continuously looking for short and thoughtful essays that bring an historical perspective to pressing issues of the day. Anyone who is actively engaged in historical research is welcome to file a submission. We also regularly solicit submissions from historians working in many different fields and at variety of institutions. Paper topics vary widely. We welcome submissions of papers addressing any period or place as long as they meet these central criteria:
Papers must be historical and based in extensive research
- Papers should engage critical issues facing Canadian society or the international community
- Papers must be short and written for a general audience
Anyone interested in writing a paper is asked to familiarize themselves with the general style and format of our papers. Please also follow these more specific guidelines:
- 2,000 – 4,000 words in length.
- Papers should have clear section headings.
- Limited endnotes.
- 150 word summary clearly highlighting how your paper will add to broader discussions outside of the historical professions. The present and future implications of your research should be overt.
- A short list of resources for users to follow up with. Remember that not all scholarly books and articles are accessible. Do not water down your list, but also please consider issues of accessibility.
- 5 key words that will help website users access your article.
- Only use copyrighted material for which you have permission.
- Provide your name, email address, and institutional affiliation.
It generally takes a few weeks for a submitted paper to appear in final draft. During that time the author will work with the activehistory.ca team in order to ensure that the paper meets the website’s criteria. Papers that meet the website’s criteria will be evaluated by one or two members of our editorial board or database. These reviews will be used to determine whether the paper should be accepted, revised, or rejected.
Things to remember when writing for activehistory.ca:
- You are writing for a general audience. Avoid technical language and cumbersome sentences.
- Papers dealing with all periods of history are welcome
- Consider visual presentation. Use bullet points rather than lists and graphs rather than tables.
- Papers should not be excessively descriptive. They should have a clear argument and be anchored in historical context.
- Keep quotations and self references to a minimum.
- For a further discussion of analytical strategies for writing active history, see John Tosh’s “In Defence of Applied History: The History and Policy Website”.
