In recent years, a large number of studies have emerged in the field of local history. However, the compilation and publication of local history in the real sense is far from systematic and mature, especially of the local contemporary history. For the sake of improving the quality of local history, particularly the compilation of local contemporary history, a basic point should be reconsidered — searching a scientific method under the guidance of Marxist historical materialism. The main research method in this study is literature research, in which Marx’s The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte is the core literature. After summarizing its historical significance, and examining the practical issues in current research and the writing of local contemporary history, the study has drawn the following three conclusions: First, the method of ″realistic historical narrative″. Professor Callinicos, a British political philosopher, summed up the characteristics of this historical narrative method as ″taking some of the most important political events of the time as its object of study, and solving historical problems through the structure of narration″, of which the important foundation is historical materialism. Marx successfully and truthfully pictured the social background of Bonaparte coup, including its occurrence and development, and exposed the real causes of the historical events. This method is enlightening in that researching and writing local contemporary history should be based on historical materialism, focus on a historical critical moment, and reflect the reality in the form of pictures rather than on dogma. What is more, to write a local contemporary history of higher social value, the basic motive force and law of development should be deeply analyzed, and the conclusion should be integrated into historical narration. Second, the method of ″laying current affairs into history″. Applying this method, Marx discerned and recorded significant clues from the news. This makes this work regarded as a general political commentary at that time become an immortal classic of political and event history. This method provides a theoretical basis for resolving the argument of both whether and how current affairs can be part of history. The enlightenment of this method for researching and writing local contemporary history is regarding current events as an important source of historical resources. Furthermore, local contemporary history-writing cannot be restricted to realistic materials, and neither should it be subject to the disturbance of political, personnel or other factors. Instead, historical and social responsibilities should be shouldered and essential researches and objective records should be insisted on. Third, the method of ″materialism historical summary″. can be summarized as two principles: one is objective authenticity and the other is seeing essence through phenomenon. It is by applying this method that Marx discovered the inherent laws and trends of historical development from the appearance of numerous and complicated historical events, and summed up the history of the French class struggle from the period of the February Revolution to the Bonaparte coup. The enlightenment of this method for researching and writing local contemporary history lies in that historical events must be recorded objectively, truthfully and comprehensively, and that historical experiences and lessons should be justly summarized with the approach of historical materialism. Accordingly, the essence and law of the development could be grasped and the purpose of ″learning from history and advancing better″ achieved.