California Youth Leadership Council Resources
Historical Research
To support your thesis, you need to have factual backing. That's where historical research comes in. NHD requires that you use multiple sources, with the number needed depending on your division and group size. Along with your project, you will be required to submit an annotated bibliography containing all of your cited sources. Start collecting your sources as soon as possible to make this more manageable!
Historical research sources are typically grouped into 2 categories: primary and secondary sources. It is important to have both types.
Where Should I Get Information From?
Primary Sources
Primary Sources are first-hand accounts of an event. They were created at the time of the event by someone who witnessed or participated in the event.
Examples include:
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Historic objects
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Original film footage
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Autobiographies
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Government records
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Photographs
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Manuscript collections
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Newspapers from the time period
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Music from the time period
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Interviews with participants
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Letters
Not everyone who witnessed or participated in an event will have the same perspective on it. When collecting primary sources, ensure that you include diverse perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of the events.
To search for primary sources online:
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Search format + topic (e.g., Susan B. Anthony interview)
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Search topic + archive (e.g., Susan B. Anthony archive)
Primary Source Resources:
JSTOR - www.jstor.org
Library of Congress - www.loc.gov
*Find more primary source examples at the bottom of this page.
Secondary Sources
Secondary Sources come from people who did not witness or participate in an event. They are typically pieces of writing that are informed by primary sources. Secondary sources provide background information on an event.
Examples include:
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Biographies
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Textbooks
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Books about the topic
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Articles about the topic
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Encyclopedias
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Documentaries
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Interviews with scholars/experts
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Websites
Tip: Secondary sources often have footnotes that cite primary sources!
Check reliability of secondary sources!
Ensure articles and books have credible authors. Check the organization that the information comes from. Government or educational organizations may be more credible than social media sites.
Look for professional domains (e.g., .gov, .edu) as websites with these domains are often more legitimate. However, when researching online, always fact check the information you find with other reliable sources.
Keep in mind the purpose of the source. Why did the author create this source? (i.e., Is this source an opinion piece? Objective facts?) Be aware of people's biases and never take one person's side of a story as fact.
Can I Use Wikipedia?
You can use Wikipedia as a starting point for your research, but it should not be one of your final sources. Wikipedia can be edited by anyone, so it can have unreliable information! Use it to gain a base of knowledge on your topic, but it is important to find credible primary and secondary sources. (Look at the reference page of the Wikipedia article!)
Watch These Videos
Tips for Digital Research
National History Day
What is a Primary Source?National History Day
What is a Secondary Source?
National History Day
What to Keep in Mind
Primary or Secondary?
Some sources will contain both primary and secondary accounts. In this case, classify this source depending on how you use it in your project.
Take, for example, a website about women's suffrage written in 1980 that contains an image of first-hand participants. The website would be classified as secondary because it was not created during the time period by a witness or participant. However, the photo would be considered primary. If you plan to use the website's information, classify that source as secondary. If you plan to use the photo, list the image itself in your bibliography as a primary source.
Find Information that Supports Your Thesis
Remember that the goal of your research is to find evidence from primary and secondary sources that supports your thesis. You do not need to include all aspects of an event in your project! You may find a piece of information from a reputable source, but if it does not relate to the annual theme or your thesis, it is not a good piece of evidence for your project. Good evidence comes from reliable sources, but also backs your claim. Your evidence should help you connect your topic to the annual theme.
*This does not refer to differing perspectives. It is important to include multiple points of view in your project!
Other Resources
Primary Sources
(some of these resources also have secondary sources)
Primary resource newspapers (Library of Congress)
Google image archives
Life Magazine on Google
(Newspapers/Magazines)
Digital collections (Library of Congress)
Wikimedia Commons (Images)
Calisphere (California Digital Archives)
Secondary Sources
(some of these resources also have primary sources)
Internet Modern History Sourcebook - Full Text Sources
Google Scholar
Government Information and Publications (Documents)
Research Tips and Guides
National History Day Research Guide
National History Day Website - Start Your Research