History of the IMHA
The origins of the International Maritime History Association (International Maritime Economic History Association until 2016) can be traced to a session organized by two eminent scholars, Dr. Peter N. Davies of the University of Liverpool and Professor Keiichiro Nakagawa of Aoyama Gakuin University, on “Shipping Industries in the 19th and 20th Centuries” at the 9th International Congress of Economic History in Berne, Switzerland on 25 and 26 August 1986. The meeting was designed not only to share the fruits of recent research with a broad range of colleagues but also to explore the possibility of establishing a mechanism for on-going communication.
Accordingly, the first day was given over to reports on recent international conferences and a series of presentations of current research by no fewer than eighteen individual scholars. After three more formal papers to open the second day, Dr. Davies chaired an open forum on what might be done to ensure better communication among maritime scholars scattered all over the world. While there was a general consensus that no formal organization was required at this point, those in attendance accepted a proposal from Lewis R. Fischer and Helge W. Nordvik to produce a newsletter to be circulated to all interested parties. In addition, there was an agreement to submit an application for a full session on maritime history at the 10th International Congress of Economic History in Leuven, Belgium, in 1990. A steering committee comprising Nakagawa, Davies, Fischer and Nordvik, plus Dr. Lars U. Scholl of the Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum and Dr. Frank Broeze of the University of Western Australia, was struck to oversee these projects under the umbrella of the Maritime Economic History Group (MEHG).
Fischer and Nordvik set about identifying and contacting more than 900 maritime historians for items for the first newsletter, which appeared in March 1987. Over the next eighteen months four more newsletters were produced, expanding from the fairly modest fifty-page inaugural issue to hefty volumes of more than 100 pages. The editors also began to receive a number of unsolicited articles for publication. This led them to approach the steering committee about transforming the newsletter into a proper scholarly journal. The enthusiastic response led to the publication of the first issue of the International Journal of Maritime History (IJMH) in June 1989. Lewis Fischer was the editor-in-chief for the first fifty issues, ably assisted by Helge Nordvik (until his untimely death in 1998), Valerie C. Burton (1990-1992), David M. Williams (1995-1998), David J. Starkey (1999-2013), Malcolm Tull (1999-2008), Poul Holm (2000-2006) and James E. Candow (2008-2009). In 2014, David Starkey assumed the role of editor-in-chief, assisted by Michaela Barnard and Richard Gorski. As well, a series of excellent book review editors, including Valerie C. Burton (1989-1990), Jean François Briére (1990-1992), Poul Holm (1993-2000) and Olaf U. Janzen (2000-2013), established the IJMH as the publication of record for books on maritime history. This tradition is being continued by the current book review editor, Martin Wilcox.
As the Berne attendees had requested, Fischer and Nordvik submitted a proposal on behalf of the group for the Leuven congress. Once it was accepted they organized a pre-conference in Bergen, Norway, which coincided with the appearance of the first issue of the IJMH and the initial meeting of the editorial board appointed to oversee the journal. The sixteen essays presented at the Bergen meeting were edited by Fischer and Nordvik and published as Shipping and Trade, 1750-1950: Essays in International Maritime Economic History (Pontefract, 1990) and discussed further at the larger session in Belgium. Since then, the Association has organized sessions at the economic history congresses in Milan (1994), Madrid (1998), Buenos Aires (2002) and Utrecht (2009).
When the steering committee and the editorial board met again in Leuven in the summer of 1990, they approved three other initiatives. The first was the creation of a new International Congress of Maritime History to meet every four years. Fischer and Davies agreed to organize the initial conference, which broad together about 100 papers in Liverpool in August 1992. Subsequent congresses have been held in Amsterdam/Rotterdam (1996), Esbjerg (2000), Corfu (2004), Greenwich (2008), Ghent (2012), and Fremantle, Western Australia (2016). The 7th International Congress of Maritime History will be held in Fremantle, Western Australia in 2016. The second initiative entailed the creation of a series of volumes to supplement the IJMH. The first issue of Research in Maritime History appeared in 1991, and a further 51 have been published subsequently. Some of the volumes are full-fledged monographs, while others include collections of papers, bibliographies, reprints of important books, finding aids and primary sources. The series continues and is now being published by Liverpool University Press.
The final initiative agreed to in Leuven involved the creation of a formal, permanent organization to replace the MEHG. This was the International Maritime Economic History Association, which sponsors the IJMH (now published by Sage Publications in London); organizes the International Congress of Maritime History; and seeks to promote the study of the relationship between humankind and the sea in a variety of ways. Under the leadership of a series of respected presidents (Peter N. Davies, 1990-1995; Yrjö Kaukiainen, 1995-2001; David M. Williams, 2001-2004; Gelina Harlaftis, 2004-2008; Jesús M. Valdaliso, 2008-2012; and Lars U. Scholl, 2012-2016, Malcolm Tull, 2016-), the Association has undertaken a variety of initiatives. One of the longer-lasting is the annual Peter Davies Lectures in Maritime Business History, which has been held every year since 1993. The Association also offers fellowships for students to attend the International Congresses, and sponsors the Frank Broeze Prize, given every four years to the best post-graduate dissertation in maritime history. The organization also aims to honour significant contributions by important maritime scholars by establishing named lectures at the International Congresses. Thus far, these plenary sessions have included lectures honouring Ralph Davis, Keiichiro Nakagawa and Helge Nordvik.
