Why choose a New Jersey topic? Eligible to win New Jersey history awards sponsored by various New Jersey organizations at the state competition Great way for students and teachers to fulfill New Jersey Student Learning Standards history requirements Explore the state’s rich history from its time as one of the original thirteen colonies to its more recent history Check out our NJ Topics List for the 2022-2023 contest here if you need help getting started. The following organizations present prizes at the NJ History Day state competition in May as a way to promote specific areas of history or historical research:
Best New Jersey Topic - New Jersey Historical Commission New Jersey Historical Commission presents awards to projects in any category that address a topic relevant to New Jersey history. Best American Revolution Topic - North Jersey American Revolution Round Table North Jersey American Revolution Round Table awards two prizes in honor of Harry Carpenter, a founding member of NJARRT. These two prizes of $125 each are presented to projects from any category that pertain to the American Revolution and its era, including but not limited to the causes of the Revolution, the Revolutionary War, George Washington, the founding fathers, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Students are encouraged to indicate in the title of the project the connection to the American Revolution and/or the related topics. Best Civil War Topic - North Jersey Civil War Round Table North Jersey Civil War Roundtable awards two prizes in honor of New Jersey’s pre-eminent historian, the late John T. Cunningham. These two prizes of $125 each, are presented to those projects—from any category—that pertain to the Civil War and its era, including but not limited to the causes of the dissolution, the war, Abraham Lincoln, and reconstruction. Students are encouraged to indicate in the title of the project the connection to the American Civil War and/or topics related to the Civil War. Best Maritime History Topic - The National Maritime Historical Society The National Maritime Historical Society is a sponsor of the New Jersey History Day program with the intent of inspiring young people to learn about their maritime history. NMHS awards prizes — from any category in both Junior and Senior Divisions— to outstanding projects on a maritime topic. Recipients of this special prize also receive a cash award of $150. Also, the student(s) and the teacher will receive a subscription to Sea History Magazine, the official publication of NMHS. Students are encouraged to indicate in the title of the project the connection to maritime history in order to make the judging process easier. Best Use of Newspaper - North Jersey Media Group The Record, the flagship daily publication of North Jersey Media Group, is honored to sponsor four awards demonstrating Best Use of Newspapers as a Resource. Two plaques will be awarded to projects in any category in both Junior and Senior Divisions, to students from all schools in Bergen, Passaic, Morris, and Essex counties. Two additional plaques will be awarded for the same criteria to projects by students from other counties in the state. Best Use of Newspapers can be shown visually and/or be a significant part of the entry’s research bibliography. This award is not limited to historical use of The Record or Herald News but includes all newspaper use as a primary resource. Outstanding New Jersey Revolutionary War History Topic - Morristown Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution The Morristown Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution awards a prize in honor of Frances Babbitt Philhower, a prominent member of their chapter. The prize of $100 is presented to a project — in any category — that pertains to the role of New Jersey in the American Revolution and its era, including, but not limited to, the role New Jersey and its people played in the Revolution, the causes of the Revolution in New Jersey, the role of New Jersey women in the Revolution, the founding fathers (and mothers) of the Revolution, and the creation of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. NEW SPECIAL PRIZE! The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route in New Jersey Association (W3R-NJ) Please contact Kathy Faulks (bkfaulks@aol.com) for more information about this special prize. NEW SPECIAL PRIZE! The New Jersey Militia, Heard's Brigade The New Jersey Militia, Heard's Brigade, is a company of living historians re-creating the life of the militia soldiers and civilians of the American Revolution. They are dedicated to educating the public. They strive to always continue our research efforts to provide the most accurate impressions. The New Jersey Militia, Heard's Brigade will offer one monetary prize each at the Junior and Senior levels for the projects that best exemplify the use of research and disseminate that information successfully to the viewer/listener on their subject of the American Revolution, its causes, events, people, and/or results. Students are encouraged to indicate in the title of the project the connection to the American Revolution and/or related topics. REMEMBER: If you want to be considered for special prizes, try to title your piece appropriately! Entry judges often pinpoint particular entries and then recommend those to the Special Prize judges. It is easier for the Entry judges to do this when you have a relevant title!
