Help Teachers and Students Make History: Volunteer with the Chicago Metro History Education Center

The Chicago Metro History Education Center (CMHEC) seeks volunteers to help with its annual Chicago Metro History Fair, a program that encourages students in grades six through twelve to become historians and complete in-depth research projects on topics related to Chicago history. Participating students conduct research in libraries, archives, and museums, as well as on the internet, and produce mini-museum exhibits, performances, documentaries, websites, and research papers about their discoveries. In doing their projects, students make history come alive for themselves and their audiences.

There are many ways to support History Fair—and have a rewarding time while doing so! We invite you to join us by contributing your time to:

• judge student projects
• do support work during History Fair events on weekdays, evenings, and Saturdays from February through April (to register for judging at History Fair events, visit our page for judges;
• coach student research at the Harold Washington or Woodson libraries on weekends in December through March;
• coach student work on thesis development, research, and project development in classrooms on weekdays (special pre-conditions apply); or
• do general office work (weekdays only).

Please download a volunteer form below, complete it, and return it to us to indicate your specific interests.

Volunteer Form (PDF)
Vounteer Form (DOC)

Questions? Contact us by email, telephone (312-255-3661), or fax (312-266-8223).

CMHEC is an independent not-for-profit organization co-sponsored by the Chicago History Museum, the Chicago Public Library, the Illinois Humanities Council, the Newberry Library, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.