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Career Details

19-3093.00 - 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and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
3,500
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
3,500
Estimate
Change in Employment
100.0
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+1.7%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
  • Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
  • Trace historical development in a particular field, such as social, cultural, political, or diplomatic history.
  • Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
  • Conduct historical research, and publish or present findings and theories.
  • Speak to various groups, organizations, and clubs to promote the aims and activities of historical societies.
  • Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.
  • Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period.
  • Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings.
  • Determine which topics to research, or pursue research topics specified by clients or employers.
  • Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet.
  • Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives.
  • Advise or consult with individuals and institutions regarding issues such as the historical authenticity of materials or the customs of a specific historical period.
  • Collect detailed information on individuals for use in biographies.
  • Interview people to gather information about historical events and to record oral histories.
  • Recommend actions related to historical art, such as which items to add to a collection or which items to display in an exhibit.
  • Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.
Supplemental
  • Teach and conduct research in colleges, universities, museums, and other research agencies and schools.
  • Translate or request translation of reference materials.
  • Coordinate activities of workers engaged in cataloging and filing materials.
  • Edit historical society publications.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 History and Archeology
  • 89%
    Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
 English Language
  • 86%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 70%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Clerical
  • 63%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Geography
  • 63%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
 Education and Training
  • 62%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Sociology and Anthropology
  • 61%
    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
 Communications and Media
  • 60%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 57%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Fine Arts
  • 56%
    Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
 Administration and Management
  • 55%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computer printers
  • Computer inkjet printers
  • Computer laser printers
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Digital audio recorders
  • Microphones
 Cameras
  • Digital still cameras
 Computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Microfilm equipment and supplies
  • Microfiche readers
  • Microfilm readers
 Duplicating machines
  • Photocopying equipment
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content management software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
  • Web Scrapbook
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesignHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PhotoshopHOT
  • Corel WordPerfect
  • LinkedInHOT
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • QuarkXPress
  • Scanning software
 Data management and query software
  • Archival databases
  • ArchiveGrid
  • Archives Wiki
  • Database management systems
  • Digital image collections
  • Google Books NGram Viewer
  • Gutenberg-e
  • Library of Congress digital collections
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • National Archives online databases
  • National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC)
  • ProQuest Archive Finder
  • Reference management software
  • Relational database management system RDMS
  • Searchable online catalogs
  • Smithsonian Institution digital archives
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
  • Text mining software
  • TokenX
 Information exchange software
  • Digital mapping software
  • Email software
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareHOT
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareHOT
 Development software
  • Extensible markup language XMLHOT
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASPHOT
 Industry specific software
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • Statistical analysis software
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
  • Wonderware software
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
 Network applications software
  • Page markers
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Brightpoint Community College
Eastern Shore Community College
Germanna Community College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Virginia Western Community College
Wytheville Community College