We look for two things in a flair application: (1) focused knowledge in a subject area (2) dedication to AskHistorians. The combination of those generally results in 3-5 really excellent posts (the more the better) in your speciality. These should show an awareness of both primary and secondary material on the topic, and an engagement with some of the scholarly issues (e.g. being able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a particular scholarly argument in order to present a clearer picture to AH readers). They should generally have cited sources to current academic scholarship.

Once you have a solid record of posts, you make a new post in our flair application thread. Explain what flair text you would like to have, and provide links to your previous answers. You can look to other posts in the thread for a template.

Good luck!

To get flaired, you need to post an application in the application thread, accessible from the sidebar. This should have links to several high-quality answers on this subreddit in it. These answers should show a dedication to the subreddit, as well as expertise in the field to which you're claiming to have it. While the rules do not usually require you to source answers, these answers should be sourced properly, with evidence of wide and up-to-date reading in your field.

/u/sunagainstgold and thefourthmaninaboat have given good answers. I'd just like to chime in with a few observations or bits of practical advice that I think will help make a strong application.

1. look at the flair applications that others have made in the application thread, and look at what the feedback from the mods is. Successful applications will show what "good answers" in this sub look like, and what sort of posts you should strive for in your application.

Looking at unsuccessful applications and the mod feedback to them can also help tell you what to avoid. For instance, your 3-5 answers shouldn't all come from one thread. If all your answers cite the same 3 books, mods might wonder how familiar with the literature you are. etc.

2. What does 'dedication to Askhistorians' mean anyway?

Basically, it means you have established a track record of contributing to the sub.

If your application contains 3-5 answers that are truly fantastic, but you have only been posting to the sub for a week, a mod might wonder if you will stick around and still be answering questions in 6 months or a year.

On the other hand, there have been applications from people who formerly had flair but lost it due to not being active on AskHistorians for more than 6 months. In some of those applications, they posted their answers that were a year or more old, and these applicants didn't have any new contributions lately. That sort of application doesn't show that the former-flair is interested in answering questions now.

So, a person showing "dedication to AskHistorians" will have active in the sub, either answering questions, or asking them, or posting in weekday themed threads. Also, it takes a little time, if you have been active in the sub for 3 weeks or 2 months or 6 months when you apply, it seems more likely that you will still be active 6 months or a year after getting flair.