Time Lines
Dig into MLA history through these interactive time lines exploring crucial moments in the modern language profession, from the creation of the MLA to the union of technology and language education. Want to explore further? Request a time line at archives@mla.org.
MLA History
Discover the evolution of the study and teaching of modern languages in the United States, the history of the Modern Language Association, and the scholars who have shaped the profession from 1883 to the present.
MLA Mission
Follow the development of the mission that drives the wide-ranging activities of the Modern Language Association from 1883 to the present.
MLA International Bibliography
Learn how the MLA saved a small bibliography in 1920 and transformed it into an essential tool for all aspects of research in modern languages and literature, a tool now containing more than 2.7 million records.
MLA Style
Learn how a three-page style sheet evolved to become an indispensable handbook for writing papers and documenting sources and how subsequent editions addressed new technologies like word processors, CD-ROMs, databases, and the Internet.
Committee on Information Technology
Meet the committee, founded in 1990, dedicated to investigating how technology might improve modern language study, membership experience, and association activities.
Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession
Meet the women who challenged inequalities in a male-dominated profession, worked to level the field, fought against discrimination, and supported feminist scholarship in languages and literature. This time line features highlights of the CSWP’s history since its founding in 1969 and includes excerpts from interviews with MLA members.