The Town of Hingham and the Hingham Historical Commission invite high school students to participate in the fourth annual historical essay contest, sponsored by the Historical Commission.
The contest is open to any high school student living in Hingham and attending either a public or private school. Students in all grades 9-12 are welcome to participate. The winner of the competition will receive a $1,000 cash prize and a certificate for their achievement.
Essay subjects can include, but are not limited to: the lives, accomplishments, or activities of Hingham residents, as well as daily life and conditions in all or any part of Hingham at a specific time. Other topics may include movements in the town for or against independence, abolition of slavery, temperance, women’s suffrage, any other social or political issues, as well as Hingham’s military, religious, or civic organizations, or any other specific event, place, or person in Hingham's history.
The essay requirements are:
-The subject must focus on a part of Hingham's history from 1945 or earlier
-Essays must be between 1,500 and 2,000 words
-All quotes, facts, opinions and analyses that are not the student's personal views should be properly cited
-Essays must be written in Chicago Style using the Chicago Manual of Style
Each essay should focus on a supported thesis proven through in-depth research and analysis.
Three judges, appointed by the Hingham Historical Commission, will judge the essays. Essays will be judged on:
-The depth and quality of the research, including the extent to which primary sources have been found and used
-The quality of the writing, including grammar, spelling and style
-The quality of the analysis and the extent to which the essay makes a significant and original contribution to the collective understanding of the history of Hingham
To submit an essay by mail, please address it to the Hingham Historical Commission at Hingham Town Hall, 210 Central St., Hingham, MA 02043, or email it as an attachment to younga@hingham-ma.gov. All essays must be submitted by Saturday, April 15.
The winning entry will be announced and published on the Hingham Historical Commission’s web page on or around April 30. It also will be submitted for publication in the Hingham Anchor. All submitted essays will be made available to the public at the Hingham Historical Commission and the Hingham Public Library.
For further information, please contact Andrea Young at the Hingham Historical Commission by calling 781-741-1492 or emailing younga@hingham-ma.gov.
