2023 Award Winners | 2024 Award Winners | Nomination Forms
Award Categories and Guidelines
AHA STUDENT-TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP
Grant Program for Students
The Arkansas Historical Association is offering a grant of up to $300 to facilitate attendance at AHA’s annual conference of a student or teacher from each of the state’s congressional districts. Applicants for this scholarship may include either: (A) undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled in an Arkansas institution of higher learning: or (B) K-12 history and social studies teachers. Funds may be used for lodging, transportation, meals, and registration.
Conference Theme
The 83rd Arkansas Historical Association conference will be held April 25-27, 2024, in Heber Springs. The theme is “Picturing Arkansas: Depictions of Its People in Art, Photography, Literature, Music, and Media.”
How to Apply
Interested applicants must provide a letter stating how the conference theme and attendance would benefit them, along with a separate letter of support from a faculty member (for students) or a school administrator (for teachers).
Mail the application to:
AHA Student/Teacher Scholarship Program
Arkansas Historical Association
416 N. Campus Drive, MAIN 416
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Or email the application to renwickh@uark.edu using the subject heading “AHA Student/Teacher Scholarship Program.”
Application deadline is February 1, 2024.
Dr. C. Calvin Smith Scholarship
Grant Program for Underrepresented Students
The Dr. C. Calvin Smith Scholarship funds attendance at the Arkansas Historical Association’s annual conference by a student from a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the AHA’s membership. The scholarship, worth $250, is bestowed annually on a student at an institution of higher learning in Arkansas who is studying history or a related field. Funds may be used for lodging, transportation, meals, and registration. Scholarship recipients will also be granted a complimentary membership in AHA.
The 83rd Arkansas Historical Association conference will be held April 25-27, 2024, in Heber Springs. The theme is “Picturing Arkansas: Depictions of Its People in Art, Photography, Literature, Music, and Media.” There will be presentations on a broad array of topics, including professional sports, outdoor recreation, arts and crafts, and hunting and fishing.
How to Apply
Applicants may self-nominate or be nominated by another person. Applications shall include a brief biographical statement, a current plan of study, and a statement regarding the applicant’s interest in Arkansas history.
Mail the application to:
Dr. C. Calvin Smith Scholarship Program
Arkansas Historical Association
416 N. Campus Drive, MAIN 416
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Or email the application to renwickh@uark.edu using the subject heading “Dr. C. Calvin Smith Scholarship.”
Application deadline is February 1, 2024.
John William Graves Book Award
The John William Graves Book Award was established in 2015 and is presented biennially for the best book-length historical study (nonfiction) whose primary focus is any aspect of the history of race relations in Arkansas or of the history of African Americans in Arkansas. It is given in honor of historian John William Graves, who received his B.A. and M.A. in history from the University of Arkansas in 1964 and 1967 and his Ph.D. in history from the University of Virginia in 1978. He is a past president of the Arkansas Historical Association and the author of Town and Country: Race Relations in an Urban-Rural Context, Arkansas, 1865-1905, published by the University of Arkansas Press.
The inaugural John William Graves Book Award was given in 2016 and consisted of a prize of $1,000 and a certificate to be presented to the author at the annual conference of the Arkansas Historical Association. The publisher of the award-winning book shall be honored with a certificate of merit and a grateful letter of transmittal.
Eligible works include book-length historical studies written in English and published in the two calendar years preceding the annual conference. Those interested in entering the competition should submit one copy of their work to each member of the awards committee by January 1, 2024. It is the applicant’s or publisher’s responsibility to pay shipping charges. Entries will not be returned but instead retained by committee members, who are serving without compensation. No late submissions will be accepted.
