Title says it all. I’m a junior history major at a small liberal arts university and I’d like to get published as an undergrad to help in the admissions process for grad school. I am planning on getting a history master’s and PhD. ALL tips are welcome!
Also, if anyone has any general advice on publishing papers or finding good sources on historical topics (especially primary sources) or anything at all, that is highly appreciated!
This depends. A historiographical essay could make a unique argument by evaluating secondary sources on a given topic. Otherwise, original research does require significant use of primary sources.
That said, increasingly there are undergraduate research journals that would be an easier venue for publication and would still be a CV builder for graduate school.
As a journal editor, I can say that in my field it would be unlikely that an undergraduate would have access to the primary sources necessary to make a significant contribution. This is not a critique of undergraduates' abilities just a reality of the field. Outside of US history, undergraduates generally cannot access the necessary archives.
Finally, as a graduate advisor I care less that an incoming student has published than how they are thinking about their research agenda, possible thesis topics, questions, etc. I want to know they can think historically and write clearly and persuasively. One does not need to be published to demonstrate those skills to an admissions committee.
If you haven’t talked to them already, the librarians at your university would have some great tips on primary resource databases that you can access.