Over the past three decades, the IMEHA has established itself as the preeminent scholarly organization in the field of maritime history. The IMEHA has constructed a rather broad tent, attracting not only historians but also scholars working in cognate disciplines. We invite all those interested in maritime affairs to join us.
At the General Assembly hold during the 7th International Congress of Maritime History in Fremantle (Australia) the members of IMEHA and the International Congress of Maritime History (ICMH) decided on an amalgamation of the two associations and to transform the association into the International Maritime History Association (IMHA). While IMHA will continue with a strong focus on maritime economic history the delegates were convinced that the association should reflect the inclusiveness it had already achieved in recent years in the name of the association and more important that having only one international umbrella organization for all scholarly maritime historians will be of substantial benefit for maritime historians all over the globe. With the amalgamation between IMEHA and ICMH into IMHA the new association has become also the representative of maritime historians within the network of CISH/ICHS.
Maritime Economic History Group Steering Committee, 1986-1990
Keiichiro Nakagawa, Aoyama Gakuin University
Peter N. Davies, University of Liverpool
Lewis R. Fischer, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Helge W. Nordvik, Norwegian School of Economics
Lars U. Scholl, Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum
Frank Broeze, University of Western Australia
IMEHA Executive Members
Honorary President
Robin S. Craig (England), 2004-2007
Presidents
Peter N. Davies (England), 1990-1995
Yrjö Kaukiainen (Finland), 1995-2001
David M. Williams (England), 2001-2004
Gelina Harlaftis (Greece), 2004-2008
Jesús M. Valdaliso (Spain), 2008-2012
Lars U. Scholl (Germany), 2012-2016
Malcom Tull (Australia), 2016-2022
Ingo Heidbrink (USA), 2022-
Vice Presidents
Olaf U. Janzen (Canada), 1992-1995
Yrjö Kaukiainen (Finland), 1992-1995
Frank J.A. Broeze (Australia), 1995-2001
Faye Kert (Canada), 1995-2001
Gelina Harlaftis (Greece), 2001-2004
Jesús M. Valdaliso (Spain), 2001-2008
John Armstrong (England), 2004-2008
Malcolm Tull (Australia), 2008-2016
Amélia Polónia (Portugal), 2008-2022
Constantin Ardeleanu (Romania), 2016-2022
Secretaries
Gerald E. Panting (Canada), 1990-1995
Olaf U. Janzen (Canada), 1995-1999
James Reveley (Australia), 1999-2004
Berit E. Johansen (Norway), 2004-2012
René Taudal Poulsen (Denmark), 2012-2016
Ingo Heidbrink (USA), 2016-2022
Constantin Ardeleanu (Romania), 2022-
Treasurers
Edward Reed (Canada), 1990-2000
Peter L. Ridgway (Australia), 2000-2001
Edward W. Sloan (USA), 2001-2008
Ayodeji Olukoju (Nigeria), 2008-2012
Ruthy Gertwagen (Israel), 2012-2016
Maria Fusaro (United Kingdom), 2016-2020
Martin Wilcox (Great Britain), 2020-
MEHG/IMEHA Sessions at International Congresses of Economic History
Leuven, 1990
Milan, 1994
Madrid (Seville), 1998
Buenos Aires, 2002
Utrecht, 2008
International Congresses of Maritime History
Liverpool, 1992
Amsterdam/Rotterdam, 1996
Esbjerg, 2000
Corfu, 2004
Greenwich, 2008
Ghent, 2012
Fremantle, 2016
Porto, 2022
International Journal of Maritime History
Editors-in-Chief
Lewis R. Fischer (Canada), 1989-2013
David J. Starkey (England), 2014-2021
Editors
Helge W. Nordvik (Norway), 1989-1998
Valerie C. Burton (Canada), 1990-1992
David M. Williams (England), 1995-1998
David J. Starkey (England), 1999-2013
Malcolm Tull (Australia), 1999-2008
Poul Holm (Denmark), 2000-2006
James E. Candow (Canada), 2008-2009
Michaela Barnard (England), 2014-
