Upcoming Educational Workshops

 

 

The Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest

 

Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Release of the 2012 essay topic/question and drawing theme

 

Friday, 2 March 2012, 5pm
Deadline for submissions for essays and drawings

 

Sunday, 15 April 2012, 2pm
Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest Awards Ceremony

 

A prize of $25 will be awarded to the first place winner of each grade level through the generosity of the Milton Village Office of Citizens Bank.
Thank you, Citizens Bank!

 

2012 Lincoln Essay Contest Question:
Grades 4-8 Slavery was one of the major issues which brought on the Civil War in April of 1861. It was not until January 1, 1863, however, that President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The President has often been criticized for waiting so long to issue this historic document. If you had been president what steps would you have taken to end slavery?

 

2012 Lincoln Drawing Contest Topic:
Grades K-3 When President Lincoln took office in 1861 the family had a number of pets including a pony and goats for his young sons Willie and Tad. Draw a picture of the Lincoln family and their pets.

 

What is the Lincoln Essay & Drawing Contest?
The Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest was established by Mary Bowditch Forbes, the
granddaughter of Captain Robert Bennet Forbes, in circa 1924. Ms. Forbes greatly admired President Abraham Lincoln, and in 1906 began a collection of Lincoln and Civil War memorabilia, which is now part of the Museum's permanent collection. To promote appreciation for our 16th president, Ms. Forbes requested original essays and drawings from students each year, inspired by the life and work of Abraham Lincoln.

 

Today, the Museum continues the tradition, and sends an annual request for essays and drawings from students throughout Milton and Greater Boston. Each fall, the FHM Lincoln Committee, comprised of Museum Trustees, K-12 educators, Lincoln historians and Civil War enthusiasts, meets to debate and select a question or topic. This question/topic is then released to the public, and the student must use the question/topic as the subject for her/his essay or drawing.

 

Individual student submissions are encouraged; The FHM Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest was established as a civic exercise challenging students to excellence outside the scope of their regular school work.

 

However, K-12 educators are welcome to introduce the essay and drawing question/topic to their students as part of a classroom lesson or unit of instruction. A submission of individual essays and drawings, gathered into one package by an educator, is accepted and encouraged.

 

A first, second and third place winner is chosen among the entries for each grade level. Essays are accepted from students in grades 4 through 8; drawings are accepted from students in grades Kindergarten through grade 3.

 

A prize of $25 will be awarded to the first place winner of each grade level through the generosity of the Milton Village Office of Citizens Bank. Thank you, Citizens Bank! All winners will receive a free Family membership to the Forbes House Museum, along with some surprises!

 

The awards ceremony is held each year at Forbes House Museum. One or two winners of the essay contest are usually asked to read their essays to the guests.

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
ON THE BACK of your essay or drawing you MUST include:

 

Your name
Your grade
Your school
Your teacher's name
Your home address
Your home telephone number
The name of your parent or guardian
An e-mail address for your parent or guardian

 

Essay word count:
Grade 6-8: 600-word max.
Grade 4-5: 300-word max.

 

Drawing specifications: Any media is allowed.
Maximum size of the drawing cannot exceed 18" x 24" inches.

 

Essays can be dropped of at the Museum office or mailed to:

 

2012 Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest
Forbes House Museum
215 Adams Street
Milton, MA 02186

 

In 2012, the FHM will accept essay submissions by e-mail. The essay should be sent as a word (.doc) document or PDF to the e-mail address: info@forbeshousemuseum.org. Scanned hand-written essays are accepted as long as they are completely legible. The Museum cannot accept a .docx document. The subject line of the e-mail must read: Lincoln Essay 2012.

 

In the body of the e-mail you MUST include:
Your name
Your grade
Your school
Your teacher's name
Your home address
Your home telephone number
The name of your parent or guardian
An e-mail address for your parent or guardian

 

Sorry, drawings cannot be submitted by e-mail; original works of art must be sent or delivered to the Museum for judging.

 

For more information on the Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest, call the Museum at 617-696-1815 or e-mail us at info@forbeshousemuseum.org.

 

Click here to download the 2012 Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest Submission Guidelines
(PDF document. Requires Adobe® Reader®.)