Hot off the press this afternoon is the following press release from Illinois State Genealogical Society announcing a genealogy writing contest open to Illinois students ages 12-15.  Be sure to pass this along to anyone you know who is eligible to participate.  Keep in mind that the deadline is September 20, 2010.

August 9, 2010 – Springfield, IL.  As the interest in genealogy and family history continues to increase across the United States, all Illinois students ages 12-15 are encouraged to participate in an upcoming essay contest sponsored by the Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS).

As part of its Fall 2010 Conference to be held on Saturday, October 23, 2010 in Peoria, IL, ISGS is providing an opportunity for Illinois youth to tell the stories of their ancestors.

The essay format:

  • narrative; 2-page maximum; no cover page or back matter
  • send the entry form (in the attached link) with the essay; do not put entrant’s name on the essay
  • word-processed final draft on standard, white print paper
  • 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double-spaced
  • entries must be postmarked no later than September 20, 2010
  • no e-mail entries accepted
  • choose one of the following topics:
    • The Story of My Family Connection to (Historical Event)
    • Why My Family Settled in (Geographic Area)
    • The Immigration Story of My (Ancestor)

Prizes:

  • First prize, $50
  • Honorable mentions (two), $25 each

The deadline for entries is September 20, 2010. Access the entry form here (opens in PDF): http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilsgs/projects/forms/EssayEntryForm.pdf.

About Illinois State Genealogical Society

The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) was organized in October of the Illinois Sesquicentennial Year, 1968, and is a non-profit, educational organization. ISGS was established for the following purposes:

  • To stimulate an interest in the people who contributed to the establishment and development of the State of Illinois.
  • To seek, preserve, and make available data pertaining to individuals, families, and groups who lived in Illinois and to events which took place therein.
  • To inform people of the value of, and need for, preserving family and local history for posterity.
  • To encourage the formation of local genealogical societies and to coordinate and disseminate information.

The ISGS genealogical collection is located in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield and an administrative office is maintained in the Illinois State Archives. For more information visit http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilsgs/.

Follow ISGS on Facebook, Twitter,and on their blog.