Steven R. Curnow Competition:
Getting Started (Students)
Step One: Getting Background Information
Please remember that research involves many sources and that all should be corroborated. Take notes!
Begin your research by doing some reading about Cornwall. Doing this will give you background on customs, traditions, events and conditions that gave rise to emigration. Good sources are:
- Cornwall Heritage Trust, Cornwall For Ever ~ Kernow Bys Vyken, Dyllansow Truran, Croft Prince, Truro, Cornwall TR4 8EE, 2000. ISBN: 1 85922 145 6.
- Jenkin, John, A First History of Cornwall, Dyllansow Truran, Trevolsta, Trevirgie, Redruth, Cornwall. 1984. ISBN: 0 907566 85 5
- Payton, Philip, A Vision of Cornwall, Alexander Associates, Fowey, Cornwall, PL23 1AR, 2002. ISBN: 1 899526 02 1
- Payton, Philip, Cornwall, A History, Cornwall Editions Ltd., 8 Langurtho Road, Fowey, Cornwall, PL23 1EQ, 2004. ISBN: 1 904880 00 2
On the World Wide Web:
With background on Cornwall, move on to reading and investigating emigration from Cornwall. Possible sources for information on Cornish immigrants and settlements in North America are:
- Rowse, A.L., The Cornish in America, Dyllansow Truran, Trevolsta, Trevirgie, Redruth, Cornwall, 1967, ISBN: 185022 059 X
- Rowe, John, The Hard-Rock Men: Cornish Immigrants and the North American Mining Frontier, Short Run Press Limited, Exeter, Devon EX2 7LW, 1974, Second Printing 2004,
ISBN 1 900147 34 3
Then turn to regional references that give you background on the geographical area you have selected.
The Cornish American Heritage Society website may have a list of possible references for your chosen area. They are available here. Your local librarian is an excellent source for information.
Don’t stop with books and the Web. Interview people who have first-hand knowledge about the topic or area. As always, remember to document and corroborate all sources. Local historians may be able to help here.
Step Two: Settling on a Topic
Review your notes and think about things you found interesting. What topics would you like to develop?
A list of possible topics is below. The list is intended to start you thinking about possibilities. Don’t limit yourself to them.
- Factors that influenced the Cornish to settle in an area
- Artifacts of Cornish settlement
- Music
- Food
- Building styles
- Prominent Cornish families
- Traditions that are still observed
- Labor and management positions and how they affected Cornish workers and their attitudes.
- Family dynamics among Cornish settlers (roles of men; of women; attitudes toward child-rearing)
- Influence and roles of churches or organizations
- Technologies developed by Cornish settlers
Step Three: Pursuing Your Research
Assemble information that you have on a topic. Determine what other sources and information you should have.
What point do you want to make with your research? This will be the thesis (central focus) of your work. What do you want people, who read, hear or view your finished product to understand? What information will you need to support your thesis? How will you organize your work to make your central focus clear?
Step Four: Choosing Your Product or Presentation Method
Certain topics lend themselves well to a specific presentation method. We have suggested some possible methods you may want to use (you do not have to choose from these):
- 20-25 minute Multi-media (Power Point presentation, combined video or CD, etc.)
- Script for one-act dramatic presentation
- Poetry (no more than 100 lines)
- Essay of 1500 to 3500 words
- Musical work (up to 10 minutes duration)
- Dance work (choreography and performance up to 5 minutes duration)
- Work in Cornish dialect
- Photographic essay
- Painting
- Mechanical depiction of technology used by Cornish, e.g. working model of Cornish pump (must be able to be mailed).
Consider: how appropriate a method may be for a topic; what will be interesting to your audience; and how your own talents and interests can apply to making the presentation.
All presentation methods must have accompanying documentation about the sources of information. Be sure to check the rubric to help you organize and back up your product.
Now get going! Remember that the deadline to mail is March 1! We look forward to your entry.
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