Richard Gorski (England), 2014-
Book Review Editors
Valerie C. Burton (Canada), 1989-1990
Jean François Briére (USA), 1990-1992
Poul Holm (Denmark), 1993-2000
Olaf U. Janzen (Canada), 2000-2013
Martin Wilcox (England), 2014-
Editorial Board Officers
Chair
Peter N. Davies (England), 1989-1990
David M. Williams (England), 1990-1995
Lars U. Scholl (Germany), 1995-2012
Gelina Harlaftis (Greece), 2012-
Vice Chair
Lars U. Scholl (Germany), 1989-1996
Gelina Harlaftis (Greece), 1996-2001
Merja-Liisa Hinkkanen (Finland), 2001-2004
Morten Hahn-Pedersen (Denmark), 2004-2006
Elisabetta Tonizzi (Italy), 2006-2012
Maria Fusaro (England), 2012-
Secretary
Gerald E. Panting (Canada), 1989-1992
Gelina Harlaftis (Greece), 1992-1995
Merja-Liisa Hinkkanen (Finland), 1996-2001
Stig Tenold (Norway), 2001-
Board Members (Alphabetical)
Catía Antunes (Netherlands), 2009-
Constantin Ardeleanu (Romania), 2011-
John Armstrong (England), 2001-2004
John Barzman (France), 2004-
Tapio Bergholm (Finland), 2009-
Hubert Bonin (France), 2008-2012
Huw V. Bowen (England), 2006-2011
Gordon H. Boyce (New Zealand/Australia), 1999-
Jean François Briére (USA), 1989-1990, 1993-2001
Jürgen Brockstedt (Germany), 1989-1992
Frank J.A. Broeze (Australia), 1989-1995
Jaap R. Bruijn (Netherlands), 1989-2012
James E. Candow (Canada), 2007-2008, 2009-2011
Pin-Tsun Chang (Taiwan), 1993-2006
Tomohei Chida (Japan), 1989-2001
Ashin Das Gupta (India), 1989-1991
Greta Devos (Belgium), 2001-2005
Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), 1989-1996
Anita van Dissel (Netherlands), 2012-
Tomasso Fanfani (Italy), 1989-1996
H.E.S. Fisher (England), 1989-1996
Stuart M. Frank (USA), 1989-1995
Maria Fusaro (England), 2008-
Femme Gaastra (Netherlands), 2001-2008
Ruthy Gertwagen (Israel), 2007-2012
Antonio Gómez-Mendoza (Spain), 1989-1991
Shin Goto (Japan), 1999-2001
Morten Hahn-Pedersen (Denmark), 1992-2006
Gelina Harlaftis (Greece), 1989-2001, 2012-
Jean Heffer (France), 1989-1992
Ingo Heidbrink (USA), 2012-
Graydon R. Henning (Australia), 1999-
Merja-Liisa Hinkkanen (Finland), 1995-2004
Gordon Jackson (Scotland), 1994-2010
Adrian Jarvis (England), 2004-
Hans Chr. Johansen (Denmark), 1990-1998
Kunio Katayama (Japan), 2001-2006
Yrjö Kaukiainen (Finland), 1989-1992
Jan Tore Klovland (Norway), 2009-
Maria Bárbara Levy (Brazil), 1989-1991
Silvia Marzagalli (France), 1997-
Kenneth McPherson (Australia), 2009-2010
Michael B. Miller (USA), 2001-
Graeme Milne (England), 2009-2012
Ioanna Minoglou (Greece), 2001-2007
Kenneth Morgan (England), 2009-
Leos Müller (Sweden), 2011-
Forbes Munro (Scotland), 1989-1994
Keiichiro Nakagawa (Japan), 1989-1998
Victor Norman (Norway), 1996-2001
Jari Ojala (Finland), 2008-
Sarah Palmer (England), 1992-
Gerald E. Panting (Canada), 1989-1996
Amélia Polónia (Portugal), 2007-2008
René Taudal Poulsen (Denmark), 2011-2012
Himanshu Prabha Ray (India), 1997-2006
Edward Reed (Canada), 1991-1998
Chris Reid (England), 2007-
Paul C. van Royen (Netherlands), 1995-2001
Jeffrey J. Safford (USA), 1989-2004
Stephen Salmon (Canada), 2004-
Lars U. Scholl (Germany), 1989-2012
Edward W. Sloan (USA), 1995-2001
Morten K. Søndergaard (Denmark), 2009-2010
David J. Starkey (England), 1995-1999
Arnljot Strømme Svendsen (Norway), 1989-1995
Carl E. Swanson (USA), 1990-
Mariko Tatsuki (Japan), 2001-2008
Stig Tenold (Norway), 2001-
Elisabetta Tonizzi (Italy), 2004-
Malcolm Tull (Australia), 1989-1999
Jesús M. Valdaliso (Spain), 1992-2001, 2012-
Carmel Vassallo (Malta), 2001-
Karel Veraghtert (Belgium), 1989-2001
Simon P. Ville (Australia), 1996-2004
David M. Williams (England), 1989-1995, 1999-2001
William D. Wray (Canada), 1989-
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