National History Day
What is History Day?
History Day is a nationwide program in which students research and create history projects related to an annual theme. Students in grades 6 through 12 can participate by creating an exhibit, performance, documentary, or paper. Students in some states may also create websites. Students then compete at a local, state, and national level. The theme for the 2010 competition is Innovation in History: Impact and Change. See our list of possible local topics for 2010.
To learn more about the contest, visit:
Where can I find local history resources?
Oberlin Heritage Center
We have a variety of online resources than can be accessed in our Research and Learn menu. Our photographs and city directories are primary resources. You can also find links to census records and other primary docomunts through the genealogy and links pages.
Students can make an appointment to visit the Oberlin Heritage Center Resource Center to personally view census records, tax records, city directories, telephone books, and genealogical information on a variety of individuals. One of our best primary resources for twentieth century history is our collection of oral histories. These wonderful resources include discussions of Oberlin families, buildings, race relations, city politics, transportation, growing up in Oberlin, going to school, celebrating holidays, working at businesses and farms, keeping house, living through the Depression, going to war, and more. The Resource Center also includes an architectural inventory of many of the buildings in Oberlin, as well as a library of books about the history of Oberlin, Oberlin College, the Civil War, African American history, Westwood Cemetery, and a variety of historical topics.
If you are interested in visiting the Oberlin Heritage Center to talk to our staff or look through our photographs, documents, books, oral histories, or collections please make an appointment. You can email tourinfo@oberlinheritage.org or call (440) 774-1700. Please be aware that staff are more than happy to guide students to resources, but there may be a fee for photocopies and any extensive research done by staff members.
Oberlin College Archives:
The archives contain many primary resources dating from the founding of Oberlin to present times. Some of these resources can be searched online but most will have to be seen at the archives. See their website for visitor information and online finding guides.
Oberlin College Library and Oberlin Public Library
Be sure to search through the holdings of the libraries in Oberlin, especially for secondary resources, popular magazines, and newspapers.
Other Local Museums, Historical Societies, and Libraries
Amherst Historical Society, Black River Historical Society, Cleveland Memory Project, Cleveland Public Library, Lorain County Historical Society, Ohio Historical Society, Ohio Memory Online Scrapbook, Western Reserve Historical Society
National Organizations
American Memory - Library of Congress, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, History Matters, National History Education Clearinghouse, Smithsonian Institution, Teaching American History, Teaching With Historic Places
For help with Citations for History Day Projects
Oberlin College Archives citation guide, MLA citation guide, MLA electronic citation guide, Turabian citation guide
