History and Archaeology Resources

Academic Competitions
Summer Programs | Field Schools
Websites
Books

ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS

The Emerson Prize
High school students submit scholarly papers on any historical topic to The Concord Review. Essays chosen for publication are also considered for the Ralph Waldo Emerson Prize, which includes a $3,000 award. (800) 331-5007; www.tcr.org/tcr/emerson.htm

Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest
Students in grades 9–12 perform an original oration between 5 and 6 minutes long dealing with the Revolutionary War period. Winners in first-, second-, and third-place receive medals and $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000, respectively. (502) 589-1776; www.sar.org/Youth/Oration_Contest

National Genealogical Society Rubincam Youth Award
Students in grades 7–12 prepare and submit a genealogy. The winner in grades 7–9 receives a plaque, an NGS home study course, and an NGS membership; the winner in grades 10–12 receives $500, a plaque, and an NGS membership. Awards are presented at the National Family History Conference. (800) 473-0060; www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/rubincam_youth_award/nomination_form

National History Day
Students in grades 6–12 choose a historical topic related to an annual theme (2010: Innovation), and create projects such as exhibits, performances, documentaries, websites, or papers. Prizes include certificates, medals, trophies, cash, and scholarships. (301) 314-9739; www.nhd.org/Contest.htm

Sons of the American Revolution Essay Contest
Students in grades 10–12 submit an essay with topics based on original research that deal with an event, philosophy, or ideal associated with the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. First- through third-place winners receive $2,000, $1,000, and $500, respectively. In addition, the first-place winner receives a certificate, a medal, and an expense-paid trip to the SAR Annual Congress. (502) 589-1776; www.sar.org/Youth/knight_Essay

University of Mississippi High School History Day Competition
Students in grades 9–12 create a display, poster, computer project, or research paper, and take a history exam. Awards include scholarships and certificates.
(662) 915-3034;
http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/youth/History_Competition/  

SUMMER PROGRAMS

Opportunities at CTY
At the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, students who have earned qualifying test scores can explore a range of math, science, and humanities topics in summer and online courses. This list features courses in history and archaeology.

CTY Summer Programs (multiple sites)
Grades 10–12; 2 or 6 weeks; residential and commuter. 2010 course offerings included Introduction to Roman Culture; Born in the USA: First Generation Americans; A Cultural History of Reform-era China 1978–2008; Gender and Society in Early Modern Europe; and A Century in Review: Sports and the Rise of American Mass Culture. (410) 735-6277; www.cty.jhu.edu/summer

ADDITIONAL SUMMER PROGRAMS
Grades specified refer to students’ 2011-12 status. All programs are residential unless otherwise noted.

Barnard Pre-College Programs (NY)
Grades 11–12; girls only; one week; residential and commuter. In Discovering Old New York, students explore New York history through readings, literary analysis, walking tours, and field trips. (212) 854-8867; www.barnard.edu/pcp/summer.html

Boston University (MA)
Grades 10–12; 6 weeks. 2010 course offerings for students in the High School Honors Program included The Emergence of Modern Europe: Renaissance to the Present, The United States Since 1968, Modern American Cultural History, or Introduction to the Middle East. Students in the Summer Challenge Program spend 2 weeks studying The History of Boston. (617) 353-1378;
www.bu.edu/summer/high-school-programs

Center for Jewish History’s Academic Summer Fellowship Program (NY)
Grades 9–12; 4 weeks. Students explore the center’s world-renowned collections of books, archival documents, photographs, artifacts, paintings, films, sound recordings, and textiles, and speak with curators, archivists, librarians, historians, and educators as they research their family history. The program culminates in a presentation of their findings. (212) 294-8301; www.cjh.org/p/48

Choate Rosemary Hall Summer Programs (CT)
Grades 9­–12; 2 weeks or 5 weeks. 2010 course offerings included Significant Moments in US History, The Spy Game, The Modern Middle East, and Currents of Revolution in the 1960s. (203) 697-2365; www.choate.edu

