Awards Requirements

Each year the Society awards six prizes for various types of historical publication and work furthering the understanding and history of the federal government: the Henry Adams and George Pendleton Prizes (Books), the James Madison and Charles Thomson Prizes (Articles or Essays), the Thomas Jefferson Prize (Documentary Edition or Research Aid), and the John Wesley Powell Prize (Historic Preservation or Historical Display).

The other three prizes, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Award, the Maryellen Trautman Award, and the Roger R. Trask Award, recognize service to the profession not necessarily associated with publication, historic preservation, or public interpretive display.

The most prestigious service award, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Award, given every three years, recognizes outstanding contributions to the study of the federal government’s history. A recipient of this award does not need to be a society member.

The Maryellen Trautman Award recognizes outstanding service to the Society.

The Roger R. Trask Award honors historians whose work reflects the unique importance of federal history and the mission of the Society. The annual award winner delivers the plenary address or, alternatively, participates in the plenary panel at the Society’s annual meeting; his or her remarks are subsequently published in the Society’s online journal, Federal History; and he or she receives an honorarium of $200 along with a certificate of recognition.

Annual Prizes: General Requirements for all Six Prizes

Authors, editors, publishers, members of the Society, or others who have knowledge of the eligible works may submit entries to the committee members listed for the specific award. Submissions should be received by November 15, but galley or other proofs of works to be published between November 15 and December 31 will be accepted with the understanding that copies of the published work will be sent to the appropriate awards chair as soon as possible, but no later than January 10. General questions on the award program or policy may be addressed to Henry J. Gwiazda, SHFG Awards Committee Chair: telephone 301–718–8306, or email HJGwiazda@yahoo.com.

Specifics for each prize are as follows.

I. Henry Adams Prize (Book)

This annual award is given for an outstanding major publication on the federal government’s history. Entries may be narrative histories, edited collections of articles or essays, or any other published historical work of comparable scope. The Adams Prize is given to an individual or to principal collaborators. Entries are judged for value in furthering the understanding and history of the federal government; quality and thoroughness of research; style and appropriateness of presentation; suitability and rigor of methodology; and use of original and primary materials.

In addition to the General Requirements, nominated works must have been published in the calendar year immediately preceding the Spring awards. One copy of the publication, accompanied by a brief letter stating the qualifications and merits of the nominated work, should be mailed to each member of the Adams/Pendleton Committee by November 15:

  1. Dr. Keir Sterling, 7104 Wheeler Road, Richmond, VA, 23229–6939;
  2. Dr. Nancy W. Collins, Columbia University, 420 West 118th Street, MC 3310, Office 1204, New York, NY, 10027;
  3. Dr. Roger Launius, 12622 Kornett Lane, Bowie, MD 20715–2866.

The Adams Prize commemorates the author of the classic multi–volume History of the United States during the Administrations of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Adams completed his scholarly work in Washington, where he maintained close contact with the successors of federal officials whose activities he analyzed in his History.

II. George Pendleton Prize (Book)

This annual award is given for an outstanding major publication, on the federal government’s history produced by or for a federal history program. The Pendleton Prize is given to an individual author or to principal collaborators. The type of work eligible and the criteria that judges will apply for quality are identical to those for the Adams Prize. The Pendleton Prize has the additional requirement that the publication nominated must have been produced by a federal historian(s) or for a federal history program, including history offices in the federal agencies and history-related programs in other federal entities.

In addition to the General Requirements, the nominated work must have been published in the calendar year immediately preceding the Spring awards. One copy of the publication, accompanied by a brief letter stating the qualifications and merits of the work, should be mailed to each member of the Adams/Pendleton Committeeby November 15:

  1. Dr. Keir Sterling, 7104 Wheeler Road Richmond, VA, 23229–6939
  2. Dr. Roger Launius, 12622 Kornett Lane, Bowie, MD 20715–2866;
  3. Dr. Nancy W. Collins, Columbia University, 420 West 118th Street, MC 3310, Office 1204, New York, NY, 10027.

The Pendleton Prize commemorates Ohio Senator George H. Pendleton, sponsor of the 1883 civil service reform act that bears his name.

III. James Madison Prize (Published Article or Essay)

This annual award is given for excellence in an article or essay that deals with any aspect of the federal government’s history. Entries are judged for value in furthering the understanding and history of the federal government; quality and thoroughness or research; style and appropriateness or presentation; suitability and rigor of methodology; and use of original and primary materials.

In addition to the General Requirements above, the work must have been published in the calendar year immediately preceding the Spring awards. The entry deadline is November 15.

