I am pleased and honored to serve as Chairman of the American History Committee during the Jamison Administration. The American History Committee promotes American history year-round by remembering historically significant people, dates and places.  We encourage chapters to honor women who are protecting and documenting American History with the Outstanding Women in American History award.  Our essay contests encourage students to learn about America’s beginnings and to think about what it meant to discover a new land and to fight for it. 

The annual American History Essay Contest is open to public, private, parochial, or home-schooled students in grades 5 through 8.  I look forward to receiving the winning essays from all 15 Districts!  Student writers are asked to:

Focus on the often unrecognized people and groups, including African-Americans, American Indians, French, Spanish, Germans and others, who provided military, patriotic and public service in support of the American Revolution.  Describe a particular person or group and how they supported the cause for American independence.  Explain why it is especially important to honor the unsung heroes and often forgotten Patriots.

The essay for the 2012-2013 Contest is to be titled:  “Forgotten Patriots Who Supported the American Struggle for Independence”.  Be sure to check the National website and download the contest forms to present to participating schools as soon as the new school year begins.  Essays are due from the schools to Chapters by November 15; from Chapters to Districts by December 15; and from Districts to State by January 15.

Barbara Volker
Chairman, American History
VolkerDAR@gmail.com