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SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2023

SNOW DATE: Saturday, March 4, 2023

WELCOME

ENGAGING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN HISTORICAL RESEARCH & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

REGISTRATION FOR 2023 CARROLL COUNTY HISTORY DAY

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Registration Deadline: Friday, January 13, 2023

National History Day

June 11-15, 2023: National History Day
TBD - Registration closes for NHD
University of Maryland

Maryland History Day

May 6, 2023: Maryland History Day
April 5, 2023 - Registration closes for Maryland History Day
April 12, 2023 - Projects due for Maryland History Day
UMBC

Carroll County History Day

Saturday, February 25, 2023 : Carroll County History Day
Westminster HS
9:00-1:00

Learn more

2023 History Day Theme

Carroll County History Day and History Expo Pictures

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY

National History Day is a nationwide program held annually that involves more than half a million students. It provides an excellent opportunity to develop primary and secondary research skills. Students choose a historical topic related to that year’s specific theme, which is "Debate and Diplomacy in History." Students develop a thesis, and thorough analysis of sources, draw conclusions about the significance of their selected topic. Presentations may take the form of a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or a web site.

There are two levels (or divisions) of participation. “Junior” is for grades 6 – 8 and “Senior” is grades 9 – 12. Students can work in groups. Some written materials are required for all project categories. Information about this can be found in the contest’s Rule Book.

In addition to the National History Day, there are local and state History Days. Carroll County students will participate in Carroll County’s History Day on March 5, 2022. Students who win at the county competition will move up to Maryland History Day. Those moving up to the next level will compete at the National History Day.

MARYLAND HISTORY DAY

For middle and high school students who participate, Maryland History Day sparks critical thinking, and helps develop skills in research and analysis, writing, and public speaking.

Working solo or in small groups, students create original documentaries, exhibits, performances, research papers or websites exploring a breadth of historical topics within an annual theme. Students progress through competitions at the school, district, state, and national levels. Students from public, private, parochial, home, and cyber schools are welcome to participate. District contests are held throughout Maryland every February and March.

For more information visit National History Day click here

2023 Theme

Theme Resources

FRONTIERS IN HISTORY: PEOPLE, PLACES AND IDEAS.

During the 2022–2023 school year, National History Day® (NHD) invites students to research topics related to the theme, Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas. This theme is broad enough in scope to encourage the investigation of topics ranging from local to global history. To understand the historical importance of their topics, students must ask questions of time and place, cause and effect, change over time, and impact and significance. What factors contributed to the development of a frontier? Why did it emerge, and how did it change? When did it cease to be a frontier? What impact did it have on the people who experienced it, and how did they affect it? Regardless of the topic selected, students must present a description of it and draw conclusions about how their topic affected individuals, communities, nations, or the world, changing the course of human society.

2023 NHD Theme Handbook

For more information visit National History Day click here

Carroll County History Day Competition

FEBRUARY 25, 2023

Event Details:

Carroll County History day consists of student exhibits and presentations of their research and projects based on the theme for that given year. Attendees have the opportunity to interact with the students to learn more about their topics. During the event the winners of each junior and senior project category will be announced and receive awards. Students will also have the opportunity to win local awards and cash prizes from our community partners if their project aligns and meets the requirements for the local award.

The event also includes a History Expo with presentations and exhibitors from Celebrating America partner organizations. Celebrating America is a local collaboration of historical societies and organizations within Carroll County. The organization's goal is to foster a greater sense and understanding of America's history and Carroll County's important role in that history in order to present accurate and complete historical information, to promote activities and encourage increased public participation in and celebration of holidays and other significant people or events, and to develop and implement strategies recognizing Carroll County as being at the "Center of History".

Projects will be judged virtually by Teachers, Public Librarians, Carroll County Officials prior to the event.
All participating students are encouraged to participate in displaying and sharing their research at the Carroll County History Day event.
Top 2 winners in each category will be recognized and the winners of the local awards (see below) at the Carroll County History Day event.
Top 2 winners in each category can enter their project in the State Competition to be held in April of 2023.
Top 2 winners at the Maryland Competition entered in the National History Day Competition (Will be held in June of 2023).

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY LOCAL AWARDS 2022

1. Carroll County Commissioners One $50.00 gift card given in each division

For entries, whose research and presentation celebrates the contributions of a local individual, group, or organization or encourages a greater understanding of American history and historically significant people, events, and places, particularly those within Carroll County and/or the State of Maryland.

2. Carroll County Farm Museum One $50.00 gift card given in each division

Recognizes a high school project and a middle school project which highlights the historic importance of agriculture in Carroll County and the state of Maryland and/or the history of Carroll County in the 18th through 20th centuries including operation of the Almshouse and the subsequent formation of the Carroll County Farm Museum as well as other historically significant topics.

3. Carroll County Public Library One $50.00 gift card given in each division with a history related book

Recognizes a high school and middle school project which demonstrate a strong understanding of how their entry directly relates to our modern world and illustrates a clear connection to the trends that are shaping our future. Ideally the selected project also makes connections to local history (Carroll County, Maryland, and/or regional).

4. Historical Society of Carroll County One $50 cash award and one HSCC Annual Membership awarded for each division

Recognizes a middle school and high school student for exemplary historical research. The winning student’s annotated bibliography will include both primary and secondary sources that represent a broad spectrum of resources and perspectives. It may also include the use of oral history interviews the student conducted or existing oral history interviews in the collections of libraries, archives, historical societies, and museums.

5. Historical Society of Mt. Airy One $250.00 cash awarded in each division

Recognizes one high school and one middle school project which best demonstrates this year’s theme: “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” The project must focus on how Mt. Airy was impacted by a new discovery, development, or exploration and how such tactics have contributed to the present and future of Mt. Airy.

