The current academic journal revived an earlier publication by the same name issued by IISH from 1936 until its termination due to the approach of World War II in 1938.

[1] Although both were interrupted by World War II, with the first iteration of the IRSH terminated in 1938,[1] some ten volumes were published under that name, ending in 1955.

[2] The prewar International Review for Social History was a multilingual publication, including material published in English, German, Dutch, and French.

It is well regarded by professional international social and labour historians as a journal which publishes authoritative papers on the discipline.

The current executive editor is Aad Blok, of the International Institute of Social History.