Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of South Carolina (SMD-SC) Gilman Montgomery French Scholarship

The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of South Carolina announces the Gilman Montgomery French (GMF) Scholarship. Any student in South Carolina or descendant of one of our members may apply. Every year our theme follows the National History Day (NHD) theme, please check the NHD website for this year’s theme, rules, and how to get started. There are many resources at the NHD website to guide you on the theme and on submissions to their contest.* Our rules for submissions follow the NHD Contest Rule Book.† Any historical subject which relates to the theme is accepted. Our intent is to encourage students who are interested in history by recognizing that they will do their best work on a subject they feel connected to and have chosen themselves.

Divisions for the GMF Scholarship include:

• $500 – Middle School (6th – 8th grade)


• $1000 – High School (9th-12th grade)
• $1500 – College/Continuing Ed (enrollment in 2 year or 4 year college/career school, or graduate school; age requirements 18-24 years old. Seniors in High School should apply to the High School division.

Middle and High School Division: Students may choose from the two options below. If choosing to write an essay, we strongly encourage submission to your local, regional, and/or state NHD competition. All applicants are strongly encouraged to work with their history and/or ELA teacher(s).

• A. Essay (1500-2500 words): refer to the NHD Contest Rule Book. Include the Title Page and Annotated Bibliography as described in the NHD Contest Rule Book.
• B. NHD project: submit the written materials described in the NHD Contest Rule Book. This includes a Title Page, a Process Paper, and an Annotated Bibliography. Audiovisual or performance projects should provide a link or a supplemental document.

College/Continuing Ed Division: Students should write an essay which relates to the NHD theme. The GMF scholarship follows the same rules as the NHD Paper Category:

Essay shall be 1500-2500 words: refer to the NHD Contest Rule Book. Include the Title Page and Annotated Bibliography as described in the NHD Contest Rule Book.

Other requirements: All submissions must have a cover sheet which includes: (1) contact information for the applicant (and for all group members, if applicable); name, best phone number, and mailing address are required. (2) For MS and HS, please include the name and contact information for your teacher/advisor. (3) Indication of the Division you are submitting to (MS, HS, or College). (4) Group projects must include a statement from all group members agreeing to the submission.

The deadline for applications is noon, May 1 (or postmarked by May 1). You may reach out to Education Chair, Holly Lohnes (edasst.sc.mayflower@gmail.com) with any questions. Electronic submissions to edasst.sc.mayflower@gmail.com are encouraged. To arrange a physical submission, please contact the SMD-SC Education Assistant.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESOURCES

Mayflower/Plymouth primary resources

This Google Library lists links to primary documents (available as eBooks through Google Books) which have been transcribed into a typed format. Use these for finding concurrent recorded evidence of the lives of Mayflower passengers and the laws and happenings of their community.

The Mayflower Compact

This booklet prints the earliest known copy of the Mayflower Compact, lists the signers, and discusses the history of the document.

RECOMMENDED READING

This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving by David J. Silverman was reviewed in The Mayflower Quarterly (Spring 2020, Vol 86, No 1, p 39) by Jim Baker, historian and former Director of Research at Plimoth Plantation. “This Land Is Their Land is also an excellent jargon-free source on inter-racial economic and social relations in Plymouth Colony history apart from the common focus on military and political factors. It is an excellent re-examination, soundly based on extensive historical evidence that document the effect colonial expansion, laws, and Christianity had on indigenous cultures of Southern New England. Highly recommended.”