For a list of the judges to whom the entries should be sent contact:
Arkansas Historical Association
416 N. Campus Drive, MAIN 416
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479/575-5884
E-mail: renwickh@uark.edu
J. G. Ragsdale Book Award
Since 2002, the Arkansas Historical Association has annually presented the J. G. Ragsdale Book Award in Arkansas History for the best book-length historical study (nonfiction) of any aspect of Arkansas history. The 2024 winner will receive a prize of $1,000 and a certificate. This award is given in honor of J. G. Ragsdale, a 1919 graduate of the University of Arkansas. Ragsdale was a founding member of the Arkansas Historical Association and chaired the board of trustees at the University of Arkansas. The award will be presented on April 26 at the annual conference of the Arkansas Historical Association at Heber Springs. The publisher will be honored with a certificate of merit and a grateful letter of transmittal.
Eligible works include book-length historical studies written in English and published in the two calendar years preceding the Arkansas Historical Association’s annual conference in April. The 2024 award is for books published in 2022 and 2023. One copy of each entry must be received by each award committee member by January 15, 2024. It is the publisher’s or applicant’s responsibility to pay the postage for each book. Entries will not be returned but will be retained by committee members, who are serving without compensation. No late submissions will be accepted.
Entries, clearly labeled “2024 Ragsdale Award,” must be mailed directly to the judges. For a list of the current judges, contact:
Arkansas Historical Association
416 N. Campus Drive, MAIN 416
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479/575-5884
E-mail: renwickh@uark.edu
James H. Atkinson Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Arkansas History
A leader in Arkansas history education, James H. Atkinson was a founder and twice president of the Pulaski County Historical Society and editor of its journal for over ten years. For more than twenty years, he served on the editorial staff of the Arkansas Historical Quarterly, and in 1952 he became president of the Arkansas Historical Association. He was also chairman of the Arkansas History Commission for eight of the twelve years that he served on its board. For these enduring contributions, his title, “Mr. Arkansas History,” was more than well-deserved. This award for Excellence in the Teaching of Arkansas History is given in his honor.
Any elementary or secondary teacher who teaches a course in Arkansas history is eligible for the award. The winner will receive a framed certificate and a check for $1,000 at the annual conference of the Association in Heber Springs on April 26. The winner will be notified prior to the meeting.
To be considered, an applicant must return four completed copies of the official entry form to the Arkansas Historical Association office by March 1, 2024. Any application received after that date will not be processed.
Please contact Renwick Hudson, Business Manager, for a copy of the entry form at:
Arkansas Historical Association
416 N. Campus Drive, MAIN 416
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479/575-5884
E-mail: renwickh@uark.edu
Lucille Westbrook and Violet B. Gingles History Awards
The Arkansas Historical Association announces the Violet B. Gingles and Lucille Westbrook Local History competitions for 2024. To be eligible, entries must be postmarked no later than February 1, 2024. The award will be presented on April 26 at AHA’s annual conference at Heber Springs.
The Westbrook Local History Award, which consists of $1,000 and a framed certificate, is presented for the best manuscript article on a local Arkansas topic. The article must deal with some phase of neighborhood, city, county, or regional history or some person associated with local Arkansas history. Edited documents and memoirs will be considered for this award.
The Gingles Award of $500 and a framed certificate is presented to the person who writes the best manuscript article on any Arkansas history topic. The article can deal with any phase of the history of the state or with any individual connected with its past.
Entries must not have been submitted elsewhere or published previously. Anyone, whether a professional or an amateur historian, is eligible to submit a manuscript. A panel of judges will determine the placement of entries in either the Westbrook or Gingles category. An entry will not be considered for both prizes, and the Arkansas Historical Association reserves the right not to award one or both of the prizes in a given year.
Manuscripts should be no longer than thirty-five pages and must be documented. Text, including quotations and notes, should be double-spaced. Notes should be numbered consecutively. Since manuscripts are evaluated anonymously, only the full title of the article should appear at the top of the first page of the manuscript. On a separate page the following information should be included: title, author’s name, complete address, and telephone numbers or email address.
Entries must be submitted in triplicate. Photocopies must be clear and easily readable. All essays will be considered for publication in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly. If the essay is not published, the author will be free to pursue other opportunities. One copy of each entry will be placed in Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville. Submission of an entry presumes permission for researcher use.
