According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts. | 84% |
| Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals. | 82% |
| Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials. | 79% |
| Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives. | 79% |
| Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings. | 77% |
| Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance. | 77% |
| Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period. | 76% |
| Conduct historical research, and publish or present findings and theories. | 76% |
| Recommend actions related to historical art, such as which items to add to a collection or which items to display in an exhibit. | 74% |
| Determine which topics to research, or pursue research topics specified by clients or employers. | 74% |
| Speak to various groups, organizations, and clubs to promote the aims and activities of historical societies. | 73% |
| Edit historical society publications. | 72% |
| Advise or consult with individuals and institutions regarding issues such as the historical authenticity of materials or the customs of a specific historical period. | 72% |
| Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy. | 72% |
| Trace historical development in a particular field, such as social, cultural, political, or diplomatic history. | 72% |
| Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet. | 71% |
| Interview people to gather information about historical events and to record oral histories. | 71% |
| Collect detailed information on individuals for use in biographies. | 69% |
| Coordinate activities of workers engaged in cataloging and filing materials. | 68% |
| Translate or request translation of reference materials. | 68% |
| Teach and conduct research in colleges, universities, museums, and other research agencies and schools. | 67% |
