Students' research rewarded

To encourage students to use historical records, the New York State Archives, a program of the State Education Department, is sponsoring the 14th annual Student Research Awards. The contest is open to all New York students in grades 4-12 who use historical records in their research projects.

Three awards are presented each year: grades 4-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12. The awards consist of a framed certificate, a check for $100 from an endowment established by Regent Emerita Laura Chodos and her husband, Robert Chodos, an invitation to have lunch with the Regents in Albany, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the State Archives.

Eligible projects are traditional research papers; exhibits; audiovisual productions; performances; works of fiction or drama; research for a historical marker, property or district; and computer-based entries, such as websites or Powerpoint presentations.

Julie Daniels, coordinator of the awards program, explained that in order for an entry to be competitive, a substantial portion of the research should be based on historical records from archives, museums, historical societies, libraries, local governments, or other organizations. She offered some examples of historical records: original letters, diaries, and photographs; meeting minutes; police and court records; ledgers, census records; and wills.

The deadline for entry is June 1. For information about this year's program, click on "Education" at www.archives.nysed.gov, call (518) 474-6926 or email archedu@mail.nysed.gov.