Who We Are

AskHistorians is one of the most successful public history projects in the world. The premise is simple: anyone can come and ask a question about the human past, and receive an in-depth, comprehensive answer from an expert in the field. Since being founded in 2011, AskHistorians has grown to become one of the largest online communities dedicated to historical knowledge, with almost 1.2 million subscribers and over 2 million unique monthly visitors.

But that’s our day job. Why are we raising money now?

On October 19-21, AskHistorians will host its second annual conference.

Last year, we created the first ever born-digital academic conference, which brought scholars out of the academy, to present and discuss their ideas with a global audience. We combined recorded panels with live Q&A sessions, all free to anyone who wanted to take part – no ticket, no hotel fees. And we’re doing it again this year! You can read the details here.

This conference continues our mission of breaking down the barriers between historians and the people who love history. We're excited to bring you some more brilliant new scholarship from around the world, and to let you sit in on our guests' discussions and ask your own questions. But to make this all happen...

We need your help!

We’re calling on our community to help cover the costs of hosting the conference. Any contribution is welcome, though we know that not everyone is in a position to give just now – if you can’t give money, please help spread us the word on social media! For those that can donate, we have a series of exclusive rewards to claim:

$10 - Pin It On Me

Would you like to show your allegiance to the field of history, but in a cute way? With a $10 donation, you get a conference-exclusive, AskHistorians-themed enamel pin! Add it to your denim jacket or backpack for some special flair.

$25 – I Just Want to Chat

Have you grown beyond material possessions, but not wanting to talk to people about history? What a special stage of evolution you must be! Fortunately, we cater for everyone here: get guaranteed access to all conference networking events, but none of the clutter.

$25 –  Tote It Around

You can’t have a conference without branded tote bags! Whether you’re going to fill it with the latest offerings from your favorite uni press or want to do your shopping with it, it’s the perfect accessory and useful in everyday life.

$50 – By the Pricking of Our Thumb Drives

This year, we're also bringing out a line of stylish, exclusive USB drives. At this level of donation, you also get to choose either a tote or an enamel pin to go with it

$75 – Be Part of the Conversation

Like what you've read so far, but want more access? Get your hands on exclusive access to a conversation between scholarly participants in the conference, with the chance to take part in discussion and ask questions in real time. 

$100 – I Love It. I’ll Take Everything.

You like us! You really like us! And out of gratitude, we're giving you everything. Not only can you take part in a VIP conversation, you will get one of each type of 2021 AHDC-exclusive swag: an enamel pin, a tote bag, and a thumb drive. Thank you so much!

We'll use your contribution to...

• Ensure that the conference is free to attend and participate in for everyone
• Cover the cost of digital platforms for the event
• Provide attendees and contributors with AskHistorians swag
• Support our marketing campaign
• Any excess funds will be used to support future AskHistorians events and initiatives
• Funds raised will not be used to pay salaries or otherwise profit the organisers or participants