United States Army Center of Military History
The United States Army Center of Military History (CMH) is a directorate within the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.[1] The Institute of Heraldry remains within the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army.[1] The center is responsible for the appropriate use of history and military records throughout the United States Army. Traditionally, this mission has meant recording the official history of the army in both peace and war, while advising the army staff on historical matters. CMH is the flagship organization leading the Army Historical Program.
Agency overview
July 1943
- Charles R. Bowery Jr., Executive Director
- Susan K. Springman, Deputy Director
CMH is also in charge of the National Museum of the United States Army, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Mission[edit]
The center traces its lineage back to historians under the Secretary of War who compiled the Official Records of the Rebellion, an extensive history of the American Civil War begun in 1874. A similar work on World War I was prepared by the Historical Section of the Army War College.
The modern organization of the army's historical efforts dates from the creation of the General Staff historical branch in July 1943, with Lt. Col. John M. Kemper[2] appointed its first chief, and subsequent gathering of a team of historians, translators, editors, and cartographers to record the official history of World War II. They began publication of the United States Army in World War II series, which numbers 78 volumes, in 1946.[3] Working under the direction of former Nazi General Franz Halder, the center's German section became pivotal in the dissemination of the Myth of the clean Wehrmacht in the United States.[4] Since then, the center has produced detailed series on the Army's role in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and has begun a series on the U.S. Army in the Cold War. These works are supplemented by monographs and other publications on a mix of topics.
Since its formation, the center has provided historical support to the Army Secretariat and Staff, contributing background information for decision making, staff actions, command information programs, and public statements by army officials. It has expanded its role in the areas of military history education, the management of the army's museum system, and the introduction of automated data-retrieval systems. The center's work with army schools ensures that the study of history is a part of the training of officers and noncommissioned officers. Much of this educational work is performed at field historical offices and in army museums.
To stimulate interest in military history in the army and the nation, CMH sponsors professional programs.
Historical services to the public[edit]
CMH's art and documents collections, library, and reference services are available to private researchers.[12] Official priorities permitting, its historians, curators, and archivists advise researchers on military history and stand ready to share their expertise concerning the location of sources. The Collections Branch of the Museum Division arranges temporary loans of paintings and drawings from the Army Art Collection to private organizations that agree to display the art publicly in accordance with Army regulations. The army's museums and historical holdings throughout the country and abroad are generally open to the public, and their curators are available to answer reference questions. As a secured facility, as of 2016 requests for an appointment at Fort Lesley J. McNair must be made at least a week in advance.[12]
This article incorporates from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
public domain material
The following publications provide additional information about the activities, services, and products of the Center of Military History: