As part of an ongoing effort to promote Jefferson County history, the Jefferson County Historical Commission is accepting submissions for its 2009 Annual Writers' Awards.

The contest is open to all, and the commission will accept entries in both youth and adult writing categories. To qualify as a youth, a writer must be age 17 or younger.

Submissions for the contest must be original, unpublished works that relate directly to some aspect of the factual history of Jefferson County. Papers may not exceed 2,500 words, excluding endnotes, footnotes and bibliographies.

A three-judge panel will evaluate entries, which must be postmarked by May 1, and mailed to:

Writers' Award Contest
Jefferson County Historical Commission
c/o Archives & Records Management Department
100 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 1500
Golden, CO 80419-1500

Winners will be notified by June 15, 2009, and they will be honored at the Historical Commission's annual Hall of Fame ceremony in the fall. First- and second-place winners in the adult writing long essay category will receive $300 and $150 awards, and first- and second-place winners in the adult writing short essay category will receive $200 and $100 awards. Youth winners will receive $150, $100 and $75 awards. Winning entries may also be published in Historically Jeffco, an annual magazine published by the Jefferson County Historical Commission.

To obtain an entry form or find out more, contact Janet Oldham by telephone at 303-271-8447 or by email at joldham@jeffco.us.

Visit the Jefferson County Web site to find out more information about the Jefferson County Historical Commission.