If you’re a writer, chances are you can benefit from using a historical society. And while these organizations are ideal for history writers, your work doesn’t have to be historical in nature to make a trip to a historical society worthwhile. Historical societies can provide excellent background reading and information for many current topics, too. In fact, no matter what your project or specialty, a historical society is likely to have something useful – or even exceptional – to offer.
Here’s how writers can take full advantage of these valuable resource centers:
Types of Historical Societies
First, it’s a good idea to get to know the different types of historical societies. Most are set up geographically or by subject matter, so information on a particular topic may be available at more than one organization. For example, someone writing an article about railroad transportation in New York might consult local and state historical societies in New York as well the National Railway Historical Society.
Historical societies that cater to geographical areas range from national and world historical societies to small, city history centers. State and county historical societies, however, are probably the most common and widely-used historical societies. Everything from genealogical records to information on daily life to photographs and artifacts of people and places can be found at these organizations. Many of them have museums, special exhibits, and historic sites, in addition to libraries and photographic collections. Some also have sections designated to a particular topic of interest, like the Civil War or maritime history.
But, depending on the writing topic, writers may also want to look beyond a state or county facility and investigate whether a more subject-specific historical society exists. Historical societies can be found on the following subjects: transportation, the military, wars, sports, aviation, agriculture, courts, theater, medicine, and more. These subject-specific organizations are committed to collecting and preserving history and information on their topics, plus they’re an excellent place to find experts and dedicated enthusiasts.
Using a Historical Society
A good place for writers to begin researching a historical society is online. An online search will, at the very least, reveal which historical societies might be useful for a project. From there, navigating through the individual websites can uncover what information and materials the society has available. Writers can then make a list of the research they wish to see, to save time during their actual visit to the organization. Sometimes, key information is available online or can be ordered, eliminating the need for a trip to the society. Some historical societies, especially many of the subject-specific ones, exist only in cyberspace, so all research must be collected online.
Writers who plan to visit a historical society in person should get to know the organization’s setup in advance, including parking availability, visitor fees, library location, and hours of operation. Writers who expect to make routine visits to a historical society might consider purchasing a membership. Memberships offer many benefits for writers, such as free or discounted admission to museums and exhibits, savings on photocopies and parking, free publications, and priority enrollment for classes.
Other Perks for Writers
Historical societies can also benefit writers by helping them develop and publish their writing. Many of these organizations print their own literature, including journals, magazines, and newsletters, which are all potential markets for writers. Submission information is often available on individual society websites, but historical societies tend to be very choosy about what they publish, so well-written and carefully documented and researched work is essential.
Another way historical societies can help writers is through their educational programs and classes, which can teach writers more about a topic of interest or give them new material to write about. Writers can also take advantage of the many volunteer opportunities available at historical societies. By getting to know an organization through volunteer work, writers can become experts on any number of topics, which can lead to plenty of new writing projects, from short articles to full-length books.
Whether you’re writing a family history, researching a story about your local community, or looking for a new writing idea, a historical society is a great place to go for help. And with so many of these organizations around today, it’s hard not to find one that can offer something useful on just about any subject.
Susie Yakowicz - Susie Yakowicz is a Minnesota freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of publications for children and adults.
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