Mississippi History Day

National History Day (NHD) is a nationwide competition that encourages middle and high school students to develop creative, original historical research based around an annual theme. The 2025 theme is Rights and Responsibilities.

Mississippi History Day, the state’s NHD affiliate, is a cross-curricular program focusing on in-depth research and critical analysis. While the program’s basis is in history, students are able to study topics that fit all subject matter, from science to math to foreign languages and cultures. Students are even able to display their technology, art, or acting skills in different categories. Participants must be a Mississippi student, but sponsors can be teachers from any discipline, club sponsors, advisors, or family members.

Students can participate in one of five categories, which are organized in two separate divisions, Junior Division (6–8 grade) and Senior Division (9–12 grade). The categories have individual and group options, with the exception of the paper category. Groups can have up to five members.

• Paper (individual only)
• Website (individual or group)
• Performance (individual or group)
• Exhibit (individual or group)
• Documentary (individual or group)

Students are encouraged to research primary and secondary sources through archives, digital archives, libraries, museums, and historic sites. A solid foundation of primary sources with supporting secondary sources are vital to a successful project.

Students present their work at a regional contest in the early spring, followed by a state contest in April. First and second place finishers in each category at the state contest will qualify for the National History Day National Contest in June at the University of Maryland at College Park. While placing in each category has no monetary award, students at the state and national level have the opportunity to win monetary prizes through special awards, such as best project in African American history, military history, Mississippi history, and women's history.

Mississippi History Day’s primary sponsor is the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, with the University of Southern Mississippi and the Mississippi University for Women serving as regional competition sponsors.

For more information, please contact our state coordinator:

Bently Cochran 
Outreach Programs Coordinator, MDAH 
State Coordinator, Mississippi History Day 
601-576-6997 
bcochran@mdah.ms.gov

Mississippi History Day 2025 Important Dates*

February 22, 2025
Southern Regional at the University of Southern Mississippi

February 8, 2025
Northern Regional at Mississippi University for Women

April 5, 2025
State Contest at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, MS

June 9 – 12, 2025
National Contest at the University of Maryland, College Park

*Dates are subject to change