The Old New Social History and the New Old Social History

Abstract

In the spring of 1968, the learned journal Daedalus convened a covey of historians. The group included some established sages, such as Felix Gilbert. It also brought in people for example, Frank Manuel, Eugene Genovese, Lee Benson, and David Rothman who had been exploring new techniques and materials, or attempting to employ in historical analysis ideas and procedures that had grown up in the social sciences. A number of them were coming to be known as practitioners of something called the New Social History. Several of the participants prepared memoranda in advance, and some of the memoranda dealt with such esoteric topics as cliometrics and prosopography. The words tripped the tongue, but stirred the imagination. For, in the 1960's, many historians felt that historical theory and practice alike were undergoing great changes. Some felt the changes threatened