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NATIONAL HISTORY DAY
A Guide to Holocaust Research

Congratulations on your decision to participate in this year’s National History Day competition. We are pleased that you decided to devote your project to a Holocaust-related topic because the study and remembrance of the Holocaust is a priority for the Museum. We are continually impressed with the quality of research and the diversity of projects undertaken by middle and high school students across the country, and we are certain that this year will be no exception. In order to assist you in your research, the Library staff prepared answers to the most frequently asked questions we receive each year from students taking part in National History Day. We also encourage you to contact your local library where a librarian can identify resources available in or near your hometown.


     
  • I want to do my project on a topic related to the Holocaust. How do I begin my research?

    • Work with your teacher and the staff at your local library to find and refine a topic. Explore our online Library catalog and subject bibliographies to find books written about a particular aspect of the Holocaust. The bibliographies briefly introduce each topic and describe books and other resources useful for research. The items found on these lists, as well in our online catalog, may be available at your local library or through your library’s interlibrary loan program.

    There is also wealth of information available online. You could start by consulting the Museum’s Holocaust Encyclopedia where you will find general articles, maps, photographs, and other resources on a variety of topics related to the Holocaust. In addition, there is a section of our site designed especially for students. Finally, the Library’s collection of Web links will guide you to other Holocaust-related sites on the World Wide Web.

     
  • I want to do my project on a topic related to contemporary acts of genocide. Where can I begin my research?

    • In addition to working with your teacher and staff at your local library, visit the Web pages for the Museum’s Committee on Conscience. Also explore our collection of Web links on Genocide and Human Rights, which includes links to the Web sites of other organizations committed to the defense of human rights and prevention of mass violence.

     
  • How can I interview a survivor, liberator, or rescuer?

    • Contact your local synagogue, Jewish community center, or nearest Holocaust museum to see if there are survivors in your area who would be willing to share their stories.

    The Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles offers an online "Ask a Survivor" service where you can submit questions to survivors affiliated with the Center. The Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation also has an online "Ask a Partisan" page for those interested in the topic of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust.

    Local chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion may be able to put you in contact with a service member living in your area who was present at the liberation of a concentration camp.

     
  • What is a primary source?

    • Original documents and records created at the time historical events occurred are considered to be primary sources. Examples include letters, diaries, official government records, photographs, and contemporary newspaper accounts. In addition, some documents that were created well after a particular event occurred, such as oral history interviews and autobiographies, are considered to be primary sources related to that event. Generally, primary sources are unique and unpublished, although they may be reproduced as illustrations in the appendices of books about the period. There are also several published compilations of original sources related to the Holocaust. Ask your local librarian to help you locate primary materials in published books and online.

     
  • Can you send me primary resources for my project?

    • Unfortunately we are unable to send actual primary sources to you. However, you can find numerous examples of these resources online or at your local library.

    The Museum’s Photo Archives provides access to approximately 15,000 images in a fully-searchable online database. This database represents only a fraction of the total number of images available in Photo Archives; contact the research assistant at photoarchives@ushmm.org to find other Holocaust-related images.

    The Steven Spielberg Film and Video Archive holds a significant collection of film footage created during the Holocaust era. A substantial portion of this material is available from their catalog. You may contact the Archive at filmvideo@ushmm.org for information on how to obtain copies of film footage. There is a charge for copies of this material.

    The Library’s collection of Web links provides access to a variety of Web sites that feature primary resources such as photographs, oral history interviews, and reproductions of original documents.

     
  • Can I come to the Museum to do research?

    • Yes. The Library and Archives reading rooms are located on the Fifth Floor of the Museum and are open to the public. For information on how to visit the Museum, see the Web page about Planning a Visit. While the Library is open seven days a week, except for major holidays, please note that the arrangements to use the Museum’s archival collections can only be made Monday through Friday. Contact the Archives at archives@ushmm.org to make arrangements to see original materials.