Historian Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a historian. Feel free to use our historian job description template to produce your own historian job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a historian.
Who is a Historian?
The term “history” originates from the Greek word “historia” meaning inquiry or knowledge acquired by investigation. History cannot be separated from any human endeavor; individuals seek knowledge of the past using historical sources such as documents, oral accounts, art and material artifacts, and ecological markers. History can be defined as the study and documentation of the past. History is an umbrella term comprising past events as well as the memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and interpretation of these events. History has been used to understand the origin of some events in different sectors. History is also an academic discipline; it uses a narrative to describe, question, examine, and analyze past events and investigate their patterns of cause and effect. Often, people debate which narrative best explains an event as well as the significance of different causes and effects. The nature of history as an end to itself as well as its usefulness to give perspective on the problems of the present is also debated. However, history differs from myth since it is supported by evidence. The modern study of history is wide and includes the study of specific regions and topical or thematic elements of historical investigation.
Therefore, a historian can be defined as an individual who professionally teaches, researches, and writes about past events to contribute to a shared understanding of how an event has developed. Historians seek out primary resources, interpret documents, and share hypotheses about the past. A historian is regarded as an authority in the field of history and is concerned with the continuous, incessant, and methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. The position of a historian became a professional occupation in the late 19th century as research universities emerged in Germany and elsewhere. Some notable historians are recognized by publications or training and experience. When competing ideas abound, the historian performs a historical analysis. The process of historical analysis involves the investigation and analysis of competing ideas, facts, and purported facts to create coherent narratives that explain “what happened” and “why or how it happened”. Nowadays, the historian usually draws upon other social sciences to perform historical analysis including sociology, economics, politics, anthropology, and philosophy. Historian provides scholarly context for current events; they source documents related to past events, conduct interviews with eyewitnesses of key occurrences, and research publications by other academics to build a narrative about history.
Importantly, a historian specializes in a particular aspect and becomes an expert in all the political, economic, social, and cultural facets of the event or period. They provide an insight into the past and relate them to the development of society and modernization. A historian can analyze for non-profit organizations, governments, businesses, and other organizations using several sources such as government and institutional records, photographs, newspapers, interviews, films, and unpublished manuscripts like personal diaries, letters, and other primary sources documents. The historian may process catalog and archive these documents and artifacts. A historian traces and builds a historical profile of a particular individual, area, idea, organization, or event to inform or build upon public knowledge of past events. Historians in government conduct research to provide information on specific events or groups; they might write about the history of a particular government agency, activity, or program. Once their research is complete, they present the findings through exhibits, books, articles, reports, websites, and educational programs. Sometimes, a historian works with an archivist, curator, and museum workers to preserve artifacts and explain the historical significance of various subjects such as historic buildings, religious groups, and battlegrounds.
The work schedule of a historian is similar to most occupations; they work full time during regular work or business hours although some work independently and can set their schedules. Some roles involve working evenings or weekends while others may involve traveling to collect artifacts, conducting interviews, or visiting an area for a better understanding of its culture. The historian may choose to research and examine history from a specific point of view or focus on a specific period. Military conflicts, political milestones, and social movements are some of the events associated with history and historians. Relatively, a historian is expected to treat all sources with appropriate reservations and not dismiss counter-evidence without scholarly consideration. In addition, a historian is even-handed when treating evidence and almost always eschews cherry-picking. Where there are speculations, the historian indicates and highlights them accordingly. Significantly, the most successful historians do not mistranslate documents nor mislead the populace by omitting parts of a document. Rather, they weigh the authenticity of all accounts of an event, not just those that contradict their favored point of view. The motives of key historical actors are considered when writing history as well.
Historian Job Description
Typically, a historian has an interest in the “thinking interest area” based on reports. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. Historians have expert knowledge of past events and can have specialized areas of interest within the profession. They carry out different duties and tasks to analyze, discover, and preserve history. Also, they are employed by organizations and businesses to use their in-depth knowledge to uncover past events and apply them to current situations to weigh outcomes. The responsibilities of a historian can vary widely, but the core duties encompass;
- Research: A historian spends his or her career performing research. While researching, they compile information from the past supporting the historian’s role in their workplace. Also, they can be contracted to conduct research for private individuals or businesses.
- Educate the public: While many historians are employed with colleges, universities, and other citadels of learning throughout the world, some are contracted with museums and historical sites. In each capacity, a historian relays the significance of the document or artifacts to the visitors or the class igniting an interest in the past and pieces associated with it.
- Preserve artifacts and archive information: A historian may be involved with archiving documents for access to researchers. They can also work to preserve artifacts for museums and private collections.
- Collect and evaluate information from different sources to learn more about and answer questions about specific events in history.
- Prepare reports that explain what they found and the significance of those findings.
- Analyze written records, historical artifacts, and other forms of evidence.
- Liaise with historical sites to offer advice and recommendation on artifacts, monuments, and historical conservation.
