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About Us: Our Mission and Record
The Institute for Historical Review is an educational research and publishing center that works to promote peace, understanding and justice through greater public awareness of the past, and especially socially-politically relevant aspects of twentieth-century history. We strive in particular to increase understanding of the causes, nature and consequences of war and conflict. We vigorously defend freedom of speech and freedom of historical inquiry.
Devoted to truth and accuracy in history, the IHR continues the tradition of historical revisionism pioneered by distinguished historians such as Harry Elmer Barnes, A.J.P. Taylor, Charles Tansill, Paul Rassinier and William H. Chamberlin. The Institute's strives, in the words of Barnes, to "bring history into accord with the facts."
Factually and conscientiously, it informs the public about the Jewish-Zionist grip on America's cultural and political life, World War II lies, distortions of Middle East history, myths about the Israel-Palestine conflict, the corrosive impact of "Holocaust" propaganda, and much more.
The work of this independent "think tank" is funded through donations and bequests, and through sales of books, booklets, discs and leaflets.
Founded in 1978, the IHR is recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) public interest, not-for-profit, tax exempt enterprise. It is non-partisan, non-ideological, and non-sectarian.
Its director is Mark Weber, a historian, lecturer, current affairs analyst and author. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he was educated in the US and Europe. He holds a Master's degree in modern European history from Indiana University.
The Institute's offices are located in Orange County, southern California. The IHR operates as an entity of "Legion for the Survival of Freedom," a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1952 and controlled by a responsible board of directors. Its work is funded through donations and bequests, and by sales of books, discs and tapes. As a 501(c)(3) enterprise, its budget is public, and donations to the IHR are tax-deductible.
Outreach and Impact
The Institute's well-organized website - www.ihr.org -- routinely reaches tens of thousands of visitors across the US and around the world. It attracts many more visitors than the sites of much larger and better funded organizations.
It is regularly updated with selected news and comment items from around the world, and with reports on the Institute's work and impact. With its tremendous library and archives, the site also serves as a great learning center, globally informing and educating people.
Through the internet, IHR essays, reviews and other writings are routinely distributed - not only by us, but by many others as well -- to countless thousands around the world, or are posted on other websites, including in translation in other languages -- reaching decision-makers, journalists, activists and educators across the US and around the world.
Among the items that can be downloaded from the Institute's website are many articles and reviews from the IHR's Journal of Historical Review (published 1980-2002) covering a wide range of historical, political, current affairs and cultural topics. (And all Journal issues, with the complete text of every item, are available on a single computer-readable disc.)
Institute spokesmen have been seen and heard by millions on radio and television, both in the US and abroad. It has been cited in the world's leading newspapers and magazines. Around the globe, many scholars, researchers and journalists have turned to the IHR for solid and reliable information.
Unlike some groups that merely "preach to the choir," the IHR works hard to reach new people. Through its media work and broadcast interviews, it regularly reaches many hundreds of thousands of listeners and viewers in the US and overseas. (Recordings of some broadcasts and interviews can be downloaded from the IHR website's "Audio Archive" section.)
Since its founding, the IHR has published many books, booklets, leaflets and audio and video recordings It has brought long-neglected classics back into print, and has broken fresh ground with professionally edited and attractively designed first editions of significant new works. In addition to its own titles, the IHR distributes worthwhile books issued by other publishers. Many IHR books, essays and leaflets have been issued in a range of foreign languages.
Week by week, month after month, the IHR distributes more books, booklets, discs and flyers, and on a wider range of topics, than any similar center or organization.
The Institute's online "bookstore" allows website visitors to conveniently and securely purchase books, discs, tapes and leaflets.
In the struggle against historical lies, bigotry, censorship, and intellectual oppression, no similar group -- certainly none with a comparably modest budget and staff -- matches the IHR's record of focus, achievement and resolve.
Conferences
Speakers at IHR conferences and meetings have included:
John Toland, Pulitzer prize-winning American historian, and author of several best-selling works of history.
John Sack, veteran journalist, war correspondent, historian and novelist. This Jewish-American writer is the author of nine non-fiction books.
Tony Martin, professor of African studies at Wellesley College (Massachusetts).
Paul "Pete" McCloskey, former U.S. Congressman (Rep.-Calf.). This U.S. Marine Corps veteran braved enemy fire in Korea, opposed Richard Nixon on Capitol Hill, and spoke out against Israel’s violations of U.S. law and the deceit of the Israel-first Anti-Defamation League.
Tom Sunic, author, scholar and former political science professor and diplomat.
James J. Martin, an American historian with a 25-year career as an educator. Author of several meticulously researched historical studies.
Joseph Sobran, author, lecturer, and nationally-syndicated columnist.
David Irving, British historian and author of numerous bestselling works.
Hideo Miki, retired professor at Japan’s National Defense Academy and retired Lieutenant General of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.
John Bennett, noted Australian civil liberties attorney and activist, and president of the Australian Civil Liberties Union.
A Target of Bigotry
Zionist groups such as the Simon Wiesenthal Center (Los Angeles) and the Anti-Defamation League (New York) routinely smear the IHR, attacking it as a "hate group" or a "Holocaust denial" organization. In fact, the IHR steadfastly opposes bigotry of all kinds in its efforts to promote greater public understanding of history. It is proud of the backing it has earned from people of the most diverse political views and racial and ethnic backgrounds.
One prominent American journalist and author who has looked into the critical claims made about the IHR is John Sack, who is Jewish. He reported on a three-day IHR conference in an article published in the Feb. 2001 issue of Esquire magazine. He rejected as unfounded the often-repeated lie that the IHR and its supporters are "haters" or bigots. He described those who spoke at and attended the IHR conference as "affable, open-minded, intelligent [and] intellectual."
The Institute has been a target of authentic hate groups. It has come under repeated assault from the Jewish Defense League -- identified as a terrorist group by the FBI. On July 4, 1984, the JDL destroyed the Institute's office and warehouse in a major arson attack. Estimated property loss was more than $400,000, including tens of thousands of books, rare documents, irreplaceable files and expensive office equipment. This fire-bombing climaxed a months-long campaign by the JDL that included numerous death threats by telephone and mail, extensive property damage, five relatively minor fire bombings, one drive-by shooting and two physical assaults.
For Peace And Understanding
Bitter experience has taught people to be skeptical of the pronouncements of politicians and governments, especially during wartime when official and semi-official propagandists are most busy deceiving the public. As American historian Harry Elmer Barnes put it: "Truth is always the first war casualty. The emotional disturbances and distortions in historical writing are greatest in wartime."
Powerful interests - including politicians and the major media - often distort the historical record for self-serving reasons. Textbooks, motion pictures and television routinely present history in a slanted and partisan way. As George Orwell aptly noted in his classic Nineteen Eighty-Four: "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past."
Americans have been misled into one costly, destructive and needless war after another. For example, in the months leading up to the 2003 US attack against Iraq, government officials and much of the media deceived the public to justify the invasion and occupation of that country.
An awareness of factual history is essential to an understanding of the great issues of our age. The work of the IHR is especially important during these troubled times. In the struggle against historical lies and self-serving propaganda, the Institute for Historical Review stands as a precious bulwark and beacon.
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