Civil War Institute (PA)
Grade 11; 1 week. At Gettysburg College, students participate in lectures, panel discussions, and battlefield tours with noted historians around an annual theme (2011: Mobilizing for War). (717) 337-6590; www.gettysburg.edu/civilwar

College of William & Mary Pre-collegiate Summer Program in Early American History (VA)
Grades 11–12; 3 weeks. Students may take either From the Founding of Jamestown through the American Revolution, or From the American Revolution through the American Civil War. Both courses are taught at museums and historic places in the Chesapeake region. (757) 221-7652; www.wm.edu/as/niahd/?svr=web

Columbia University Pre-college Culture and History

Understanding the Arab World (NY and Jordan)
Grades 11–12; 4 weeks. Students spend a preparatory week at Columbia followed by two weeks in Jordan, as they expand their knowledge and understanding of the Middle East. During the final week of the program, they return to Columbia to complete and present research projects. (212) 854-9666;
http://ce.columbia.edu/Culture-and-History-Understanding-the-Arab-World

The Barcelona Experience (Spain)
Grades 11–12; 3 weeks. At the University of Barcelona, founded in 1450, students examine the history, art, and urban development of Barcelona. (212) 854-9666; http://ce.columbia.edu/The-Barcelona-Experience

Columbia University Summer Programs for High School Students (NY)
Grades 9–12; 4 weeks; residential and commuter. 2010 course offerings included American Presidential Power at Home and Abroad: From George Washington to Barack Obama; and Deity, Darwin, and Intelligent Design: A Historical Survey of Religion and Science in America. (212) 854-9666;
www.ce.columbia.edu/Summer-Program-High-School-Students-NYC

Cornell University Focus on the Humanities Program (NY)
Grades 11–12; 6 weeks. Students take two courses, which in 2010 included  History, Near Eastern Studies, and Asian Studies. (607) 255-6203; www.sce.cornell.edu/sc

Crow Canyon Archeological Center Summer Camps (CO)
Grades 6–12; one week. Students study Pueblo Indian history, archaeology, and the scientific process through field trips and hands-on activities.
(800) 422-8975 x146; www.crowcanyon.org/archaeology_adventures/summer_camps.asp

Duke University TIP (Multiple Sites)
Grades 8–12; 3 weeks. Qualifying students in grades 8–10 may take Despots, Kings, and CEOs or Revolution and Terror. In addition, students in grades 10–12 may attend the Archaeology and Anthropology Institute, where they spend 17 days in North Carolina and Peru, visit famous archaeological sites, and learn the methods, techniques, and field research skills of modern archaeology.
(919) 668-9100; www.tip.duke.edu/summer

Harvard Secondary School (MA)
Grades 10–12; 7 weeks. Students in this program experience life on Harvard’s campus while taking courses alongside college students. 2010 course offerings included The Road to Discovery: An Introduction to Archaeology; Moctezuma’s Mexico: Then and Now; Introduction to Social Anthropology; The Anthropology of Arabia; Museum Anthropology: Thinking with Objects; Anthropology and Film; The History of Christianity in the West; and Icons: A Material History of Harvard. Students may also choose Study Abroad in Honduras: The Harvard Field School in Maya Archaeology and Epigraphy, or Study Abroad in Scandinavia: Viking Studies–History and Archaeology. (617) 495-3192; www.summer.harvard.edu

History Camp (ME)
Grades 9–12; 5 days. In this program sponsored by the Maine Humanities Council, students visit museums, archives, and historic sites, and learn from experts. Locations vary within Maine, and have included Bowdoin College. Topics also vary; 2010 topics included The Cold War, McCarthyism, and Margaret Chase Smith’s “Declaration of Conscience,” as well as “Through a Howling Wilderness: Benedict Arnold and the Maine Frontier.” (866) 637-3233;
http://mainehumanities.org/programs/history-camp/index.html

Northwestern CTD (Multiple sites)
Grades 8; 1 or 3 weeks; residential and commuter. 2010 courses for qualifying students in grades 7–9 included Eastern Mythology in the Western World.
(847) 491-3782; www.ctd.northwestern.edu/summer