- Collaborate and consult with organizations, museums, and other groups to promote historical activities and preservation.
- Prepare and review exhibits and publications in museums to ensure they are historically accurate.
- Gather information from various reliable sources to create biographies.
Qualifications
Historians spend the majority of their time evaluating historical records, conducting research in the field, and interpreting findings to provide greater insight into events. Researching different job opportunities can lead an individual to find a career path that aligns with their interests and qualifications. By taking the time to research different historian job opportunities, you become acquainted with the basic qualifications and requirements for a historian which are as follows;
Education: Although most historian positions require a master’s degree, some research positions require a doctoral degree. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree may qualify for some entry-level roles in a museum, historical association, or small organization but most will not be traditional historian jobs. You can become a historian with a history degree which is usually offered at a bachelor’s level. In these generalized programs, students learn how to examine historical events and artifacts to create compelling arguments. They may take courses about specific historical periods to gain a broad perspective of historic events and find their niche area. Other related degrees that can suffice include a public history degree, a degree in historical preservation, a museum studies degree, and an archival management degree. However, most employers favor candidates with a master’s degree or Ph.D. In addition to coursework, most master’s programs in history and similar fields require an internship as part of the curriculum. Research positions within the government and positions in academia typically require a Ph.D. Students in history Ph.D. programs usually concentrate in a specific area such as a particular country or region, period, or field like social, political, or cultural history.
Historian Experience requirement: Previous work experience in the field of history is required by most employers. An internship, volunteer experience, and previous employment in a museum are examples of quality experiences that can be achieved while still in school. Assisting with historical research or graduate-level research is also considered an acceptable previous work experience by most firms. The aforementioned offer an opportunity for students and applicants to learn practical skills such as handling and preserving artifacts and creating exhibits.
Essential Skills
With several locations and types of employment available, a historian needs a range of skills that can be helpful on the job. These include;
Analytical skills: A historian must be able to examine data and information in historical sources and infer logical conclusions from them; whether the sources are written documents, visual images, or artifacts.
Attention to detail: A historian should be attentive to detail in every capacity. Whether researching written documents or combing a private collection, the ability to note the slightest detail will enhance their research and uncover a well-rounded story.
Communication and fact recollection: Being able to speak and write effectively can help a historian present his or her ideas and translate complex concepts into terminology that can be understood by all and sundry. Additionally, a historian who works in a museum or lecture hall should be able to use their expert knowledge and memory of events to answer historical questions.
Problem-solving skills: A historian tries to answer questions about the past. Hence, they need problem-solving skills to investigate something unknown about a past idea, event, or person; decipher historical information, and identify how the past has affected the present.
Determination: The dedication to the role and willingness to see it through is important to a historian. Many answers are difficult to find and can be buried in the past. Sticking to the goal and the determination to find the answers benefits the historian and will help them to become better researchers and workers.
Historical interpretation skills: This is an important industry-specific skill that requires the historian to be able to review past events, historical documents, and artifacts. This skill can also be used to link historical methods to the modern world and its events or practices.
Research and writing skills: A historian needs research skills to examine and process information from a large number of historical texts, sources, and documents. Similarly, they need writing skills to present their findings in reports, articles, and books.
Computer software proficiency: A historian should be able to operate computer software programs. This is an important skill as many historical documents, studies, and artifacts are uploaded to online archives.
Collaboration skills: A historian should be able to collaborate with colleagues when completing research and relevant tasks that require teamwork. This skill demonstrates a historian’s ability to work well with others.
How to Become a Historian
Discussed below are the basic steps to begin a career as a historian;
- Earn a bachelor’s degree: A bachelor’s degree is the minimum education requirement for an entry-level position in the field of history. Hence, an undergraduate degree in history is the most appropriate for a career as a historian although a degree in a related field can suffice.
- Complete an internship or other forms of work experience: Any kind of work experience a candidate includes in their resume can help position them as stronger candidates. When in school, enroll for an internship or conduct fieldwork to obtain hands-on experience.
- Choose an area of specialization: Next, choose what form of history you want to focus on. It is important to choose a specific area of history because the sooner you choose your area of specialization, the earlier you can choose courses that allow you to concentrate on that specific area.
- Pursue a master’s and Ph.: Earn a master’s and/or Ph.D. to be qualified for historian roles. As part of your graduate coursework, you will take both colloquium and seminars for the first two or three years.
- Apply for historian positions: After completing the steps above, you can apply for advertised historian roles.
Where to Work
A historian can work in several positions and organizations in the history profession. The following are the employers of historians;
- Federal, state, and local government agencies
- Educational institutions.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services.
- Museums, archives, historical societies, and research organizations.
Historian Salary Scale
The median annual wage for a historian is estimated to be $83,439. The lower end of the range can be found among historians that occupy entry-level positions with a private collector or a small locale. Generally, the salary is dependent on factors such as experience, education, location, and the employer.