The Margaret Chase Smith Library is pleased to announce the theme of its tenth annual Margaret Chase Smith Essay Contest. In light of the recent anti-discrimination referendum vote in Maine and debates over two Supreme Court nominees, we invite Maine high school seniors to submit essays explaining their views on the role the government should play in protecting and extending civil rights.

Senator Smith served in Congress during the emergence of the African-American civil rights and women’s liberation movements. She was an especially strong advocate of equal opportunities for women. In 1950 she wrote: “We have heard a great deal about civil rights and no discrimination against anyone because of race, color or creed. I would add one thing to that no-discrimination code of civil rights – sex. I say that there should not be any discrimination against any person because of race, color, creed – or sex.”

The library will award the following prizes to the top entries: $500 for first place, $250 for second place, $125 for third place, as well as five $25 honorable mention prizes. Essays are due by April 3. Prizes will be announced on May 1. to submit entries or for more information about the contest, please contact David Richards at the Margaret Chase Smith Library, 56 Norridgewock Ave., Skowhegan, Maine, 04976 or by telephone at 474-7133.