What Do Historians Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Historians research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters. They also conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.

Other tasks include:

• Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as collect data sources such as books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
• Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
• Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives.
• Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings.
• Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
• Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period.

We asked Historians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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77% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 63% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Historians conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts. They conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.

A typical day for a Historian will also include:

• Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as collect data sources such as books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
• Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
• Conduct historical research, and publish or present findings and theories.
• Coordinate activities of workers engaged in cataloging and filing materials.
• Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period.

We asked some Historians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	42% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	31% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	56% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	39% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	6% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Historians also trace historical development in a particular field, such as social, cultural, political, or diplomatic history. They may also determine which topics to research, or pursue research topics specified by clients or employers.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Historians Coordinate activities of workers engaged in cataloging and filing materials. They might also Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives.

In addition, they Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as use in CD-ROMs or Internet sites.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as collect data sources such as books, pamphlets, and periodicals.

To some Historians, it is also their responsibility to Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Historian, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/life-physical-and-social-science/historians.htm

http://www.historians.org/

http://www.oah.org/

http://www.aaslh.org/