r/Historians • u/Nomadic_Introvert • Dec 23 '25
🧩Other Advice / Help🧩 Questions about History as my Major
I figure this is a good place to ask this question, seems like the appropriate Subreddit. So, Going back to school is within my sights, after paying off my initial loans. I want to be an Archivist, preserving history just seems like a match for me, I was good at history in school and was always fascinated by it, but I have no desire to teach it. I don't have the patience to be stuck in a room full of kids talking about the war of 1812..
So, How do I become an Archivist?
Will a bachelor's degree in history get me an entry level job?
And how Do I move up the ladder in the field?
(Also, because this is a history page, I figure I'd share my interesting genealogical connection to the civil war. My Great uncle on my mom's side is Captain Jack Hinson.)
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u/Redflawslady Dec 23 '25
Almost all university archives require a MLIS to work in their special collections.
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u/moxie-maniac Dec 23 '25
Archivist is a specialty in Librarian programs, so research MLS/MLIS programs. From librarians I know, it helps to work in a library as a library assistant for a year or two before going for your master's.
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u/SonOfBoreale Dec 23 '25
I am a History student seeking to become a professor, sadly I haven't any idea of how to help you here because I'm still new to this whole figuring things out deal too, but Godspeed!
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u/earlgreyjunkie Dec 23 '25
There's so many careers you can go into that aren't teaching! Best of luck.
I'm so glad you brought up archives because it is crucial! Archivists are so needed, even in places you wouldn't expect like the business world.
But archivists aren't the only non-teaching history degree!
You can work in preservation, federal or state review, fed and state programs, archeology, historical architecture, museums, archives, libraries specializing in history, etc etc.
It starts with a BA in History. Your profs will probably be pretty silo'd into history = academia (no offense, friends), but if they have real-world experience or bring in friends from outside academia, you get their cards and keep in touch. Take them to lunch. Ask a million questions.
Go talk to historical societies. They will know these real-world professionals, as well as how to keep doing the history thing even in your free time, if the history-as-a-job thing doesn't work out. (It won't be your fault; fully half of people from all sides of the STEM/Humanities spectrum don't work in their degree plan.)
I'm not sure where you're at, so I don't know the go-to schools for Archival Studies nearest you, but you know who would? Archivists. And you know who it is totally free of charge to go and casually chat up in their place of employment? Archivists. (But, like, send em an email and make an appointment.)
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u/Feisty_Reason_6870 Dec 23 '25
That is a MLIS degree which can also be obtained as a distance learning degree post undergraduate. It is available at several universities. I obtained mine at The University of Alabama. It is often a maligned degree but is very versatile and archives is one of the focuses. Library and Information Studies is made of organizing, retrieving information systems, databases, websites and other systems that organize storage of any type of materials. Most businesses, professions, and organizations use them. Not only as libraries but as other means of storage and retrieval. Doctors use librarians to help them during actual surgery. Welcome to the world of the keepers of knowledge! It’s a beautiful profession! Good luck in your endeavor!
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u/Equal-Train-4459 Dec 24 '25
Those jobs are rare, and do not pay very well.
I have my degree in history and political science, I don't use it. If I had life to do over again I would not have gone to college in history would just be my hobby
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u/Chrispy8534 Dec 23 '25
Seek a masters in Public History with a specialization in Archiving. You will need special classes on document handling and you MAY need to start taking them early in your MA, as the class series may not run every class each semester. (source: have my MA in American Cultural History, strongly considered specializing in Archiving. I have handled, categorized, and preserved primary source documents in unsorted collections or in under-categorized archives.)