Profession historian

Historians conduct research into phases or aspects of human history. They document and report on findings to inform and guide political and individual actions.

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Personality Type

  • Investigative / Conventional
  • Investigative / Artistic

Related professions language and humanities

  • Interpreter
  • Linguist
  • Translator

Knowledge

  • Periodisation

    The categorisation of the past into defined blocks of time, called time periods, in order to make researching history easier.

  • Scientific research methodology

    The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.

  • Historical methods

    The methods, techniques, and guidelines that historians follow when researching the past and writing history, such as the use of primary sources.

  • History

    The discipline that studies, analyses, and presents the events of the past related to humans.

  • Source criticism

    Process of classifying various informational sources into different categories such as historical and non-historical, or primary and secondary, and evaluating those sources on the basis of their content, material features, authors etc.

Skills

  • Consult information sources

    Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.

  • Write scientific papers

    Present the hypothesis, findings, and conclusions of your scientific research in your field of expertise in a professional publication.

  • Research the past in recorded sources

    Analyse recorded sources such as government records, newspapers, biographies, and letters in order to uncover and interpret the past.

  • Perform scientific research

    Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.

  • Apply scientific methods

    Apply scientific methods and techniques to investigate phenomena, by acquiring new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.

  • Do historical research

    Use scientific methods to research history and culture.

Optional knowledge and skills

reconstruct modified documents provide technical expertise provide tourism related information manage digital archives develop scientific theories advise on historical context teach history consult iconographic sources archive documentation related to the work conduct public presentations museum databases maintain museum records interview people search historical sources in archives cultural history create collection conservation plan assess conservation needs compile library lists manage tourist groups study a collection art history supervise projects for the conservation of heritage buildings archaeology determine authorship of documents write research proposals conservation techniques escort visitors to places of interest document interviews

Common job titles

  • Historian
  • Staff historian
  • Historical research assistant
  • Academic specialist (recent u.s. history) - library
  • Historian
  • Historical grant consultant
  • Architectural historian, b
  • Associate curator
  • Assistant professor of military history
  • Historian - state program administrator coordinator