15.13 Folders on Literary Contests

Between the years just prior to World War One and just before World War Two, a number of efforts involving contests were made to enhance literacy and school comradeship in Loudoun.  Except for three examples, what we have found so far was only for white students, though two reports cast some doubts.  The rules for many of these contests said they were for all schools, so it’s possible that participation by “colored” students was broader than suggested by first examination of the documents.   In other words, they might have participated, or perhaps there was a parallel system for African-Americans

There was also a National Essay Contest, which in 1957 was led by President Eisenhower, then the tenth contest.  It was sponsored by the President’s National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week Committee.  Was there a relationship between these contests?  There have been many of this name, such as one run by the Foreign Service Association in 2017 that deals with foreign affairs.  The contest in 1958 was the only contest of that name sponsored by the Federal government and sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principal and the National Catholic Educational Association.

We are not certain but doubtful that African-Americans participated in the1923-1933 Literary Contests; however, it’s possible. Certainly this happened in other states George Lipscomb in Who’s Who in Colored America, (1941-1944) pg. 326,

  • 1923/24 Literary Contest.   Purcellville, 9/13/1923.  Really about public speaking. This was part of a State-Wide competition and Loudoun was the only county in the 8th Congressional District eligible for state finals.
  • 1924/25 Literary Contest.   All we have are the winners for the finals held April 25, 1924.
  • 1925/26  (no records)
  • 1926/27 Rule Book says on page 2 (as do the other rule books) that the contests were open to all schools.  Was that true?  Contests were held March 1-April 1, 1926, beginning with preliminary contests and proceeding to finals.
  • 1927/28  (no records)
  • 1928/29 Rule Book mimics the 1926/27 version.  Dates are unclear.  Many have been penciled out.
  • 1929/30.  Rule book the same.  Dates were Nov 10-22, 1929.   We have the winners for the finals held on November 20-22, 1929.  Covered public speaking, debate, recitation and spelling and literary prizes.  High School and graded school.  No “colored” seen.
  • 1930/31.  Rule book the same.  Dates were Nov 10-21, 1930.  We have a list of winners; but no dates.
  • 1931/32.  Rule book the same.  Dates were Nov 16, Dec 11, 1931.  We have a list of winners; but not dates.  High School and 1 and 2 room school houses.  Public speaking and Report of Committee on costs.  Was also discussed in 4.2  1931 White Teacher Institute.
  • 1932/33 .  County finals were held on April 14, 1932 and were described as part of the 9th National Oratorical Contest and the 7th International Oratorical Contest.  Finals were held in Washington, DC May 21. The winner of the National participated in International in Washington with representatives from North and South America, as well as Europe.  The goal was to promote interest in government and international understanding.  Was co-sponsored by many newspapers and the Bureau of Education, the Department of the Interior.

Contests involving Black Students

  • 1942 Leisure Literary Contest, for “Negro” students.  Records show the winners.  See also 4.1 Supervision: Elementary, White and Negro, Vol 1 of 5.
  • 1943 Leisure Literary Contest, for “Negro” students.  Records show the winners.  See also 4.1 Supervision: Elementary, White and Negro, Vol 1 of 5.  1946 Leisure Literary Contest for “Negro” students.  Records show the winners.  See also 4.1 Supervision: Elementary, White and Negro, Vol 1 of 5.

1947 Atomic Essay Contest.   This was not part of the literary contests, but is included here because the contest required writing skills.  The League of Women Voters was formed in Loudoun County in 1920 (Loudoun Times Staff 1920) but went dormant during the 1930’s like many other chapters in Virginia, due to the depression.  In 1946, the Loudoun group was reborn as the Loudoun Provisional League of Women Voters and in 1947 sponsored an essay contest on Atomic power. Students from all High Schools including Douglass were asked to write a paper on “What Atomic Energy Means to Loudoun County.”  Virginia Johnson of Douglass won honorable mention “for an essay which the judges considered very good.  Her essay was not eligible for a prize because illness prevented two of four entrants from completing their papers.”   More than half the schools of the county had seen slide films on the subject (Loudoun News Staff 1947)

To see the material, ask the Edwin Washington Project for access to box 15.13 

Project HQ is in the Douglass High School Building, 407 E. Market Street, Suite 106, Leesburg, Va 20176.