History Day FAQs

Students can submit History Day projects in five categories: Documentary, Exhibit, Paper, Performance, and Website. For every category except papers, students can choose to enter individually or in a group of 2-5 people.

General registration is now open through February 8, 2024. Register Here

The 2024 NYCHD competition will be hybrid. Documentaries, Papers, and Websites will be judged virtually from February 15 to March 3, 2024. Exhibits and Performances will be judged in-person at BPL's Central Library on Sunday, March 3, 2024. Both the State and the National competitions are fully in-person.

New York State History Day will be held in person at SUNY Oneonta on Sunday, April 14, 2024. National History Day will be held in person at the University of Maryland from June 9 - June 13, 2024.

Students Teachers and Judges can all Register Here to enter the contest. All projects must upload the required written materials to their registration profile by February 8, 2024. Documentaries, Papers, and Websites must be submitted online by February 8 as well. Exhibits and Performances are presented for in person judging on Sunday, March 3, 2024.

Click Here to visit the NHD Contest Rule and Evaluation page.

It is free! The Center for Brooklyn History covers all application fees for every single student. This includes any fees if you advance to the State or National competitions. Travel and accommodation scholarships will be available for the State and National competitions.

This year's History Day theme is "Turning Points in History" All projects must connect to the theme. Click here for the NHD theme guide.

Click here to explore our research tools for teachers. You can find guides, videos, and workshops.

Yes! Many teachers incorporate History Day into their teaching and curriculum. For tips on how to do this, or to set up a class visit or meeting, please send us an email at nychd@bklynlibrary.org.

Each school can submit a maximum of 3 projects per division and per category. For example, a school can submit 3 individual documentaries and 3 group documentaries (etc.) in both the Junior and Senior divisions if they wanted to.

Click here to explore our research tools for students. You can find videos, guides, and tips for creating your projects.

Yes, you can focus on any place or period across history as long as it is linked with the annual theme and includes primary and secondary sources. The 2024 theme is "Turning Points in History"

Students can choose whether they want to work individually or in a group (2-5 people) for every category except papers. For papers, only individual entries are allowed.

It depends! We recommend giving yourself at least two months to complete your project. This includes the research, planning, writing, editing, and citing stages. This work will not be every day. For example, you might spend a couple of evenings each week and some time on the weekend working on History Day.

All students must have a sponsor teacher to enter NYCHD. Teachers must register before students, so make sure your teachers have agreed to this before you apply. Teachers, check back soon for a pre-registration link

Yes! Just include your home-school teacher as your sponsor teacher.

History Day relies on volunteers to judge the competition. Volunteers are often teachers, museum or non-profit workers, parents, librarians, and interested members of the community. In 2024, judges will have the option of judging Documentaries, Papers, or Websites virtually over a few weeks in February and March virtually, or judge Exhibits or Performances in-person for one full day at BPL's Central Library Branch on March 3.

Judge should Click Here for the registration website.