The Center for Presidential History (CPH) at Southern Methodist University exists to research and advance understanding of American presidential history. The CPH pursues this goal primarily through three complementary methods:

Lectures, Conferences, and Events on Presidential History

The CPH regularly organizes and hosts a wide variety of public lectures, conferences, and events, all centered on the theme of Presidential History. These events feature educators, journalists, entrepreneurs, current and former policy makers, and historically-minded professionals of all stripes, united in broadening our understanding of presidential history, and its potential for aiding ongoing contemporary debates for our nation’s future course.

You can find a schedule of our upcoming events by clicking here.

Collective Memory Project

This Election of 2004 site is the first fruits of an ongoing Collective Memory Project dedicated to enhancing the historical and archival record of various presidential administrations. The CPH films and archives interviews with members of presidential administrations, as well as both public officials and private citizens who played important roles during those administrations. The first collective memory project will explore the administration of President George W. Bush, the forty-third president of the United States.

Research

The CPH supports research and publications in the fields of History, and the history of the American presidency. Some examples of this include the CPH’s Postdoctoral Program, its internal Writing Fellows at Southern Methodist University, and the publication of three forthcoming books based on conferences hosted at SMU.