RICHLAND COUNTY 4-H PROGRAM Historian’s Mini-Manual - historian duties and responsibilities

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• (1) organization historian duties
• (2) what is a historian's job
• (3) historian job skills
• (4) town historian job description

RICHLAND COUNTY 4-H PROGRAM
Historian's Mini-Manual
Name ________________________ Year _________
Club _______________________________________
Congratulations on being elected as your 4-H club's Historian! Your club has
bestowed a great honor and responsibility upon you. It is your responsibility to fulfill the
expectations of this office and serve as an effective and hard working leader for your
fellow club members and volunteers.
All officers in a 4-H club are in a leadership role. You are a representative of
your membership, the Richland County 4-H program and the Ohio 4-H program. To test
your readiness for this position, answer the following questions:
_____ Do I know the duties and responsibilities of this office?
_____ Do I have all of the materials I need to effectively lead my club program?
_____ Am I willing to improve my leadership skills so I can be a better officer?
_____ Do I readily accept the responsibilities assigned to me?
_____ Do I recognize every member of my club and willing to talk with them?
_____ Will I do more than what is required of me to make my club better?
_____ Am I willing to give credit to others for work well done and timely?
_____ Am I prompt in arriving to meetings?
_____ Am I prepared for each club meeting?
_____ Does my appearance inspire confidence and respect in me as a leader?
_____ Am I kind, tactful, respectful of others and courteous?
_____ Do I use "please" and "thank you" when I should?
_____ Am I always fair in my decisions?
_____ Do I refrain from speaking unless I am asked or expected?
_____ Do I listen to others as they speak their opinion at club meetings?
Good luck with your elected club leadership role! Your county Extension
professionals and club volunteers are also great resources for more information. You can
"make the best better" by being the best leader and officer you can!
Materials updated February, 2011.
For more information see the web site's officer materials.
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Duties of the Historian
What types of thing can a historian do? (not necessary to do all)
Take pictures of club activities, members doing public speaking, finished
projects, county fair, members and families, etc.
Take a club group picture to submit for the "Who's Who in 4-H display at the
county fair (due to the extension office by mid-June).
Keep a record of club activities, including the club calendar, news clippings, club
awards and recognition, member participations in activities.
Keep a record of individual member projects, activities and awards for the year.
Present a "bit of history" about the club at a parents meeting (example- how
many kids were in the club, number of projects, number of kids that went to
camp, activities at the fair).
Keep a scrapbook of all of the club's history for the year. This may be decorated
the first year and the new "additions" made each year thereafter.
Submit the current year's scrapbook for competition eth the extension office by
September 3, 2010
How To Keep Things In Order
A book of some kind (magnetic scrapbook, photo album, large three ring
notebook) is the easiest way to keep bits of history. Also discuss with your advisor about
who pays the cost of the books, film developing, and if there is a club camera or if you
have to furnish all the supplies. You also need to know if the book is yours to keep of if
it needs to be returned to the club at the completion of the year. It is helpful if pages can
be added or removed from the book.
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How Much To Keep
If your club members are very active, you will have many "bits of history" to
collect. Keep articles that represent important activities and achievements of the whole
club and of members. Many clubs start a new scrapbook each year. Other clubs continue
to add pages to the same book year after year. Do whatever is comfortable and easily
managed for you club and visit with your advisor to determine what works best for you.
What To Keep
As a historian you many wish to keep the following:
Newspaper clippings of which include articles and pictures. Indicate which
newspaper carried the item and the date of the item.
Special letters and thank you notes. Tell why the letter was received or sent and
the date if it does not appear in the content of the letter or note.
Ribbons, medals, special awards earned by the club as a whole. Snapshots of
trophies and plaques can be included along with an explanation of what the
award was about.
Awards earned by individual club members. Some clubs recognize individual
efforts in a special section of the history. A snapshot of individuals or of
everyone receiving individual recognition alone with a list of everyone who
received what can be used.
Brochures, programs, and agendas representing events that members attended or
participated in can be included.
Other important mementos of your club.
Historian Checklist
_____ Scrapbook, photo album _____ Film, camera
_____ Scissors _____ Glue, Tape
_____ Rubber Cement
Remember check with your advisor about costs and where the book goes when the
year is finished.
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What does the historian actually do? The job of a historian is to develop a clear idea of what the circumstances were surrounding particular historical events, people and places. In some cases, historians may work within a museum to help tell the story of a particular group of people in history. They can also teach history classes in high schools or colleges.

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