United States Army Center of Military History

Primary functions

• Researching and writing official histories and monographs describing campaigns, units, and significant events.
• Advising Army leadership and staffs on historical precedent and context for policy, operations, and ceremonies.
• Maintaining unit lineages, honors, and heraldry to preserve organizational identity.
• Supporting Army museums, exhibits, and educational programs through curatorial and archival services.

CMH is staffed by professional historians, archivists, curators, and support personnel who collect documents, oral histories, photographs, and artifacts. Its publications range from short studies to multi-volume official histories; these works are used for officer education, doctrine development, and public information. The Center also coordinates historical activities across Army commands and liaises with civilian archives, academic institutions, and museums.

History and role

Created to centralize the Army’s historical work, the Center grew as the Army sought systematic ways to preserve operational records and lessons learned. Over time it became the authoritative source for unit histories and for determining honors and lineage, helping ensure continuity of tradition across reorganizations and deployments. CMH’s work contributes to accountability, institutional learning, and commemoration.

Notable distinctions

While CMH is not a single public museum, it supports a network of Army museums and produces materials for public education. Its products inform scholarship and public understanding of military history and serve as an official repository for many Army historical narratives. For more information or access to publications, consult the official website.