Lucy Maynard Salmon (July 27, 1853 – February 14, 1927) was an American historian whose work was foundational in the establishment of the field of public history.

[3] Salmon published widely in historical journals and general magazines, and was highly active in civic affairs, supporting civil service reform and world and women's suffrage.

[5] A version of her master's thesis, "History of the Appointing Power of the President," was published in the first volume of the Papers of the American Historical Association in 1886.

Salmon delivered her findings to the AHA in an address in December 1897, and they were also published as an appendix to the Committee's report The Study of History in Schools.

[8][9] In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Salmon was one of the few women historians to speak regularly at the annual meetings of the AHA.

[6] In order to conduct seminars, despite having been denied permission by the College, Salmon invited students to her rooms twice a week for informal discussions.

[6] Adelaide Underhill, a Vassar graduate who returned in 1892 as head librarian for the college, worked closely with Salmon to improve the library.