Entries should be sent by the February 1, 2024 deadline to:
Arkansas Historical Association
416 N. Campus Drive, MAIN 416
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Susannah DeBlack Award
The Susannah DeBlack Award honors books that introduce young readers to Arkansas history. It is bestowed upon the person(s) who submits the best book or series of books for young readers (grades K-8) on an Arkansas history-related topic published within the preceding two years.
The Susannah DeBlack Award for 2024, which consists of a $250 prize and a framed certificate, will be announced on April 26, at the AHA’s annual conference in Heber Springs. Those interested in entering the competition should submit three copies of their work by February 1, 2024. It is the applicant’s or publisher’s responsibility to pay shipping charges. Entries will not be returned but instead retained by awards committee members. No late submissions will be accepted.
This award has been established through the generosity of Thomas, Susan, and Susannah DeBlack.
For a list of the judges to whom the entries should be sent contact:
Arkansas Historical Association
416 N. Campus Drive, MAIN 416
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479/575-5884
E-mail: renwickh@uark.edu
James L. Foster and Billy W. Beason Award
The Arkansas Historical Association announces the James L. Foster and Billy W. Beason Award competition. Entries must be postmarked no later than January 15, 2024 to be eligible.
The James L. Foster and Billy W. Beason Award, which consists of $500 and a framed certificate, will be presented for the best master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation that addresses some aspect of Arkansas’s history.
Thesis and dissertation advisors or sponsoring history departments are invited to submit students’ work for consideration. The winner will be determined by a three-person panel selected by the Arkansas Historical Association’s president and will be announced at its annual conference at Heber Springs on April 26.
Entries must be submitted in triplicate. Photocopies must be clear and easily readable. Since submissions will be evaluated anonymously, only the full title of the work should appear at the top of the first page. On a separate page, contact information for the author, advisor, and department should be given.
Entries, plainly labeled “Foster-Beason Award,” should be sent by the January 15, 2024 deadline to:
Arkansas Historical Association
416 N. Campus Drive, MAIN 416
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
The James L. Foster and Billy W. Beason Award has been established through the initiative of Dr. Buck Foster, and funded by the Foster and Beason families to promote the scholarly study of the state’s history.
The NEARA Award for Exemplary Archival Research
The Arkansas Historical Association is pleased to announce the 2024 NEARA Award competition, established to encourage primary document research at the Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives (NEARA) in Powhatan. The cash prize of $1,000 and a framed certificate will be presented for the best manuscript article using archival records from NEARA, particularly the Lawrence County territorial papers (1815-1836), some of which have been posted online. Entries must not have been submitted elsewhere or published previously.
Any historian, professional or amateur, is eligible to submit a manuscript. The winner will be determined by a three-person panel consisting of representatives of NEARA and the Arkansas Historical Association and will be announced at the AHA’s annual conference in Heber Springs on April 26. AHA reserves the right not to award a prize in a given year.
Manuscripts should be no longer than thirty-five pages and must be documented. Text, including quotations and notes, should be double-spaced. Footnotes should be numbered consecutively. Because manuscripts are evaluated anonymously, only the full title of the article should appear on top of the first page of the manuscript. On a separate page include the following information: title, author’s name, complete physical mailing address, telephone numbers, and e-mail address.
Manuscripts should be no longer than thirty-five pages and must be documented. Text, including quotations and notes, should be double-spaced. Footnotes should be numbered consecutively. Because manuscripts are evaluated anonymously, only the full title of the article should appear on top of the first page of the manuscript. On a separate page include the following information: title, author’s name, complete physical mailing address, telephone numbers, and e-mail address.
Entries must be submitted in triplicate; photocopies must be clear and easily readable. All articles will be considered for publication in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly. If the essay is not published, authors are free to pursue other opportunities. No copies will be returned. Extra copies will be placed with NEARA and Special Collections at the University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville. Submission of an entry assumes permission for researcher use.
Entries for the 2024 competition must be postmarked by February 1 and mailed to:
NEARA Award
Arkansas Historical Association
416 N. Campus Drive, MAIN 416
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
For questions, contact AHA at 479-575-5884 or renwickh@uark.edu.
