Is it alright publish an old research paper on hubpages that never left the classroom?

Yes. I have done it. And, I plan to do it more.My online business degree is super writing-intensive.

When I write them, I also think about how they are going to look on hubpages, "How will this be valuable to someone searching online?

Just review it and see if you can improve it a little.

The title, for example, is much more important online than in class.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.