NYU Pre-College Program (NY)
Grades 10–12; 6 weeks; commuter. Course offerings for rising juniors and seniors include Europe Since 1945, Introduction to Global History from 1500 and Modern America. (212) 998-2292; www.nyu.edu/summer/2011/highschool

Purdue University Gifted Education Resource Institute (IN)
Grades 7–8; 2 weeks. Qualifying students may take The US in the 20^th Century: 1900–1945, or The US in the 20^th Century: 1945–1999. (765) 494-7243; www.purdue.edu/geri

Rutgers University High School Summer Session (NJ)
Grades 10–12; 6 weeks; commuter. Qualifying students choose up to 2 courses, which may include Ancient Greece, Development of the US, or Development of Europe. (732) 932-7565; http://summersession.rutgers.edu/highschool

Stanford University High School Summer (CA)
Grades 11–12; 8 weeks; residential and commuter. Course offerings include American History in Film since World War II, The Construction of Modern China through Space and Time, and Introduction to Cultural and Social Anthropology.
(650) 723-3109; http://summer.stanford.edu/highschool/overview.asp

Summer at Brown Precollege Program (RI)
Grades 9–12; 1–3 weeks. Students choose one or two courses. 2010 offerings included Discovering the Past: Introduction to Prehistory and Archaeology, Ancient Egyptian Religion and Magic, Introduction to Ancient Egypt, Middle Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, The Crusades, History in Fact, History in Film: WWII–1980, Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll? Understanding the 1960s, A-Bombs, Milkshakes, and Love-Ins: Decades of Change in America, 1940–1970, and A Checkered Past: The US and the “Third World.” Also available in 2010 were Precollege Study Abroad in Rome and Precollege Study Abroad in Naxos, Greece. (401) 863-7900; www.brown.edu/scs/pre-college

Tufts University College for Juniors (MA)
Grades 11–12; 6 weeks; commuter. Course offerings include The Changing American Nation: 19^th and 20^th Centuries. (617) 627-3454; http://ase.tufts.edu/tuftsSummerStudy/juniors.asp

University of California Los Angeles (CA)
Grades 9–12; 6 weeks; residential and commuter. Students take one or two courses, which in 2010 included Archaeology: Introduction; History of Asian Americans; Chinese Civilization; Introduction to Western Civilization Circa 1715 to the Present; Latin American History; History of Rome; Japanese Civilization; and Korean Civilization. (310) 267-4835; www.summer.ucla.edu/highschool/hscollegelevel.htm

University of Chicago Summer Programs for High School Students (IL)
Grades 10–12; 3 weeks; residential and commuter. Students in the Insight Program may choose from Ancient Egyptian Language, Culture, and History; Stones and Bones; or Traveling Academy, where they travel to Greece to explore the classical world through Greek drama. Also available in 2010 were 3-, 5-, or 6-week courses, including Western Civilization, Introduction to East Asian Civilization, Colonialism, Immigration, and Race in Modern France, and Introduction to Muslim and Jewish Philosophy. (773) 834-3792; https://summer.uchicago.edu/insight.cfm

University of Maryland Young Scholars Program (MD)
Grades 9–12; 3 weeks; residential and commuter. 2010 course offerings included Controversies in Archaeology, and Dinosaurs and Beyond. (301) 405-7762; www.oes.umd.edu/index.php?slab=young-scholars-program

University of Pennsylvania Pre-College Summer Program (PA)
Grades 9–11; 6 weeks; residential and commuter. Students take one or two courses which, in 2010, included Ancient Greece, Introduction to Archaeology, and European Art and Civilization Before 1400. (516) 621-3939; www.sas.upenn.edu/summer/students/highschool

University of Virginia Summer Session (VA)
Grades 11–12; 4 weeks; commuter. Qualifying students take one course alongside college students. 2010 offerings included Human Origins, Emergence of States and Cities, Early African History, Modern African History, Western Civilization, Women and Power in Indian History, History of Genocide, US History to 1865, and American History Since 1865. (434)924-3371; www.virginia.edu/summer/courses

