Wornall/Majors House Museums invites you to submit original research papers or creative work to an essay competition in celebration of Missouri’s contribution to the semi-quincentennial. Winners have the opportunity to win up to $300!
On the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Wornall/Majors House Museums is telling the story of America from the perspective of Missouri. Through this project, we hope to promote collaboration, help Missourians have opportunities to interact with humanities scholars and experts, encourage the open exchange and exploration of ideas, promote active participation in community life, and expand understanding of Missouri culture.
Wornall/Majors has identified six topics that narrate the story of America through Missouri perspectives, plus a creative category. We are seeking submissions of essays that highlight unique and specific histories on these topics to be published in a published booklet.
- Indigenous Peoples in Missouri
- Frontier Life in Missouri
- Missouri v. Kansas: Border War
- Enslavement in Missouri
- Frontier Frontline: Civil War in Missouri
- Rebuilding: Reconstruction in Missouri
- Creative Work (written or visual)
All seven category winners will receive $200 upon selection. All six essay winners will receive an additional $100 upon presentation of their work at an event at Wornall/Majors.
Submissions are due by December 1, 2025 to jberry@wornallmajors.org. Winners will be announced on December 15, 2025.
FAQ
Who can submit?
This contest is open to all ages and levels of expertise. We welcome high school students, college students, graduate students, adults, and senior citizens.
How do I choose a topic?
We are looking for essays that provide exciting original research grounded in primary sources. Writers are encouraged to choose niche topics that fit within our larger categories. Descriptions of categories and example topics are included in the guidelines document.
How long should essays be?
We recommend a length of 1500-2000 words, with a maximum of 2500 words, not inclusive of citations. This is the equivalent of approximately 8 double spaced pages in 12-point font.
Do I include works cited?
Submissions must have a works cited page (not counted toward word limit). Works cited will not be published, so any crucial references should be included in-text.
Can I submit more than one work?
Yes, entrants can submit work in multiple categories, but we will accept only one submission per category. If you submit multiple works, you are only eligible to win a maximum of two categories.
Will I receive feedback on my submission?
All submissions will receive feedback via our judging rubric, available here or in our guidelines document.
What types of creative works will you accept?
Creative work encompasses all submissions outside of non-fiction research work. These works should be written or visual arts and must be reproducible in print. Examples include short stories, historical fiction, poetry, paintings, or drawings.
What if I have another question?
Our guidelines document is a comprehensive document that includes submission and judging criteria, topic descriptions, and more FAQs. Please read the document in full. If you still have questions, contact Jackie Berry at jberry@wornallmajors.org.