Institute for Constitutional History
The Bonnie and Richard Reiss Graduate Institute for Constitutional History (ICH) is a leading national forum for interdisciplinary study of American constitutional history. The Institute offers advanced seminars, as well as workshops devoted to improving the teaching of constitutional history. These are designed for doctoral students, junior faculty members, lawyers, and educators from around the world. Offered free of charge, the seminars and workshops are open to qualified candidates by application only.
Syllabi
Syllabi
Three English Revolutions
Stanford, CA Seminar
Professors Eric Nelson and Michael McConnell
July 7-12, 2019
Click here for a PDF of the Syllabus
Antislavery Constitutionalism
NYC Seminar
Professors James Oakes and Sean Wilentz
February 14 - March 28, 2019
Click here for a PDF of the Syllabus
Giving
Giving
Over the past twenty-five years, American constitutional history has been de-emphasized in favor of "trendier" subjects at the nation's universities and colleges. As historian Gordon Wood has noted, "most universities have long since given up teaching undergraduate courses in American constitutional history, and most of those few remaining professors who do teach it are retiring and not being replaced with constitutional scholars” (New York Review of Books, February 23, 2006).
Staff and Advisors
Staff
Alexander Kassl
Deputy Director of Public Programs
New-York Historical Society
ich@nyhistory.org
Advisor
Please check back for more information.
Programs
Programs
The Bonnie and Richard Reiss Graduate Institute for Constitutional History currently offers a variety of programs that enhance the teaching of Constitutional Studies and encourage scholars to increase their involvement in the field:
Past Events
Past Events
America’s Unregulated Police (Virtual Seminar)
Fridays, March 5 and 19, April 9 and 16, 2021 | 2–5 pm ET
Upcoming Seminars

Upcoming Events
New-York Historical Society
The Bonnie and Richard Reiss Graduate Institute for Constitutional History Seminar
Presented in person at the New-York Historical Society
The Bonnie and Richard Reiss Graduate Institute for Constitutional History is pleased to announce its fall 2021 seminar for advanced graduate students and junior faculty:
Constitutions in Conflict: Proslavery versus Antislavery