Washington University in St. Louis High School Summer Scholars (MO)
Grades 10–11; 5 weeks; residential and commuter. Students take 2 courses, which in 2010 included Introduction to Archaeology, Western Civilization, and America from the Civil War. (866) 209-0691; http://ucollege.wustl.edu/programs/highschool/overview

Yale University Summer Session (CT)
Grade 12; 5 weeks. Students take two courses which, in 2010, included Great Discoveries in Old World Archaeology; The Genesis and Collapse of Old World Civilizations; The American City 1800–Present; New Negro Arts and Politics; Film, Video, and American History; The Cold War; History and Culture of Southeastern Europe; Africa and the Atlantic World 1450–1850; Iran, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf; History of East Africa; and World Politics 1917–1919. (203) 432-2430; www.yale.edu/summer

FIELD SCHOOLS

ArchaeoSpain High School Program at Pollentia (Spain)
Grades 11–12; 4 weeks. Students join the crew digging the Roman Forum of the City of Pollentia on the island of Mallorca and participate in excavation and artifact restoration. (866) 932-0003; www.archaeospain.com/pollentia/highschool.htm

The Center for American Archeology (IL)
Ages 13–17; 1–3 weeks. Students explore the lower Illinois River Valley and learn the basics of field excavation, laboratory processing, and how archaeologists develop their interpretations of sites based upon the information they collect. (618) 653-4316; www.caa-archeology.org

Colonial Williamsburg Archaeology Field School (VA)
Grades 11–12; 5 weeks. Through lectures, reading, and hands-on experience, qualifying students learn excavation techniques and recording, the identification of common 18th century artifacts, and concepts of conservation, public archaeology, and zooarchaeology. (757) 220-7952; http://research.history.org/Archaeological_Research/Programs/Field_School.cfm

Crow Canyon High School Field School (CO)
Grades 10–12; 3 weeks. Through hands-on activities, field trips, studies, and instruction, students learn about the science of archaeology and the ancestral Pueblo Indians who inhabited the region hundreds of year ago. (800) 422-8975; www.crowcanyon.org/programs/campus/high_school_field_school.asp

Earthwatch Teen Teams: Unearthing Roman Britain (UK)
Ages 16–17; 14 days. Students travel to South Shields, England, to excavate pre-Roman and Roman settlements, and learn recording, surveying, sampling, and more. (800) 776-0188; www.earthwatch.org/exped/bidwell_teen.html

Isle of Shoals Island Archaeology Program (ME)
Grades 11–12; 1 or 3 weeks. High school students learn about historic and prehistoric site survey and excavation forms through participation in ongoing archaeological research. (607) 255-3717; www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_islandarch.html

Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center Archaeology Field School (WI)
Grades 9–12; 1–5 days; residential and commuter. Middle and high school students may choose either a week-long field school or a three-day field experience, where they work alongside professional archaeologists to learn techniques in excavation, surveying, and lab work. (608) 785-6513; www.uwlax.edu/mvac/EventsDisplays/youth.htm

Passport in Time (Multiple sites)
Passport in Time (PIT) is a volunteer archaeology and historic preservation program of the USDA Forest Service (FS). PIT volunteers work with professional FS archaeologists and historians on national forests throughout the US on such diverse activities as archaeological survey and excavation, rock art restoration, survey, archival research, historic structure restoration, oral history gathering, and analysis and curation of artifacts. Age requirements and duration of projects varies according to project.  See current project listings for project-specific information.
(800) 281-9176; www.passportintime.com

Teton Science School
Grades 9–11; 3 weeks. Students in the Field Natural History program explore the traditions of Aldo Leopold, John Muir, and the Murie family through hiking, canoeing, field study, and camping at Yellowstone National Park. (307) 733-1313; www.tetonscience.org

WEBSITES

American Anthropological Association
This is a great site to explore the field of anthropology in depth.
www.aaanet.org/resources/students

