FAQs:

History of NHDMO
How is NHDMO related to National History Day?
Who can participate in the NHDMO program?
How does NHDMO benefit students?
How do students participate in the NHDMO program?

History of NHDMO

Beginning as a local contest in Cleveland, Ohio in the mid-1970s, History Day soon expanded to a statewide competition and then spread to neighboring states. By 1980, it had become a national program. Missouri was one of the early affiliates, welcoming History Day in 1979 and hosting its first contest at Southeast Missouri State University in 1980. The state contest rotated to various institutions around the state throughout most of the 1980s, until the State Historical Society and the Western Historical Manuscript Collection gave it a permanent home at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1989.

How is NHDMO related to National History Day?

NHDMO, along with similar programs in 49 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, American School in Shanghai, and Department of Defense Schools, is affiliated with National History Day, a nation-wide organization located at the University of Maryland-College Park. The National History Day contest is the oldest and most highly regarded humanities contest for students in grades 6-12. NHDMO adheres to the official NHD rules and judging criteria, so that students will be judged consistently throughout all the levels of competition.

Who can participate in the NHDMO program?

All types of students may participate in NHDMO. The program is open to 6-12th grade students from public, private, parochial, and home schools—from rural, urban, and suburban areas of the state. The program has proven beneficial for average and academically-challenged students, as well as academically-advanced students.

How does NHDMO benefit students?

The NHDMO program serves as a vehicle to teach students important literacy skills and to engage them in the use and understanding of museum and library resources. It inspires students to study local history, and then challenges them to expand their thinking and apply knowledge of local events to the national or worldwide scene. It also teaches students to analyze information and situations.

The program also teaches students to become technologically literate through the use of computer and Internet research methods, and the use of technologically advanced applications in their presentations. It encourages cooperative learning by providing outlets for group research and presentations. In addition, the program helps develop interviewing skills and self-confidence, gained through interaction with history and education professionals, both in the research stage and at all levels of the contests.

How do students participate in the NHDMO program?

Missouri is divided into nine NHDMO regions, each hosted by a sponsoring institution: Northwest Missouri State University at Maryville, Truman State University in Kirksville, the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Missouri Southern State College in Joplin, Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, and Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.

Each of these regions is responsible for hosting a contest for the schools in certain surrounding counties.  Winners of these contests move on to the state and national levels. Teachers and students must determine to which region they belong and contact that coordinator for information about contest and workshop registration forms, dates, and locations; and for copies of rulebooks and curricular materials.