Essays bring the signers to life for America 250

Shirley Stirling

If you could go back in time and meet one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence for lunch, who would you choose?

A well-known figure like John Hancock or Benjamin Franklin? Or a lesser-known but intriguing character, such as Button Gwinnett, who later died in a pistol duel, or Edward Rutledge, age 26 when he signed the Declaration of Independence — the youngest signer?

The question proved a fitting challenge during the United States semiquincentennial year. Recently, 40 students in grades six and seven at Griffin Middle School accepted that challenge.

After researching their chosen signer and writing an essay, they entered the annual American History Essay Contest sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Sixth-grader Livie Dean won first place locally and went on to win at the state level as well. Her essay took the form of a first-person interview with Thomas Jefferson.

Writing as a young cub reporter preparing to meet Jefferson, she described her outfit with charming detail:

“I choose my favorite dress — small light blue checkers with white ruffles around the neck and dark blue buttons. I got it from my neighbor a year ago. I hope Thomas Jefferson cannot tell it’s second-hand.”

Seventh-grader Julien Keeslar earned first place locally and at the state level after researching the lesser-known signer James Smith. His creative essay was written in the first person as a conversation between himself — an attorney — and Smith, a fellow lawyer whom he imagined as an old classmate. Keeslar’s approach revealed James Smith's biography in an engaging and memorable way.

Their teacher, Mrs. Suzanne Stottlemyre, is an experienced instructor, known for her innovations and, in 2020, was named the NSDAR Washington State History Teacher of the Year.

Her approach is to assign the question and essay with all its details as a classroom assignment. Once complete, any/all interested students may, at their option, enter the contest.

Dean and Keeslar will be honored at the 123rd Washington State Society conference luncheon this spring in the Seattle area, where each will receive a medal and monetary award. Their essays — the top entries from each of their grade levels in Washington state — are now competing nationally. Read their essays here on the Griffin School website.

The students who win at the national level will be invited to attend the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Continental Congress in Washington, D.C. this summer, at Memorial Continental Hall, one of the world's largest building complexes owned and maintained by women.

The national American History Essay Contest is offered annually in Thurston County for grades five through eight, either through a participating class or on an individual basis.

Each year, a new question is posed. A similar contest is offered to high school students.

For information about the next contest time frame, please write to the Sacajawea Chapter in Olympia by clicking here.

For teachers interested in working this into their classroom curriculum, the new information on both programs will be released before the end of the school year.

Shirley Stirling, of Lacey, writes about good things people in Thurston County are doing. If you'd like to nominate someone to be profiled, contact her at shirley@theJOLTnews.com or comment below.