Because history describes and explains the past, it is a relevant tool for many other disciplines, including education. Historical studies can contribute to the improvement of schooling by providing information, demonstrating errors of memory, helping explain the present, and encouraging the introduction of new concepts. In the past, educational histories have examined topics including school government and organization, school administration, and possible local sources of information about an area's educational history. References which illustrate this focus are (1) "Education in the United States: Its History from the Earliest Settlements," 1889, by Richard G. Boone, (2) "Public Education in the United States," 1919, by Elwood Cubberley, and (3) "The Wonderful World of Elwood Cubberley," 1960, by Lawrence Cremin. Since 1960, educational historians have shown increasing interest in statistical analysis, computers, extensions of the boundaries of education beyond the school, history of the common man, and political and policy changes. New approaches in the historical study of education and educational research may result in introduction of new concepts, redefinition and revitalization of older concepts, and new generalizations about a broad range of educational problems. (Author/DB)