Research

Research is the heart of an excellent National History Day project. The primary and secondary sources are what you use to make your case and tell the story.

Your research will take place in two parts: initial research, and advanced research. Initial research is done over the summer to help you find a potential topic and learn about how that topic could relate to the theme. Once you've decided on a topic and group or individual format, you will continue on with continued research to dive deeper into your topic and become an expert.

When all is said and done, a project should have a minimum of 15 sources, and an excellent NHD project will have roughly 20-25 sources in total. Remember that visuals, media, and interviews are also sources in addition to print and web.

You must take notes of your research as you go along and keep track of your sources.

Here are a few additional resources to help you conduct your research:

• A two-page guide from NHD with advice on how to select a topic

• More advice from NHD on how to conduct research and create a project

• A list of resources for conducting research

• EasyBib citation generator

• Formatting guidelines for Chicago style citation and bibliography

• Formatting guidelines for MLA style citation and bibliography

• Sample bibliography from NHD

Resources for general research and finding sources:

• PNHS & PSHS Library Pages

(Pro tip: Go to 'Gale' and then Academic OneFile on the PPS library sites to find academic journal articles for your required "print" source)

• Boston Public Library - Online Database (sign up for a e-card)

• Library of Congress - Loads of primary sources about US History topics

• Internet Modern World History Sourcebook - Primary sources for world history topics

• NHD's page of resources for conducting research

• Plymouth Public Library databases

Resources for Plymouth history:

• • Pilgrim Hall Museum

  • Plimoth Plantation

  • Plymouth Public Library local history site

  • Plymouth Antiquarian Society

Massachusetts Historical Societies, Museums, and Historic Sites

(Compiled by MA History Day)

• The Basketball Hall of Fame

• The Berkshire Museum

• Cambridge Historical Commission

• The Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation

• The Concord Museum

• Springfield Museums

• The Falmouth Historical Society

• The Hancock Shaker Village

• The Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Arts

• Historic Deerfield

• Historic Northhampton Museum and Education Center

• The John Alden House Museum

• The Longyear Museum

• Lowell National Historical Park

• The Marine Museum at Fall River

• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Museum

• The Museum of African American History

• The National Park Service

• The New Bedford Whaling Museum

• Old Sturbridge Village

• The Peabody Essex Museum

• The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard

• The Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum

• Plimoth Plantation

• Salem Museums of Witches and Pirates

• The Salem Witch Museum

• The USS Salem Naval Shipbuilding Museum

• The USS Constitution Museum

• Worcester Historical Museum