Mary Harris Prizes Essay Contest
2023 Mary Harris Winners1st Place: Christine Sycks, Colonel William Simmons
2nd Place: Tom Edwards, William Green 1870 - 1952 Jennifer Wilkes, Captured By Indians - The True Story Bianca Roberson, Opportunities and Life Lessons Honorable Mentions: Susan Nolan, 500 Acres Dana Kittner, Forests of Grandeur Robbie Kehl, The Highwaymen Congratulations, 2023 winners! |
A Non-Fiction Writing Contest
$3,500 Total Prizes $1,000 1st, $500 2nd, Five $200 Honorable Mention, Plus $1,000 Awarded at Discretion of Judges 1,000-3,000 words This essay contest is open to persons of any age who reside or work in Coshocton County, including students whose permanent home is in Coshocton County. The judging is double-blind, meaning that the judges will not know whose papers they are reading, and we will not know who the judges are. Because of this, entries must include the name of the entrant and contact information such as a phone number, e-mail address, or US mail address in the email only. Please do not put your name on the papers themselves.
Entries must be submitted to JHM by November 1, 2024 via email ([email protected]). Unfortunately, Dr. Scott Butler will not be able to hold a presentation this year, however, winners will be awarded at a later date in November. Details on how to enter and the rules for the essay can be read below. Use the button below to find previous essay entries from 2020 - 2023. |
Essay Contest Rules & Suggestions
Detailed Terms:
Other Information:
The Coshocton Public Library, local history section, has many books pertaining to, or touching upon, the Coshocton Frontier. The gift shop of the Johnson Humrickhouse Museum has numerous books about Coshocton Frontier History for sale. See also Good Sources for Simple Connections further down on this page.
Entry:
E-mail [email protected] with subject line ‘Mary Harris Prize’, pdf file,
Word or other file type readable by the judges.
*** Entries must include name of entrant and contact information such as a phone number, e-mail address or US mail address. Names of winners will be announced to the public.
What is a “Connection” to the Coshocton Frontier?
A “Connection” could be substantial or minimal / tenuous. An essay about one of the Delaware Indians leaders of the Coshocton frontier, such as White Eyes, would be fully connected to the Coshocton frontier. That strong connection is NOT required.
A minimal / tenuous connection could be as little as 100 words about some aspect of the essay which occurred on the Coshocton frontier, of some aspect of the Coshocton frontier that appears in the essay. Here are a few examples that illustrate this idea.
Topic A The film or book, “Last of the Mohicans”
The setting of both the film and the movie was 1757 in Lake George area of New York. History shows that Mohican Indians were the first settlers at Gnadenhütten in 1773, a full 16 years later. A few years later, they moved to Lichtenau in Coshocton County. Making these points with proper sources would establish a “Connection” to the Coshocton frontier.
Topic B Women’s Rights
An essay about women’s rights in modern society could mention the roles of women in Delaware Indian society. The Delaware Indians populated Coshocton County for several decades. A short explanation of some aspect of women’s roles in that society would establish a connection.
Topic C Hunting
An essay about modern hunting could connect to the Coshocton frontier by simply explaining some aspect of Indian hunting methods, weapons and game.
Topic D Make-up & Clothing
An essay about modern make-up and clothing practices could establish a connection be pointing out some aspects of Delaware Indian dress and make-up preferences in a hundred words or so.
Topic E Epidemics
An essay about life in Coshocton county during the current Covid-19 epidemic could establish a connection by mentioning the smallpox epidemic in Ohio in 1752 which hit Cushaughking very hard.
Warning
Please do NOT write about Mary Harris herself or “The White Woman” unless you consult the new book (available at the Library), Mary Harris, “The White Woman” of the Ohio Frontier in 1750: The True Story, the False Legends and More. Much material in older county histories is false.
Good Sources for Simple Connections
Frontier History of Coshocton
David Zeisberger’s History of the Northern American Indians
Coshocton Frontier Handbook
Three Great Delaware Leaders of the Coshocton Frontier
Mary Harris, “The White Woman” of the Ohio Frontier in 1750:
The True Story, False Legends and More.
The Coshocton Review, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 issues at the Library; some issue are still available at the gift shop of the Johnson Humrickhouse Museum.
- Non-fiction only, proper citations required; Word requirements exclude sources and bibliography; Internet citations are acceptable, except for Wikipedia; its articles’ own references should be used.
- Topic must have some connection, possibly tenuous, to the Coshocton Frontier, defined as 18th century Coshocton County. See reverse of this handout for examples & sources.
- Judging criteria: Writing Quality, Exposition of Topic, Historical Accuracy.
- Essays which won 1st or 2nd place in prior years’ contests are ineligible. Winners may enter with a new essay. Other entries may be re-submitted in whole or altered.
Other Information:
The Coshocton Public Library, local history section, has many books pertaining to, or touching upon, the Coshocton Frontier. The gift shop of the Johnson Humrickhouse Museum has numerous books about Coshocton Frontier History for sale. See also Good Sources for Simple Connections further down on this page.
Entry:
E-mail [email protected] with subject line ‘Mary Harris Prize’, pdf file,
Word or other file type readable by the judges.
*** Entries must include name of entrant and contact information such as a phone number, e-mail address or US mail address. Names of winners will be announced to the public.
What is a “Connection” to the Coshocton Frontier?
A “Connection” could be substantial or minimal / tenuous. An essay about one of the Delaware Indians leaders of the Coshocton frontier, such as White Eyes, would be fully connected to the Coshocton frontier. That strong connection is NOT required.
A minimal / tenuous connection could be as little as 100 words about some aspect of the essay which occurred on the Coshocton frontier, of some aspect of the Coshocton frontier that appears in the essay. Here are a few examples that illustrate this idea.
Topic A The film or book, “Last of the Mohicans”
The setting of both the film and the movie was 1757 in Lake George area of New York. History shows that Mohican Indians were the first settlers at Gnadenhütten in 1773, a full 16 years later. A few years later, they moved to Lichtenau in Coshocton County. Making these points with proper sources would establish a “Connection” to the Coshocton frontier.
Topic B Women’s Rights
An essay about women’s rights in modern society could mention the roles of women in Delaware Indian society. The Delaware Indians populated Coshocton County for several decades. A short explanation of some aspect of women’s roles in that society would establish a connection.
Topic C Hunting
An essay about modern hunting could connect to the Coshocton frontier by simply explaining some aspect of Indian hunting methods, weapons and game.
Topic D Make-up & Clothing
An essay about modern make-up and clothing practices could establish a connection be pointing out some aspects of Delaware Indian dress and make-up preferences in a hundred words or so.
Topic E Epidemics
An essay about life in Coshocton county during the current Covid-19 epidemic could establish a connection by mentioning the smallpox epidemic in Ohio in 1752 which hit Cushaughking very hard.
Warning
Please do NOT write about Mary Harris herself or “The White Woman” unless you consult the new book (available at the Library), Mary Harris, “The White Woman” of the Ohio Frontier in 1750: The True Story, the False Legends and More. Much material in older county histories is false.
Good Sources for Simple Connections
Frontier History of Coshocton
David Zeisberger’s History of the Northern American Indians
Coshocton Frontier Handbook
Three Great Delaware Leaders of the Coshocton Frontier
Mary Harris, “The White Woman” of the Ohio Frontier in 1750:
The True Story, False Legends and More.
The Coshocton Review, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 issues at the Library; some issue are still available at the gift shop of the Johnson Humrickhouse Museum.
