History courses at Indiana University existed as early as the 1820s, but were taught under such course rubrics as "Political Economy" or "The Constitution of the United States". It was not until 1856 that a course in the discipline of history is named. By 1860 courses such as "General History" and "History of the United States" were listed in the Indiana University catalogue. John G. Newkirk was the first professor of history at Indiana University and taught from 1880 until 1886.

In 1884, David Starr Jordan assumed the presidency of the University and instituted curriculum reform, establishing the modern major and elective course work system. In 1886, Jordan recruited Richard Heath Dabney to teach history under the new curriculum system which emphasized the scientific and specialized approach to the study of disciplines over the older, classically- based curriculum. However, in 1889, after a falling out with Jordan, Dabney left Indiana University for the University of Virginia.

1895 marks the official beginning of Indiana University's Department of History and Political Science (it was not until 1914 that the department was split into two separate and autonomous disciplines). James A. Woodburn was chair of the department from its inception until 1924. Course work included ancient and modern history for freshmen, specialized courses in European and American history for upperclassmen, classes in historical methods and research seminars for seniors, and special topic seminars for advanced students. The department's emphasis at this time was in the areas of U.S. history, Midwestern history, state history, and regional history.

The years during and after World War II brought many changes to the department. Under the leadership of Robert F. Byrnes, chair of the department from 1958 until 1965, the focus of the department shifted away from its traditional emphasis on English, U.S., and regional history and towards a more international approach. Specialists were sought in the areas of Latin America, Africa, East Asia, Central Eurasia, and Eastern as well as Western Europe.

By the late 1960s, the departmental focus was further broadened as the "new social history" gradually became a part of the history department's curriculum. The new model focused on such diverse and under-researched historical subjects as immigration, family life, the role of women, labor, and Native Americans.

Leo F. Solt joined the Indiana University History faculty in 1955. He served as Acting Chair of the Department from 1962-1963. He was promoted to full professor in 1964 and served as Chair of the Deptartment from 1965-1970. Solt retired in 1992 and passed away in 1994.