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Senior Essay Eyed for Excellence in History Day Competition
Senior Molly Taylor is receiving recognition for a recent essay on the failure of the 1937 Exposition Internationale to build bridges between nations and assuage culminating pre-World War II tensions. After being selected as a finalist of the Chicago Metro History Fair, she is advancing to the statewide Illinois History Day competition.
Each year, IHD sees thousands of 6th–12th grade students from around the state who are producing independent projects that focus on Illinois’ long and varied history in a wide range of categories, including research papers, exhibits, websites, documentaries and performances.
During the first semester of this academic year, Taylor had been working with history teacher Sue Elliott on an independent study on World’s Fairs. With the culmination of the semester, Elliot steered Taylor towards the IHD as a way of sharing all she had learned.
Describing the origins of her lauded essay, Taylor said, “As I researched the different expositions, Paris 1937 fascinated me for its foreshadowing of World War II. My essay explores the causes and consequences of the exposition’s failure to unite countries, instead fostering international competition and deepening ideological divisions.”
Taylor enjoyed the process of researching and developing her essay. “The most exciting part of the project has been finding primary sources—old photos, newspaper articles, government documents—that illuminate the exposition from the perspective of planners and fairgoers. Working on this essay has made me a better researcher and writer, and I’m really grateful for the opportunity to pursue my interest and the support I’ve received from my teachers, specifically Ms. Elliott.”
Congratulations to Molly Taylor! All are welcome to read Taylor’s essay here.
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.