National History Day in PA
The Army Heritage Center Foundation is the sponsoring organization for National History Day in Pennsylvania (NHD in PA).
NHD engages students in grades 6-12 in the process of discovery and interpretation of historical topics. Students produce dramatic performances, imaginative exhibits, multimedia documentaries, web sites, and papers based on research related to an annual theme. Individually or in teams of two to five, students research a historical topic, develop a thesis, and create a project to present their argument. Students enter their projects in local and regional competitions and compete for the opportunity to advance to higher levels of competition.
The NHD program teaches students important literacy skills and engages them in the use and understanding of museum and library resources. The program inspires students to study local, regional, or state history, and challenges them to expand their thinking and apply that knowledge to the national or even worldwide scene. The program also teaches students to become technologically literate through the use of computer and Internet research methods and the use of technologically advanced applications in their presentations.
National History Day Contest Rule Book and 2015 Rules Supplement
2020 Theme: Breaking Barriers in History
State Contest Date: TBA
Location: TBA
For more information, contact NHD in PA State Coordinator Jeff Hawks at eddirector@armyheritage.org or 717-258-1102
For ways in which to support the program, click here.
Regional Coordinators and NHD in PA Advisory Committee
R1: Counties: Erie, Warren, Crawford, and McKean
Competition: TBD
Contact: Dr. Judson Herrman
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335
Phone: 814-332-4342
E-mail: jherrman@allegheny.edu
R2: Counties: Luzerne (except Hazleton School District), Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Pike, Wayne, Wyoming,
Monroe, and Sullivan
Competition: April 4, 2020
Contact: Dr. Sean Brennan
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA 18510
Phone: 570-941-4549
Email: sean.brennan@scranton.edu
R3: Counties: Butler, Mercer, Lawrence, Venango, Forest, Clarion, and Beaver
Competition: March 7, 2019
Contact: Dr. Patricia Clark
Westminster College
New Wilmington, PA 16172
Phone: 724-946-7248
Fax: 724-946-7256
E-mail: historyday@westminster.edu
R4: Counties: Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, Clearfield, Cambria, Elk, and Westmoreland*
Competition Date: March 29, 2019
Contact: Dr. Werner Lippert
History Dept., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Keith Hall
Indiana, PA 15705
E-mail: lippert@iup.edu
R5: Counties: Clinton, Clearfield, Centre, Mifflin, Montour, Juniata, Snyder, Union, and Northumberland
Competition Date: February 22, 2019. Snow Date: March 1, 2019.
Contact: Ms. Diane Hubona
345 Link Road
West Decatur, PA 16878
Phone: 814-342-0884
Email: dhubona@ciu10.org
R6: Counties and Schools: Hazleton School District (Luzerne), Schuylkill, Columbia, Carbon, Lehigh, and
Northampton
Competition: Saturday, March 23, 2019
Contact: Mr. Michael Kattner
c/o Army Heritage Center Foundation
P.O. Box 839
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: 570-599-1KEY (Please leave message)
E-mail: nhdhazleton@gmail.com
R7: Counties: Allegheny, Washington, Greene, Fayette, Westmoreland*, and Somerset
Competition: Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh
Juniors: Saturday, March 30, 2019
Seniors: Sunday, March 31, 2019
Contact: Ms. Mariruth Leftwich
NHD Pittsburgh Coordinator
Senator John Heinz History Center
1212 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 412-454-6314
Fax: 412-454-6030
E-mail: maleftwich@heinzhistorycenter.org
Web site: Heinz History Center
R8: Counties: Cumberland, Adams, Franklin, Dauphin, Perry, and Fulton
Competition: TBD
Contact: Ms. Cathay Snyder, History Department
Messiah College
One College Avenue
Suite 2051
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Phone: 717-766-2511, ext. 3948
E-mail: csnyder@messiah.edu
R9: Counties: Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Competition: March 2, 2019
Contact: Mr. Jeffrey G. Hawks, Acting Regional Coordinator
Army Heritage Center Foundation, P.O. Box 839, Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: 717-258-1102
E-mail: eddirector@armyheritage.org
R10: Counties: Delaware and Chester
Competition: TBD
SENIOR Division - TBD
JUNIOR Division - TBD
For more information, please visit: http://chestercohistorical.org/national-history-day
Contact: Ms. Alaina McNaughton
Chester County Historical Society
225 North High Street
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: 610-692-4800 ext. 202
Fax: 610-692-4357
E-mail: NHDCoord@chestercohistorical.org
R11: Counties: Bucks and Montgomery
Competition: Saturday, March 30, 2019
Contact: Ms. Marjan Shirzad, V.P. of Community Services and Marketing
Bucks County Historical Society
84 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: 215-345-0210
Fax: 215-230-0823
E-mail: historyday@mercermuseum.org
For more information, please visit https://www.mercermuseum.org/2019-information/
R12: County: Philadelphia
Competition:
SENIOR Division - Wednesday, March 13, 2019
JUNIOR Division - Thursday, March 14, 2019
Contact: Ms. Andrea Reidell, http://www.nhdphilly.org
The National Archives at Philadelphia
Phone: 415-735-8890
E-mail: nhdphilly@gmail.com
*Westmoreland County is divided between NHD in PA Region 4 and NHD in PA Region 7 by school district as follows:
Region 4
Kiski Area, Ligonier Valley, Derry Area, Monessen City, Mount Pleasant Area, Greater Latrobe, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield Area, Jeannette City, and Southmoreland
Region 7
New Kensington-Arnold, Burrell, Franklin Regional, Penn Trafford, Norwin, Belle Vernon Area, Yough, and Diocese of Greensburg
