Research History is a course that is offered at Washington Senior High School of Washington Court House, Ohio. This course has been available for four years and is instructed by Mr. Paul LaRue. Research History is designed to allow students to collect data, work with primary source materials, and construct data bases using primary sources.

The research class of 2001's task this year began by updating and proofing the book published by the '98 class. Their goal is to have it finished and on the internet via "Ohio Memory" . Their book was chosen of two books in Fayette County to be digitally entered onto a virtual library for Ohio. The class also enjoyed a field trip during October to the Augustus West House Site for a field dig.

RESEARCH HISTORY CLASS OF 2000

The Research History class for the school year of 1999-2000 was composed of thirty-three seniors. They were focused on local African American soldiers that served in the Civil War. They also transcribed the minutes from the Post No. 244 William Anderson G.A.R.(Grand Army of the Republic), Washington Court House, Ohio. This post was composed of the U.S.C.T.(United States Colored Troops). Using primary sources, such as the minutes, school and tax records, as well as U.S.C.T. pension files, they were able to build biographies on the soldiers. As Research History students they were given the opportunity to write and publish a book based on the information from the documents provided for them.

1999 RESEARCH CLASS

The Research Class of 1999 transcribed a 149 page journal that revealed the life story of Washington Court House native George C. Jenkins. Jenkins served in the American Civil War in the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery Battery, Company "B." They traced the life of this man and found that he participated in battles at Shiloh and Corinth, and he went along in Sherman's March to The Sea. The class produced a book which included the entire transcribed journal, letters from Jenkins to his family, maps, timelines, and photos. The book has attracted a lot of interest, and has been published.

1998 RESEARCH CLASS

In 1998, the first year Research in History was ever offered at WSH, the students did a project on Abolition and the Underground Railroad. They focused on a local scale, coming up with 54 names and biographies of operators and station keepers. Along with this information, the students came up with 16 photos of Underground Railroad sites in our surrounding areas, and produced a map of them. The class relied on records from Ohio's Anti-Slavery Society, manumissions, various churches and the "Siebert Letters." Along with the help of local accounts, the students gathered enough information to produce an informative book on the subject.