Ancient Theme
Here you’ll find models of monuments and buildings from ancient history—made with Legos. You’ve never seen The Coliseum like this before. http://speckyboy.com/2009/10/11/around-the-world-with-35-famous-lego-monuments-and-buildings

The Archaeology Channel
At this site of the Archaeological Legacy Institute, you can stream archaeology video and audio, read archaeology news, and explore archaeology resources. www.archeologychannel.org

Archaeological Parks in the US
Here you’ll find extensive regional and state listings of archaeological sites that have been preserved and are open to the public. www.uark.edu/misc/aras

BBC: Dimensions
Juxtapose the size of historical events on your home and neighborhood by entering your zip code. Follow the Great Wall of China through your town, compare the size of an average 19th century Alabama slave plantation to your home, see how much space the great pyramids would take up in your neighborhood, and more. http://howbigreally.com

BBC: A History of the World
Click on one of more than a hundred objects from British museums—from two million years ago to today—to explore its history as well as its place in world history. Locate objects by date, culture, theme, location, and more. New objects are added continuously, so be sure to check back from time to time to see what’s “new.” www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld

Best of History Websites
Here you’ll find links to over 700 history-related websites, with topics ranging from medieval to 20th century to art history. www.besthistorysites.net

Beyond Stone & Bone
On this award-winning blog, you can access the current edition of Archaeology Magazine, read the latest archaeology news, participate in interactive digs, and read interviews with experts in the field. http://archaeology.org/blog/

A Biography of America
This series on American history includes 26 half-hour video programs of prominent historians discussing the forces that have shaped America. In addition to video, each section—colonial society, the coming of independence, westward expansion—includes key events, a map, and links to related materials. www.learner.org/resources/series123.html

Colonial Williamsburg Official History Site
Visitors to this site can read biographies of people who inhabited colonial-era Williamsburg, listen to their fife and drums corps, and tour the town. Click on the Gardens section to learn about the landscape restoration work on the site and the history of the gardens. Dress a colonial person from head to toe in the interactive adventure, "Dressing the Part". The Conferences, Forums, and Workshops area includes information about scholarly activities and upcoming forums. www.history.org/history/index.cfm

Digital History
Here you will find an extensive array of American history resources, including historic newspapers, virtual exhibitions, an online textbook, and much more. www.digitalhistory.uh.edu

Guggenheim Interactive
At this “virtual Guggenheim,” you can get connected to art and history, and listen to recent podcasts of events from the past, including conversations with noted art historians. www.guggenheim.org/new-york/interact

Hillman Wonders of the World
Click on one of a hundred titles for a synopsis of why a particular artifact or site is worth visiting, as well as trivia and tips on planning a visit. www.hillmanwonders.com

The History Channel
See today’s headlines as they relate to history. Go back in time—and back, and back. Check out the Jamestown Interactive Exhibit, take the Citizenship Quiz, find out what happened on This Day in History, or click on Games for interesting and fun history challenges. www.history.com

The History Net
This wide-ranging collection of resources includes world and American history, profiles of famous people, battle stories, and interviews. http://history.about.com

The History Place
This site features exhibits on the American Revolution, the Holocaust, the Civil War, World War II, and more. View the Tourism Guide for a list of historic areas by state. www.historyplace.com

HistoryWorld
This site provides detailed descriptions of more than 10,000 events in world history in linked narratives. Search for an event alphabetically, and lose yourself in history. www.historyworld.net

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Here you can learn the history behind objects and discover cultures relating to the Met’s collections and exhibitions, including Ancient Near East, Egypt, China, and more. www.metmuseum.org/explore/index.asp

The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
View online exhibits and a clickable listing of current projects, read actual project journals, explore the San Francisco “underground,” and more. www.uri.edu/mua/

National Geographic Archaeology News
Were early humans cannibals? What can a newly-discovered Canadian rock reservoir tell us about the Earth when it was still a ball of magma? At this site, you’ll find answers to these questions, as well as all the latest archaeology news. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/archaeology.html

