The given article discusses the first stage of formation and development of a new research area, called the Social Science History (SSH). The initial phase covers the seventies- eighties of the twentieth century, when SSH was developed in the United States. The 1990s witnessed growing popularity and speedy development of that research area in Europe. The research of development of SSH has been based on the case study of academic journal publications. The journal, named Social Science History has been published since 1976. Apart from the journal articles, the activity of the Social Science History Association, which can be regarded as the founder of this research line, has been studied too. Two periods in the development of SSH in the 1970s and 1980s have been identified. The first period is dated to 1976–1979 and the second period is dated to the 1980s. This division is done regarding the publications in Social Science History journal. The main problem and disputable issues of definition, status and methodology of SSH have been analyzed. The article presents opinions of the researchers of the 1970s-1980s about problems and perspectives of the Association’s activities and future development of the research area in question. In addition to theoretical issues, the educational issues, university interdisciplinarity- aimed curriculum development issues are analyzed, as well as problems of SSH introduction into research practice of both professors and undergraduate and graduate students.