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Red River Valley Heritage Society essay contest Papers, 1980-1981

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 44

Scope and Content

The Red River Valley Heritage Society Essay Contest entries have been processed into four separate manuscript collections, reflecting the ongoing deposit of the essays at the Institute. The 1965 to 1979 essays are Mss 5; 1980 and 1981 as Mss 44; 1982 and 1983 as Mss 69; and 1985 to 1987 as Mss 252. No essay contest was held in 1984.

Within each collection the essays have been organized by year and then alphabetically by the student’s name.

Dates

  • 1980-1981.

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection remain with authors of the essaes.

Biographical sketch

The essay contest, sponsored by the Red River Valley Historical Society, began in 1965. It was sponsored in the schools of the Red River Valley of Minnesota, North Dakota and Manitoba. The contest began as the “Historical Research Essay Contest.” In a letter regarding the 1968 contest the stated purpose was: “A. to alert youth of the Red River Valley to the wonders of its rich pioneer heritage. B. to acquaint our youth, through interviews and other research, with the fascinating lives of those who developed the Red River Valley. C. to encourage scholarly research and writing among our high school students. D. to record matters of historical interest for the benefit of future generations.” Most years a specific theme was chosen by the society. In 1966 and 1967 it was biographies of local pioneers or places of historic interest, and in 1968 an artifact of historical interest was added.



In 1965 only four essays were submitted, but quickly grew to well over 100 a year. The first place award the first year went to Theresa Scholand of Mount St. Benedict Academy, Crookston, Minn. The 1966 winner, Rebecca Hole, was the first to be published in the society’s periodical, the Red River Valley "Historian". Later years they established winners in junior high and senior high categories Future winners were published in issues of the "Historian", succeeded by its "Red River Valley Heritage Press". Essay contests continued into the 1990s with submissions after 1987 retained by the Red River Valley Heritage Society at their offices at the Heritage Hjemkomst Interpretive Center in Moorhead, Minn.

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet (1.5 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Historical essay contest that began in 1965 and continued into the 1990s.

Provenance

Donated by Red River Valley Heritage Society, 1972, 1985, 1986, and 1987 (Acc. 1858, 2176, 2144, 2209).

Property rights

The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.
Title
Finding aid to the Red River Valley Heritage Society essay contest papers, 1980-1981
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository

Contact:
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