6. Union Mills Homestead One $100.00 cash awarded in each division

Recognizes a high school and middle school project that focuses on the challenges or benefits of establishing and operating a business or businesses in Carroll County. This award honors the entrepreneurial spirit of the Shriver brothers, Andrew and David, who established a saw and grist mill along Big Pipe Creek in Union Mills, MD. Over time, the business evolved to include a tannery, cooper’s shop, blacksmith’s shop, general store, and a wheelwright.

7. Westminster Historic District Commission Letters of Recognition awarded for each division

Recognizes students for primary research on topics centered in the National Register District of Westminster, MD. Of highest consideration would be projects that focus on historic architecture, historic streetscapes, residences and commercial businesses and local preservation projects. Of keen interest would be those projects that tackle the difficulties of preserving a historic district or buildings in a vibrant and growing city.

8. Carroll County Recreation and Parks One $50.00 gift card given in each division

Recognizes one high school and one middle school project, using this year’s theme, that focuses on the historical significance of park development, conservation, or pursuit of leisure activities. The project must demonstrate how history has impacted our current appreciation for local or national services within Recreation & Parks.

10. Celebrating America Commitee Award: One $100.00 gift card in each division.

The award will consist of $100 gift card per division to be given to students with projects that recognize and celebrate Carroll County’s diverse past. Unique, untold stories that highlight underrepresented groups or individuals using primary sources will receive first consideration for the award.

For more information visit National History Day click here

How to Create a Project

Students choose a historical topic related to the annual theme, and then conduct primary and secondary research. You will look through libraries, archives and museums, conduct oral history interviews, and visit historic sites. After you have analyzed and interpreted your sources, and have drawn a conclusion about the significance of your topic, you will then be able to present your work in one of five ways: paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or a web site.

To begin, view the resources on the 2023 Theme page to choose a topic that is related to the theme. Follow the National History Day How to create an NHD project guide. It is beneficial to also select an adult mentor in your school (i.e. teacher, media specialist) to help support you while completing the project.

Click here to view examples of winning entries from previous National History Day Contests.

For more information visit National History Day click here

Local History Research Topics

Thank you to our Celebrating America partners for helping to compile a list of local history topics for our students to explore.

Explore the topic of Debate and Diplomacy on the local level by examining how two sides debated an issue, faced local, state or national conflict, or developed resolutions for problems from the suggested topics below.

Historical Society of Carroll County:

The suggestion to form Carroll County began as early as 1813 but it wasn’t until 1837 that Carroll actually became a county. Explore the debates of the issue. Newspapers – Engine of Liberty, Carrolltonian; vertical files
There was Cold War fall out in our county’s backyard. Explore Alger Hiss (Whitaker Chambers?) and the Pumpkin Papers. Carroll History Journal; vertical file on Chambers
Examine how citizens reacted and responded to the nation’s involvement during war time such as that or World War I, World War II, The Spanish American War, and Vietnam. Carroll County and the Great War; Tours of Duty: Carroll County and the Vietnam War; newspapers.
The formation of early Railroad lines like that of the B & O or Western Maryland did not happen simply or quickly, explore how debate and or diplomacy were involved.
State highway 140 came through Carroll County in July 1954. Its existence is not without debate.
Similar to the state of Maryland, Carroll County was “divided” during the Civil War years. Explore the County’s reaction when the Union troops and Confederate troops entered the county in 1863 and 1864. Just South of Gettysburg; Crossroads of War: Maryland and the Border in the Civil War (crossroadsofwar.org); Maggie Mehring diary (copy in HSCC files, original at MCHC); vertical files
Explore editorials from a county newspaper to identify hot topics of local debate.
How was the development of Rural Free Delivery an example of debate and diplomacy? Booklet - Carroll County, MD, and Rural Free Delivery; vertical file; Shriver scrapbook (manuscript collection)
Explore the integration of Carroll’s public schools.
Consider the debate involved for one of our towns when a large development or industry is proposed for that area.
Consider the role eminent domain might play in resolving debate in an issue such as the creation of the Liberty Reservoir or construction of Route 27. The Forgotten Corner: A History of Oakland Mill; vertical file

Historical Society of Mount Airy:

How was the town of Mount Airy established and named? What obstacles were faced in incorporating the town?
How did the railroad coming through Mount Airy impact the town’s economy and development as a manufacturing center?
How was our form of Mt. Airy town government established?
How did education in Mount Airy evolve? What was the impact of going from a one room school house to separate schools for elementary, middle, and high school?
How and why was the Mt. Airy Volunteer Fire Company established?
The Robert Garrett Sanatorium was a groundbreaking move to provide respite for families of chronically ill children in Baltimore. How was it established, what was its impact on the town of Mount Airy, and why did it cease operations?
Explore the development of the National Road, and its impact on Mount Airy.
Explore the development of Buffalo Road, and its impact on Mount Airy.
What impact did the digging of the nearby railroad tunnel at the turn of the twentieth century have on the town of Mount Airy?

For more information visit National History Day click here

Resources

Resources for Students

Maryland Humanities Maryland History Day Research Prompts

Maryland Humanities History Day Resources

National History Day Student Resources

DocsTeach National History Day Resources

Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas Graphic Organizer for Planning

National History Day Primary Source Sets from Digital Public Library of America

This Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas graphic organizer helps students select a topic for their NHD project.

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY PLANNING GUIDE

Resources for Parents

Project Resources

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Online Research: Carroll County Public Library recommends using Gale OneFile: U.S. History and Gale OneFile: World History, which are available to all public libraries and public schools in Maryland.

https://library.carr.org/collections/research.asp#History