2025 Essay Contest

Essay Subject

The Civil War Museum of Philadelphia (CWMP) invites eligible entrants (See Eligibility) to

submit essays covering any subject (battles, leaders, society, legislation, military, politics,

economy, ancestry, etc.) related to the American Civil War era from Fort Sumter (April 1861) to

Appomattox (April 1865).

Word Count Limit

Essays are limited to a total of 1,500 words. Essays with word counts above this limit will be

disqualified. Works cited are not included with the word count.

Prizes

Winner: $1,500.00 (One thousand, five hundred dollars)

Honorable Mention: $500.00 (Five hundred dollars)

Eligibility

ALL High School students as of the Essay Submission Deadline (See below) are eligible.

Font and Page Style

Essays must be submitted in 12-point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with one-inch

margins at the top, bottom, and sides. Submitted in PDF format.

Essay Email Subject Line must indicate: CWMP Essay Contest-Applicant First Initial. Applicant

Last Name-Essay Name.

Example: CWMP Essay Content – J. Doe – “Philadelphia and the Underground Railroad”

Essay PDF file must match subject line.

Organization

Essays must have an introduction, body, and conclusion with a clearly stated, well-developed

thesis statement supported by historical evidence.

Works Cited

Essays should be free of any margin notes but should cite sources as necessary.

Essay Submission Deadline

Eligible applicants may submit their essays beginning on July 15, 2024 via the CWMP website @essaysubmissions2024@civilwarmuseumphila.org.

Contest deadline was extended until February 17, 2025 (President’s Day).

Reading Fee

A $20.00 (Twenty dollars) reading fee is required, per entry.  This should be remitted using the Venmo code provided on this page.

Judging

The CWMP Board of Governors and invited guests will select a pool of finalists from which an

eminent historian will choose the Winner and Honorable Mention. Essays will be evaluated for

their historical rigor, the clarity of their style, their use of sources, and their qualities of

imagination and investigation. The winner will be determined only after final judging is

complete.

Additional consideration will be accorded to essays that feature historical figures and events

with ties to the City of Philadelphia and/or use of primary source material (e.g. letters,

artifacts, photographs, newspaper articles).

Essays determined to have used Artificial Intelligence or plagiarism will be disqualified from

the contest.

Essay Winner

The CWMP Essay Contest Winner and Honorable Mention will be notified and announced no

later than 5:00 p.m. ET on April 9, 2025.

The Essay Winner and Honorable Mention essays will be posted on the CWMP website.