Historic Waltham, Inc. and The Historic Waltham Day Committee Proudly Announce an Essay Contest
"Waltham's History -- The Nation's History"
Essay Contest
- Contest Information
- Participating Historic Sites
- Suggested Topics
Register with an e-mail to walthamessay@nara.gov
Write and Submit Your Essay June 1 - August 10, 2007
- 1st Prize = $1,000 Savings Bond
- 2nd Prize = $500 Savings Bond
- 3rd Prize = $100 Bond
There will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winner selected in 3 categories for a total of 9 winners.
Finalists announced on September 15, 2007, at the Waltham Day Picnic.
Winners announced at the National Archives on Constitution Day, September 17, 2007.
Eligibility: To participate you must live in Waltham and be entering grades 4-12 in September, 2007. You may be in public, private, or home school.
Registration: To participate in this contest, you must register by sending an e-mail to Walthamessay@nara.gov or by visiting the National Archives at 380 Trapelo Road, Waltham. When you register you will receive an Essay Cover Sheet & Contest Guidelines.
Essay Theme: The Theme is "Waltham's History - The Nation's History". When you register you will receive a list of more specific topics that you may choose. You may write an essay on a different topic as long as it fits the theme, "Waltham's History - The Nation's History".
Essay Requirement: You must visit at least one of Waltham's historic resources between June 1, 2007 and August 10, 2007 and use information obtained from your visit in your essay.
Gore Place
The Waltham Historical Society
Charles River Museum of Industry
Girl Scout Museum at Cedar Hill
Waltham's Veterans' Memorials
The Waltham Museum
Lyman Estate
Stonehurst, Robert Treat Paine Estate
Free Admission: When you register you will receive more information on participating locations. All sites are offering free admission to "registered" students.
Site Stickers: When you visit the location, you will receive a sticker that you must affix to the essay cover sheet. If you visit more than one site or use the resources of the National Archives and/or the Waltham Public Library, you will receive additional stickers to affix to your cover sheet.
Essay length: Essays will be judged in 3 categories. Students entering grades 4-5, minimum of 500 words. Entering grades 6-8, minimum of 750 words. Entering grades 9-12, minimum of 1000 words. No essay should exceed 1500 words. Essay must be typed, double spaced, and written by the student submitting the essay.
Finalists/Winners: The National Archives will select 10 finalists in each category. Finalists will be announced on September 15, at the Waltham Day Picnic. Finalists and their families will be invited to a reception at the National Archives on September 17, 2007, where the winners will be announced. There will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winner selected in each category for a total of 9 winners. Winners will be invited to do a show on Waltham Cable Access.
Bonus Prizes: All students that participate will be in a drawing to win a $500 Savings Bond and a Flag that has been flown over Waltham City Hall and our Nation's Capitol.
Judging of Essays: Winners will be selected by a panel of 3 judges, using the Baseball Hall of Fame methodology.
Deadline: Essays must be postmarked by August 10, 2007. Mail your essay to the National Archives, Essay Contest, 380 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452. You may also deliver it to the National Archives during the day, any Monday through Friday, until August 10, 2007.
Sponsors: This contest is sponsored by the City of Waltham, Historic Waltham, Inc., and the Historic Waltham Days Committee, the National Archives and Records Administration and the Benjamin Franklin Bank Charitable Foundation.
Please Note:
- You must be a Waltham resident and must register to participate in this contest.
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Register at and send all questions to: walthamessay@nara.gov
- Our website: http://www.historicwaltham.org
- Essays must be postmarked or hand delivered by August 10, 2007
