A Contract Historian is a professional researcher hired on a temporary or project basis to analyze, interpret, and document historical events, records, or archives. They often work for government agencies, museums, corporations, or nonprofit organizations to conduct specialized historical research. Duties may include archival research, writing reports, fact-checking, and curating historical exhibits. Unlike full-time historians, contract historians work independently or on short-term projects. Their expertise is valuable for legal cases, heritage preservation, or corporate histories.