Introduction

The Shirley S. and Bernard Kazon Collection in Special Collections is launching an annual “academic prize” to promote student engagement with the collection, in line with the donor’s wishes.  The prize is for any creative, original scholarly work using items from the collection, produced by a USM undergraduate student. This may be a written essay, an exhibition, a podcast, or any scholarly project.

  1. Eligibility:
    1. Undergraduate students currently enrolled in USM.
    2. Any creative work that uses at least one item from the Kazon Collection and includes original research. Only one submission per student.
    3. Entries can be class assignments or work by students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, or any academic internships.
    4. By submitting, students grant the library a non-exclusive license to use their work.
  2. Submissions:
    1. Students may submit one project per year. All submissions must include:
    2. Project (academic paper, or creative work)
    3. Self-reflection on your project
    4. Bibliography
    5. Submissions should be sent to the Coordinator of Special Collections (see website for submission information).
  3. Judging:
    1. The Committee, appointed by the Coordinator of Special Collections, will be composed of four faculty members from academic departments related to the intellectual content of the Kazon Collection and the Coordinator of Special Collections
    2. Faculty will serve two-year, staggered terms.
    3. See attached rubric for criteria for judging submissions.
  4. Awards:
    1. There will be two prizes: 1st prize, $1,000; honorable mention, $500.
    2. The award ceremony will take place in the third week of April.
    3. The winner and honorable mention will both give brief presentations of their research.
    4. A speaker, either internal or external to USM, chosen by the Steering Committee, will deliver a keynote address.

PRIZE TIMELINE

Second week in September                                          Kazon Academic Prize Announced

Second Friday in March by 4 pm                               Deadline for entries

Second Monday in April                                  Deadline to privately contact winners.

Award Ceremony                                                 During the third week in April.

Bernard Kazon, vice president of Eastland Shoe Corp., collected political works of early America as well as documents related to slavery, sparked by a gift of political biographies from his wife, Shirley, and daughter. The Kazons donated their collection to the University of Southern Maine in 1997.  The Collection consists of printed items documenting American political history from the 18th-20th centuries, with the bulk dating from the 19th century concerning slavery and the Civil War, including books, pamphlets, and broadsides.

The LC call number for books in this collection includes the suffix Kazon.

Search the Shirley S. and Bernard Kazon Americana Collection with LibrarySearch.

Browse selected digitized items from the Shirley S. and Bernard Kazon Americana Collection on USM Digital Commons.

ASSESSMENT RUBRIC

Criteria: Using a scale of 1-5     

5 – Exceptional: Advanced, insightful, and exceeds expectations
4 – Strong: Thorough and well-developed
3 – Proficient: Meets expectations with adequate development
2 – Emerging: Partial understanding, limited depth
1 – Limited: Minimal effort or unclear understanding

FOR JUDGING THE PROJECT ITSELF

1.      Engagement with Kazon Collection: Sources are central to the project and interpreted with a strong understanding and application.

  • Demonstrates deep understanding of sources
  • Integrates sources meaningfully into the project
  • Interprets materials with strong contextual awareness

2.      Original Research and Historical Insight;

a. Research Depth

  • Uses relevant scholarly and primary sources

b. Analysis and Use of Evidence

  • Critically analyzes evidence rather than describing it
  • Connects evidence clearly to arguments
  • Original Interpretation
  • Presents a unique, well-supported perspective
  • Demonstrates independent thinking grounded in research

 3.      Creativity and/or Effectiveness of Format;

a. Originality and Experimentation

  • Uses innovative or creative approaches to research and/ or presentation

b. Communication and Clarity

  • Uses strong vocabulary and clear organization
  • Effectively conveys ideas to the audience
  • Cites sources accurately and consistently using appropriate citation style (eg. Chicago, APA, MLA, etc.)

c. Transformative Impact

  • Engages the audience meaningfully
  • Demonstrates the ability to provoke thought, emotion, or new understanding

4.      Demonstrates the broader significance and impact of the American socio-political experience.

  • Clearly connects the project to the American socio-political experience
  • Demonstrates relevance beyond the immediate topic
  • Explains why the work matters in a larger historical or contemporary context

JUDGING THE REFLECTION

 5.      Insightfulness of Reflection

  • Reflects thoughtfully on the research process and learning
  • Demonstrates self-awareness and intellectual growth
    Connects personal insights to broader themes
  • If appropriate, cites sources accurately and consistently using the appropriate citation style (eg. Chicago, APA, MLA, etc.)