Mail one copy of the publication, accompanied by a brief letter commenting on the merits of the work, to each of the following committee members:

  1. Dr. Larry DeWitt, Social Security Administration, Room 36 Altmeyer, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235;
  2. Michele Lyons, 875 Hunting Lake Drive, Huntingtown, MD 20639;
  3. Darrell Lempke, 9207 Chanute Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20814.

The Madison Prize commemorates the principal author of The Federalist, some of the most significant essays on the nature of the federal government.

IV. Charles Thomson Prize (Published Article or Essay)

This annual award is given for excellence in an article or essay that deals with any aspect of the federal government’s history written in or for a federal history program. Submission requirements and the criteria that judges will apply for quality are identical to those for the Madison Prize with the additional requirement that the nominated article or essay must have been prepared by a federal historian or for a federal history program, including history offices in the federal agencies and history-related programs in other federal entities.

In addition to the General Requirements above, the article or essay must have been published in the calendar year immediately preceding the Spring awards. The entry deadline is November 15.

Mail one copy of the publication, accompanied by a brief letter commenting on the merits of the work, to each of the following committee members:

  1. Dr. Larry DeWitt, Social Security Administration, Room 36 Altmeyer, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235;
  2. Michele Lyons, 875 Hunting Lake Drive, Huntingtown, MD 20639;
  3. Darrell Lempke, 9207 Chanute Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20814.

The Thomson Prize commemorates the secretary of Congress from 1774–1789, America’s first archivist.

V. Thomas Jefferson Prize (Documentary Editions and Research Tools)

The Jefferson Prize alternates annually to recognize excellence in documentary editions and research tools and will be for a work published (or, if unpublished, completed) within the two calendar years immediately preceding the spring awards.

The award for a documentary edition will recognize the editor(s) of a documentary history project, publishing either a single volume or one or more volumes, that contributes significantly to our understanding of the history of the federal government. Entries, which are submitted by November 15 in even–numbered years, will be judged on the editorial methodology employed, including accuracy of transcription, relevance and usefulness of annotation, selection and arrangement of documents, and indexing.

The award for research tools recognizes the creator(s) of an outstanding research aid (e.g., inventory, index, finding aid, biographical directory, bibliography) that facilitates the work of those researching the history of the federal government. Entries, which are submitted by November 15 in odd–numbered years, will be judged on success in furthering the understanding and history of the federal government, style and appropriateness of presentation, content, organization, and ease of use.

Electronic documentary editions and research tools will also be evaluated for solid technological capabilities and performance, high quality of design, and innovative strategies or techniques.

A copy of each entry with a letter briefly stating its qualification and merits should be sent to each of the Jefferson Committee members by November 15:

  1. Richa Wilson, U.S. Forest Service Intermountain Region, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401
  2. Annette Amerman, Marine Corps History Division, 3079 Moreell Avenue, Quantico, VA 22134
  3. Fred Stielow, 1235 Boucher Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403

The Thomas Jefferson Prize commemorates the third president of the United States and the author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was a firm believer in the study of history and the preservation of historical records.

VI. John Wesley Powell Prize (Historical Display and Historic Preservation)

The award alternates annually in recognizing excellence in the fields of historical display and historic preservation. Entries submitted in 2009 should be for Historic Preservation projects completed in 2008–2009.

The award for historic preservation is given for achievement in preservation of records, artifacts, buildings, historical sites, and other historical entities. The award for historical display is given for any form of interpretive historical presentation including, but not limited to, museum exhibits, historical films, CDs, web sites, or multi–media displays. The Powell prize is given to either an individual or to principal collaborators for a single major effort completed within the two calendar years immediately preceding the year in which the award is announced. The winner will be announced in the Spring at the annual meeting of the Society.

Requirements for the Prize Eligible Entrants

Criteria for Evaluation

Submission Requirements

The award is made solely on the basis of the materials submitted to the Powell Committee. All nominations must include the following information:

Electronic submissions must be in a Word/PDF format and all submitted formats, disks, CDs, films, or other audiovisual material must be playable on standard audio–visual equipment (eg, CD/DVD/Video players) or the computer without additional software. No email submissions are acceptable. Websites should be submitted on a disk with the relevant url provided in the accompanying written documentation.

All material submitted becomes the property of the Society.

Submission of Entries and Deadline

Please send a copy of each nomination to each of the committeee members by November 15.

  1. Christine Pfaff, Office of Program and Policy Services, Mail Code 84-53000, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 25007, Denver CO 80225
  2. Lin Ezell, National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, VA 22172–1938
  3. Jennifer Marland, 10538 Faulkner Ridge Circle, Columbia, MD 21044

The Powell Prize commemorates the explorer and federal administrator whose work demonstrated early recognition of the importance of historic preservation and historical display.