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2010 Matagorda County Genealogical
Society
The 2010 MCGS Family History Essay Contest is open to all Matagorda County students in grades 6 - 12 as well as students in those grades who have a family member who is a member of MCGS. The purpose is to encourage students to learn more about their ancestors and to preserve their family histories. Entries will be judged on organization, style/creativity, and presentation. All entries must be postmarked by Thursday, 1 April 2010. The first place writer will receive $100.00, second $75.00 and third $50.00. The winning essays will be published in the MCGS publication, Oak Leaves, and each winner will receive a copy of the issue in which their essay appears. Essays will also be placed in the family history section of the Matagorda County TXGenWeb site at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago. Essays may also be printed in county newspapers if space is available. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2010 and they and their families will be invited to the May 24th meeting of the MCGS to read their essays and receive their awards. Out-of-county winners have the option of attending. All participating students will receive a Certificate of Recognition. All essays will become the property of Matagorda County Genealogical Society.
Submission Guidelines The essay should be no less than 600 words, type-written and double-spaced. It should be limited to the biography of one person in your family, and may include relevant information on his/her immediate family. The subject of the essay must have been born no later than 1936. Each essay should be the student's original work and represent his/her best effort in researching and writing. Suggestions and guidance from a parent, teacher or librarian while accumulating and organizing research information is allowed, but the actual narrative must be the student's own work. Students are encouraged to contact relatives, visit libraries, cemeteries, etc. to gather their family information. Documentation of their subject's life can also be obtained by interviewing parents, grandparents and other family members. Important information to include: Where was this person born and where did they live during later life? Did the person move and why? What occupations did the person have? What interesting stories are there about the person and his/her family? Date and location of important life events such as birth, marriage, death, etc. In addition to the essay, include a copy (not an original) of at least three documents to verify your information. The documents need to be from different sources which can be from some of the following or additional records. Census Records: The page on which the family is found Vital Records: Birth, death or marriage records Cemetery records: Burial information or picture of a marker Book: Copies of pages pertaining to the family (include the title page) Newspaper Articles: Article or obituary with the name of the paper and date Photographs Military Records or other interesting documents If your essay is selected, we will require a photo of the author and an electronic copy of your essay in a Word document format. We reserve the right to scan and include the supporting documents to display with the essay. The MCGS would like to be of assistance in helping with your research. After choosing your subject, interview family members and collect information. Further information can be found at: Bay City Public Library, Genealogy Collection, 1100 7th St., Bay City, TX Palacios Library, Genealogy Collection, 326 Main St., Palacios, TX To research former Matagorda County residents, information may be available at Matagorda County Museum Archives, 2100 Ave. F, Bay City, TX Palacios Area Historical Association Museum Annex, 416 Commerce St., Palacios, TX For information on how to locate general records, email MCGS at mcgs264@yahoo.com.
Rules and entry form also available at
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/mcgs_2010essay.htm |
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