MHS History Source

Congratulations to all of the students who participated in Massachusetts History Day—our regional contests are a wrap! This year over 5100 middle- and high-school students and 300 fifth grade students from across the state created historical documentaries, performances, exhibitions, podcasts, essays, and documentaries based on original research. Their topics ranged from Title IX to Bengali Independence to the history of blood banks! Good luck to the 427 students who have advanced to compete at our upcoming State contest on April 11!
Want to learn more or volunteer as a judge? Visit our website using the link in our bio.

Charlotte Forten, a Black abolitionist and educator, wrote this 19th century anti-slavery song for a commemoration of Crispus Attucks, a Black and Native man killed by British soldiers during the 1770 Boston Massacre. Forten’s grandfather James was a Revolutionary War veteran, and her song connected the freedom struggle in the War for Independence to the abolitionist cause.

Her song was a parody of the patriotic song “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean (the Red, White, and Blue)” and was performed by a woman named Mrs. Dutton on March 5, 1863. Black soldiers serving in the 54th Regiment of the Union Army were in attendance.

Broadside: Martyrdom of the Colored American Crispus Attucks!: March 5th, 1770... [Boston:1863], Massachusetts Historical Society, www.masshist.org/database/6516

Image Credit: The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University.

We’re excited to show off the great work of students who competed in the 2025 National History Day in Massachusetts competition season!

In honor of Juneteenth, check out selected projects on African American history and culture in a virtual exhibit on the NHD MA website. See some of these projects in person on June 24 before our evening program, We Refuse.

National History Day prompts students in grades 6-12 to conduct research on a historical topic of their choosing and present their work in a variety of ways, including documentary films, performances, and papers.

Visit the NHD Massachusetts website to view the Juneteenth Virtual Exhibit: https://www.masshist.org/masshistoryday/juneteenth2025

Congrats to our Needham students on their amazing project, which was the inaugural recipient of the Northeastern Uni Ted Landsmark "Good Trouble" Award!

Legendary Northeastern professor Ted Landsmark is ‘good trouble’ and now there’s a civil rights award in his honor The Professor Ted Landsmark “Good Trouble” Award for the Best Project in Civil Rights History was presented to Needham High students.