38th Annual Margaret Thompson Historical Essay Contest

2022 Theme:  "History is Happening Now... Inspired by Annie Knapp Fitz"

The Los Altos Historical Commission and the Los Altos History Museum are co-sponsoring the 38th annual Margaret Thompson Historical Essay Contest, open to third- through sixth-graders who live in the area and/or attend local schools.

Anna Knapp Fitz, known as Annie, moved from San Francisco to a farm in Los Altos in 1921. A self-taught artist, she loved to sketch scenes from everyday life. When asked what it was like in those bygone days, Annie responded with her paintbrush. Her portraits, historic sites, and landscapes capture the enduring spirit of early Santa Clara Valley and the towns of Los Altos, Mountain View, and Palo Alto. At a party celebrating 50 years living on her farm, she was asked what life had been like a half-century before. Her response is illustrated in the current Los Altos History Museum exhibit, titled "Annie Knapp Fitz Paints: A Legacy in Art." Her sketches, oil paintings, and sculptures, as well as the photographs that inspired her provide us with a picture of our past.

Come to the Los Altos History Museum to view this exhibit by February 6, 2022. You can also view an online tour of Annie's paintings by downloading "The Wondrous World of Annie Knapp Fitz" found on this page: losaltoshistory.org/StudentTours. 

The deadline to submit essays is March 4. For the detailed essay prompt, click here. For the essay rubric, click here. For the cover sheet, click here.

For more information, visit losaltoshistory.org.