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The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, was established by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in Chicago, Illinois on September 9, 1915. Described as the "father of Black history," Woodson was the second African-American man (after W.E.B. DuBois) to received a Ph.D degree from Harvard University, and was one of the first scholars to study African-American history.

The stated purposes of ASNLH were to promote historical research and study related to African-American life, publish books, and support racial harmony. Beginning in 1916, the organization began publishing The Negro History Bulletin (now the Journal of African American History). In 1926, ASNLH founder Woodson inaugurated Negro History Week, to be celebrated during the second week in February. Negro History Week is the origin of Black History Month, which has been celebrated in February in America since the 1970s. From 1936-1951, civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune served as president of ASNLH.