Written upon the foundation of the organisation in 2013, our constitution sets out the working structures and mechanisms of the IAPH. If you have any queries, please feel free to contact the Committee.
1. The name of the organisation is the Irish Association of Professional Historians (IAPH). The purpose of the Association is to represent a community of professional and graduate historians operating inside and outside the academy.
2. The aims of the IAPH are to: provide a professional affiliation and platform for historians; provide access to the quality assured professional historical services of IAPH members for individuals, groups and organisations through a database of member profiles; encourage professional development through the provision of specialised training for its members; promote excellence in historical research and encourage the study of the past among professionals and the general public; facilitate collaboration and co-operation among historians through the provision of scheduled events.
3. Membership shall be open to all individuals that have gained an appropriate professional degree of training or who are deemed to have contributed significantly to the area of historical studies. Accordingly, members should:
a. in the case of professional historians, hold a PhD or have made a significant contribution to the field of history (in the case of the latter applications are subject to peer review);
b. in the case of graduate historians, hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in a PhD programme in history or cognate subject.
4. Each member shall pay a subscription, with certain categories qualifying for concessionary rates.
5. Members of the Association are encouraged to attend the Annual General Meeting. They may bring motions, proposed and seconded by members, before the Annual General Meeting and vote in matters put to the vote.
6. Committee members shall be members of the IAPH and practitioners in the field of historical inquiry.
7. The Committee shall consist of a minimum of nine members, and a maximum of twelve members, who shall be elected at the Association’s Annual General Meeting (as per the procedure outlined in Article 8). The Committee shall include at least four officers (Director, Executive Secretary, Treasurer and Social Media Officer), elected as per Article 8 and who shall hold office for no more than three years. From time to time the Committee may also appoint such other officers as are necessary for the running of the Association, subject to ratification by members at the following AGM.
8. Nominations, for Committee officers and members, shall be made in writing to the Executive Secretary at least ten days before the Annual General Meeting.
9. The names of those nominated to the Committee will be announced at the Annual General Meeting. In the event of more nominations than there are positions on the Committee, there will be an election during the Annual General Meeting.
10. Committee members shall be appointed for a period of four years.
11. The Committee shall meet at least twice a year, once during the Annual General Meeting. The Committee may co-opt members to fill vacant offices or places on Committee until the next Annual General Meeting. Co-opted members must be nominated for membership of the Committee at the next Annual General Meeting in full accordance with the procedure outlined in clause 8 above.
12. The Executive Secretary and the Treasurer shall submit their reports to the Annual General Meeting.
13. Four members of the Committee, including one officer, shall constitute a quorum on the Committee. In the absence of the Directors, a person elected by those present shall take the Chair.
14. Ten members shall constitute a quorum at the Annual General Meeting. In the absence of the Director, those present will elect a Chairperson. The Director (or Chairperson for the meeting) shall vote only in the event of a tie.15. Proposals for amendments to the constitution may be made by simple majority by any meeting of the Committee or by ten members of the Association. They must be submitted to the Executive Secretary at least six weeks before the Annual General Meeting and emailed to members at least 21 days before the Annual General Meeting. To take effect proposals must be approved by at least two thirds of those present and eligible to vote at the meeting.
Ready to join us? Visit our membership page for details on how to set up your profile and
enter Ireland’s welcoming community of history professionals.
Copyright © IAPH. All rights reserved.
Historical images on the website from the National Library of Ireland on The Commons | Flickr