The Mississippi Junior Historical Society

The Mississippi Junior Historical Society is a statewide organization for students in grades 6-12 who share an interest in history. Organizing a chapter in your school will enable you to involve your students in history through exciting projects that bring history alive. The local chapters are usually sponsored by a history or social studies teacher, but any teacher or administrator with an interest in history may sponsor a chapter. Each chapter makes its own rules and sets it own agenda for the year. There are no state dues.

The MJHS sponsors Mississippi History Day, a state-level competition which is part of the National History Day program. Clubs from all over the state are invited to attend as well as any interested student without a club affiliation.

The state History Day competition gives students the chance to explore a historical topic related to an annual theme and to present their research findings in a variety of ways: essays, exhibits, performances, and documentaries. Students can also compete in the Mississippi History Quiz Bowl. Prizes and certificates are presented to winners in each category.

First and second place winners will represent the state at the National History Day competition in College Park, Maryland in June 2002. (There is no Quiz Bowl at the National contest, so state Quiz Bowl winners will not advance to College Park.)

Students should refer to the National History Day theme sheet and the Contest Guide while preparing their entries. (Mississippi closely adheres to the National rules and theme.)

To start a chapter of the Mississippi Junior Historical Society in your school, contact MS Junior Historical Society, USM, Box 5047, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5047. You will be sent a certificate of membership, membership cards, and information about Mississippi/National History Day.

If you can’t form a chapter at this time, please identify and support any individual students in grades 6-12 who may be interested in participating in Mississippi History Day. Contact “National History Day in Mississippi” at the above address and you will receive updates on the contest and the appropriate registration forms.

For more information about Mississippi History Day and the Junior Historical Society, as well as copies of the National History Day Contest Guide and registration forms for the state History Day competition, please call Mary Beth Farrell at (601) 266-4335 or email her Mary.Farrell@usm.edu