The Finnish Historical Society (Finnish Historical Society – Finska Historiska Samfundet) was founded in 1875 and is the oldest of the national learned societies focused on history in Finland. Its task is to promote historical research and knowledge.
Activities
The Finnish Historical Society organises lectures and discussions, seminars, and international conferences both alone and in cooperation with other parties. The Society organizes Young historians’ days and participates in the organisation of the Finnish Conference of History Research, which is the largest Finnish conference in the field of history.
The Society is active in research policy. Its aim is to highlight the central role of researched information and historical understanding in societal debate and decision-making. In addition, the Society takes a stand on plans and decisions concerning researchers, experts and hobbyists in the fields of history.
The Finnish Historical Society is a major publisher of historical research in Finland. Research is published in the framework of the Finnish Literature Society. In addition, the Society publishes, together with the Society of the Friends of History, Historiallinen Aikakauskirja (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.) (the Historical Journal) and together with other Nordic history societies, the Scandinavian Journal of History (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.).
The Society represents Finnish historical research in the International Committee of Historical Sciences (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.) (ICHS).
Membership
The Finnish Historical Society brings together historians and experts in the field from different universities and beyond at different career stages throughout Finland. Distinguished researchers representing Finnish academic historical research and its related fields are invited to become research fellows of the Society. The annual members are experts in history, junior researchers and people interested in history. You can become an annual member of the Society by using the online form (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.) (in Finnish). The membership fee in 2025 is 30 euros.
The Board
The activities of the Finnish Historical Society are led by a board consisting of a chair and nine research fellows. The Chair of the Board for 2024-2025 is Dr. Ville Vuolanto (Senior Lecturer in History, Tampere University).
In connection with the Society, there are sections and committees for national and international cooperation. The Executive Director is responsible for the management, communication and organisation of events of the Society in accordance with the decisions of the Board. The Executive Director is Dr. Sari Aalto. She can be contacted in all matters related to the Society by e-mail: shs@histseura.fi.