The NEARA Award was established in 2013 to honor volunteers from the Lawrence County Historical Society who saved the territorial records for future researchers when the Powhatan county seat was abandoned in 1963. The award is being funded by the family of Eugene Sloan (1892-1981), a Jonesboro lawyer who was born in Powhatan. NEARA – a branch of the Arkansas State Archives located within Powhatan Historic State Park – is open Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except for state holidays. For details, call (870) 878-6521, email northeast.archives@arkansas.gov, or visit archives.arkansas.gov/neara.
Tom Dillard Advocacy Award
The Arkansas Historical Association presents the Tom Dillard Advocacy Award annually to a person or organization who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to promoting the study, appreciation, preservation, and dissemination of Arkansas history.
The award honors Tom W. Dillard’s decades of work as an archivist, historian, writer, collector, and promoter of the teaching of Arkansas history in the state’s schools.
The 2024 Dillard Award consists of a prize of $300 and a plaque to be presented at the annual conference of the Arkansas Historical Association, April 26, in Heber Springs.
Individuals, non-profits, governmental agencies, and private businesses are eligible. Candidates for the Tom Dillard Advocacy Award can be self-nominated or be nominated by someone else. To be considered for the award, biographies, current résumés, and a detailed statement of the advocacy work of the nominee, and three copies of any supporting material, shall be submitted to the Association by February 1, 2024.
Send material, clearly labelled “2024 Dillard Award”, to:
Arkansas Historical Association
416 N. Campus Drive, MAIN 416
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
This award was established and funded by Timothy G. Nutt.
The Walter L. Brown Awards
The Arkansas Historical Association is again sponsoring an awards program for Arkansas county and local historical journals and newsletters. We hope your society will accept this invitation to enter the competition for journals published in 2023.
The Association offers the following awards to journals:
Walter L. Brown Award for the Best County or Local Journal–$100 prize and certificate
Honorable Mention as runner-up for best county or local historical publication–certificate
Award for the Best Use of Graphics in a journal–certificate
The Association recognizes the many excellent articles published in these journals by offering the following awards to individual authors:
Best Article in a County or Local Journal–$100 prize and certificate
Best Biography, Autobiography, or Memoir–certificate
Best Family History–certificate
Best Church History–certificate
Best Community History–certificate
Best School History–certificate
Best Business History–certificate
Best Edited Document–certificate
Best Newsletter published by a county or local society or other entity working in the field of Arkansas history–certificate
The awards will be presented at the Association’s annual conference at Heber Springs on Friday evening, April 26, 2024. Winners will be notified in advance.
To participate in the awards competition, each society should submit three complete sets of the volume of its journal completed in 2023, as well as any newsletters published. A volume can consist of a single annual publication, two semi-annual publications, four quarterly issues, etc. Entries will be judged on the basis of format, historical content, writing style, and editing. The Association reserves the judges’ right to determine whether an individual award will be given in a particular year.
Entries should be postmarked by February 1, 2024 and mailed to the Arkansas Historical Association.
Arkansas Historical Association
416 N. Campus Drive, MAIN 416
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
The Diamond Award
The Diamond Award is given to an institution or to an individual representing a collective initiative that makes an exceptional contribution to the study, preservation, or promotion of Arkansas history. Nominations must be made by or through a member of the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Historical Association. AHA members must submit nominations to a member of the board of trustees no later than December 1. The Diamond Award Form
Award of Merit
The Board of Trustees invites members of the Arkansas Historical Association to suggest programs, projects, or individuals for consideration for Awards of Merit from the AHA. The procedure and guidelines are as follows: 1) For a proposal to be considered, it must be sponsored by a Board member, must be in writing, and should be accompanied by an explanation of description of the program’s or project’s work or the individual’s worthy deeds; 2) All projects and programs recommended for commendation should reflect responsible standards of historical objectivity and factual accuracy; 3) Commendations should not be presented to programs and projects that are primarily commercial in focus. AHA members should submit nominations to a trustee by December 1.