The Cape & Islands Historical Association is pleased to present “The Mayflower Stopped Here First,” Cape Cod’s 2020 Symposium.
Scheduled for May 16, 2020, the event commemorates the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower Voyage and landings. The symposium will address different aspects of the immediate and continuing Cape-based influences of that historic voyage, landing and settlement.
Historical novelist William Martin will be the keynote speaker, discussing his recently re-released book, Cape Cod. Martin is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of 11 novels, a PBS documentary, book reviews, magazine articles, and even a cult-classic horror movie.
Solicitations are now open for one-page proposals, which, if selected, will be developed into 10 to 12 page essays to be published and presented during the symposium. A stipend is provided to each presenter.
One-page proposals, either in narrative or outline form, are due by Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, which coincides with the day that the Mayflower left Plymouth, England in 1620. Proposals should be emailed in care of David Martin at info@capecod2020.org.
Proposals will be reviewed and writers will be informed by November 2018 as to which ones have been accepted. Accepted proposal writers will then be invited to prepare 10-12 –page essays, plus illustrations and references, on their specific topic, which will be due in March of 2019. Essays will then be reviewed, and final acceptances for the Symposium will be provided to writers by late spring of 2019. Essay writers will then prepare a final version for editing and then for publication in a booklet by January of 2020 and will be asked to present a summary of their essays at the May 16, 2020 Symposium at the College.
For more information and to receive an official announcement, please contact either David Martin at info@capecod2020.org or Jennifer Williams at jwilliams@ostervillemuseum.org.
The Cape Cod Genealogical Society will publish all papers, which will be made available in book form to symposium attendees.
Topics May Include:
- Reasons Behind the Original Immigration
- Present-Day Evidence of the Impact of Plimoth Colony
- Impact of the Colony on Cape Cod’s Economy, Agriculture, Culture
- Relationships among the English settlers and the Wampanoag
- Or any other topic related to the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower Landing.
Criteria for Evaluation of Proposals and Final Essays
- Relevance to Symposium theme
- Documentation and Factual Foundation
- Thoroughness
- Interest Level for Readers
- Readability
- Mechanical accuracy (spelling, punctuation, grammar)
- Other Comments