National History Day
Bucks and Montgomery Counties Regional Competition
Each year, more than half a million students, guided and encouraged by thousands of teachers nationwide, participate in the National History Day competition. Students choose historical topics related to an annual theme. The students then conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites. After analyzing and interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’ significance in history, students present their work in original papers, exhibits, performances and video documentaries.
| How to Register for National History Day |
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Categories:
National History Day is open to public, private and home-schooled students in grades 6-8 (Junior Division) and grades 9-12 (Senior Division). The categories are as follows:
Group or Individual:
Exhibit
Performance
Documentary
Website
Individual ONLY:
Historical Papers
Deadlines:
Teachers and students must be aware of the deadlines set for registration forms, historical papers, and website submissions! The due dates change from year to year, but generally occur in late February. The dates for next year’s History Day will be posted immediately following the completion of this year’s competition.
Registration Information and Forms:
To get your students involved in this rewarding experience, or to request a registration packet, call Melissa Jay, Coordinator of Education and Outreach Programs, at 215-345-0210, ext. 125 or at mjay@mercermuseum.org. A per student registration fee applies. This fee must accompany all registration submissions and defrays costs associated with the History Day event, including t-shirts for all participants.
Bucks and Montgomery Counties' Regional Competition: March 28, 2009
Registration, History Paper and Website submission deadline: February 13, 2009
To obtain a registration form, download our Bucks and Montgomery Counties’ Regional Competition Registration Form (PDF) or call 215-345-0210, extension 125.
For more information, download our National History Day Flyer (PDF).
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| Regional Competition Registration Form (PDF) |
| National History Day Flyer (PDF) |
| National History Day 2008 Theme Page |
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| National History Day Themes |
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Themes for 2009 and 2010
2009 - The Individual in History
2010 - Innovation in History
Themes are subject to change
For more information on National History Day please visit their website at http://www.nhd.org.
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| Spruance Library Resources |
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Primary Sources Beyond the Internet!
Located on the third floor of the Mercer Museum, the Spruance Library houses a treasure trove of resources related to the history of Bucks County and colonial Pennsylvania. The Library contains over 15,000 books and periodicals; 11,000 photographs and postcards; 3,500 feet of county archives, and over 3,000 feet of manuscripts that can provide your students with a hands-on experience with primary source material. Get your students off the Internet and into the Library!
Workshops are also available to help your students learn to use primary sources effectively, for NHD and other research projects. For more information on the Past Imperfect: Using Primary Resource Materials workshop please visit our Field Trip page.
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| Become a History Day Judge! |
This exciting one-day event takes place annually in late March or early April at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. We are always seeking people to serve as judges for this event. An expertise in history is not required. All we need are volunteers who enjoy working with young people and are open-minded. Interested? Please contact Melissa Jay at 215-345-0210, ext. 125 or at mjay@mercermuseum.org.
For an application to be a judge at this year’s competition download our Judge Registration Form.
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| Judge Registration Form (PDF) |
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