A Tribute to a Founding Father: David Van Tassel and National History Day

Abstract

ON JUNE 3, 2000, the National History Day (NHD) community was saddened by the sudden loss of David Van Tassel, NHD's founder. Although we mourn his loss, we also celebrate his life and legacy. I cannot think of anything more powerful or exciting than to have an effect on a young person, to change a life in some positive way-to watch the light bulb go on and to feel that you had something to do with that. David Van Tassel did that for millions of young people through National History Day. His influence extends to the barrios of Los Angeles, to inner-city Houston, to Navajo and Lakota Indian reservations, to small, rural mid-western towns and to wealthy and middle class suburbs. Through National History Day, David created a vehicle to reinvigorate the teaching and learning of history. But more important than that, what he produced was something that truly changes lives. It all began in 1974 when, concerned about the devalued nature of history in the nation's elementary and secondary schools, David Van Tassel, professor of history at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, sought to bring the past to life for students and teachers. His idea was a competition through which middle and high school students present historical research in papers, table-top exhibits, dramatic performances, and multi-media documentaries. These products would be en-