What is a Historian's Job?

The job of an historian simply put, is to study the past. However, what a historian does is much more complicated than studying past events. Historians gather information, documents and images from the past, analyze and study them for significance and share their findings with the world. Historians hold jobs in many organizations and agencies that require strict maintenance of historical records.

History

From the oldest times, information about generations and peoples past was relayed orally. The history of many cultures was often passed down from generation to generation through stories and tales, meant to relay lessons or facts from the past. As people progressed, so did their methods of recording current events and news for the future. In ancient Egypt, hieroglyphics was used to document events, wars, celebrations, births, and deaths, which were later used by historians to identify important cultural traditions among ancient Egyptians. As technology evolved, historians have gained use of photographs, video and audio recordings, as well as the written word, to preserve history.

Types

History is much more than a simple chronology of events; in fact, historians study history from many different aspects. Perhaps the most common type of history studied is by period. Some historians specialize in the Renaissance period, whereas others may specialize in the Civil Rights era. A lesser-known specialty is by location, which includes the history of a particular city, state, continent or region. In addition to these specialties, historians also study the history of many entities and groups, including the history of the military, humankind and even the social history of a specific location. A common area of expertise for historians is presidential history.

Function

Many historians obtain a doctorate of philosophy (Ph.D) in a particular field of study, but it is not a requirement. Through undergraduate and graduate studies, historians acquire an area of expertise based on research and in some cases, publication. It is common for historians to work at universities, charities, libraries and governmental agencies. Historians traditionally publish research based on their areas of study, giving insight into a particular period or event in history.

Prevention/Solution

Historians often seek to find lessons for the future in past events, particularly wars and elections. Because their job requires them to study the past, historians attempt to find lessons in past mistakes for future relevance. The phrase by poet George Santayana often serves as a mantra for historians, "Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it." In short, historians have often charged themselves with the job of explaining past historical conflicts and events in a way that guides future leaders and generations away from past mistakes.

Benefits

Historians have contributed to the legitimization of many fields of study often thought to be soft or pseudo-sciences. Women's studies and African-American studies are prominent examples of areas previously thought to be unworthy of study. Additionally, the study of popular culture and its effect on society is now a legitimate area of study.