Historian

Historians Research, Analyze, Interpret, And Present The Past By Studying A Variety Of Historical Documents And Sources.

Historians Conduct Research And Analysis For Governments, Businesses, Nonprofits, Historical Associations, And Other Organizations. They Use A Variety Of Sources In Their Work, Including Government And Institutional Records, Newspapers, Photographs, Interviews, Films, And Unpublished Manuscripts (such As Personal Diaries And Letters). They Also May Process, Catalog, And Archive These Documents And Artifacts.

In Government, Some Historians Conduct Research To Provide Historical Context For Current Policy Issues. For Example, They May Research The History Of Social Security As Background For A New Bill Or Upcoming Funding Debate. Many Write About The History Of A Particular Government Agency, Activity, Or Program, Such As A Military Operation Or The Space Program.

Many Historians Present And Interpret History In Order To Shape Or Build Upon Public Knowledge Of Past Events. They Often Trace And Build A Historical Profile Of A Particular Person, Area, Idea, Organization, Or Event. Once Their Research Is Complete, They Present Their Findings Through Articles, Books, Reports, Exhibits, Websites, And Educational Programs.

In Historical Associations, Historians Preserve Artifacts And Explain The Historical Significance Of A Wide Variety Of Subjects, Such As Historic Buildings, Religious Groups, And Battlegrounds.

Historians Who Work For Businesses May Examine Historical Evidence For Legal Cases And Regulatory Matters.