National Geographic In the Field
Field researchers from National Geographic are working on a variety of important expeditions around the world. This site includes a number of their projects, including the Genographic Project and the work of Alexandra Cousteau, the noted environmental advocate. Each listing features photos, video clips, and descriptions. Click on the Grants and Programs area to learn more about available opportunities offered via the National Geographic Society. www.nationalgeographic.com/field

The Path to Becoming an Archaeologist
Download this brochure for solid information on careers in archaeology. http://saa.heartstone.com/resources/SAA_PathBrochure.pdf

PBS
Here you can view “webisodes” from the series, Freedom: A History of US. See the colonies and colonists up close with Colonial House: An Interactive History, or, if you think you may have a piece of American history, submit your story to the History Detectives for possible use in the ongoing television series. www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus

Preservation Directory
This resource contains materials on historic preservation, preservation-based tourism, and downtown revitalization projects across the United States and Canada. Check out the Video Library for clips of restoration projects in progress, preservation walking tours, and endangered places. The site also contains listings and links for over 7,000 history museums, 1,000 downtown and main street groups, and 4,500 historical societies in North America. www.preservationdirectory.com/HistoricalPreservation/Home.aspx

PreserveNet
This site maintains an extensive list of preservation resources, including degree programs and scholarships, as well as cultural preservation sites, historic roads and cemeteries, and more.  www.preservenet.cornell.edu

Race to the End of the Earth
The American Museum of Natural History modeled this site after a current exhibition that recounts the contest to reach the South Pole. Explore the Antarctic as Amundsen (Norway) and Scott (Britain) did, and learn how modern science is changing the way we explore the world today. www.amnh.org/exhibitions/race

Smithsonian Institution
Enter here to explore interactive galleries and search through artifacts from the Smithsonian’s extensive collections. www.si.edu

The Society for Historical Archaeology
In the Students section, explore Careers in Archaeology for an extensive list of field schools, or check out Unlocking the Past to experience a virtual archaeological expedition. www.sha.org/default.cfm

The Sport of Life and Death
Take an online journey as you explore the Mesoamerican ballgame, “the ancient spectacle of athletes and gods.” Then watch the game as a spectator, or—if you’re really brave—play the game as a competitor. www.ballgame.org/main.asp

Smithsonian’s History Explorer Site
Explore the current Featured Artifact, search for resources by historical era, participate in an interactive Gettysburg address, and much more. http://historyexplorer.americanhistory.si.edu

US Fish & Wildlife Service Native American Liaison
With information such as “Tribal Laws and Treaties” and “News for Tribes,” this is a great site for a glimpse into the history of the relationship between the US government and North American Indians. www.fws.gov/nativeamerican

World Timelines
This site poses the question, “Have you ever looked at an exhibit in a museum and wondered what was happening in other countries at that time?” Here’s your chance to find out. www.worldtimelines.org.uk

BOOKS & MAGAZINES

Archaeology: A Brief Introduction by Brian M. Fagan (Prentice Hall, 2008).

The Earth Through Time by Harold L. Levin (Wiley, 2009).

East Wind Melts the Ice: A Memoir of the Seasons by Liza Dalby (University of California Press, 2009).

Finders Keepers: A Tale of Archaeological Plunder and Obsession by Craig Childs (Little, Brown, & Co., 2010).

The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Beard (Harvard University Press, 2010).

The Hidden by Tobias Hill (Harper, 2009).

At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson (Doubleday, 2010).

Mannahatta: A National History of New York by Eric W. Sanderson and Markley Boyer (Abrams, 2009).

Parisians: An Adventure by Graham Robb (W.W. Norton, 2010).

The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer (Touchstone, 2009).

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan (Mariner, 2006).

Archaeology Magazine
www.archeologymag.com

Current World Archaeology
www.world-archaeology.com

Dig: The Archaeology Magazine for Kids
www.digonsite.com

Minerva: The International Review of Ancient Art & Archaeology
http://minervamagazine.com