The David J. Langum Sr. Prizes are American

literary award A literary award or literary prize is an award presented in recognition of a particularly lauded literary piece or body of work. It is normally presented to an author. Organizations Most literary awards come with a corresponding award ceremony. Ma ...

s for

historical fiction Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to the past events, but is fictional. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to other ty ...

, biography and legal history. They have been awarded annually since 2001 by the Langum Charitable Trust. The Langum Prize for American Historical Fiction (or David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction) is awarded for

and given since 2003.David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction
, official website The prize is for $1,000 and is awarded annually at Wheeler Theater,

Port Townsend, Washington Port Townsend is a city on the Quimper Peninsula in Jefferson County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,148 at the 2020 United States Census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County. In addition to ...

, in conjunction with Centrum Foundation’s annual Writers Conference. The trust asks publishers to submit titles over the course of the year. Titles submitted are pre-selected by the trust based on what the trust believes would be appropriate for the prize. The David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Legal History or Biography (or Langum Prize for Legal History or Biography) is awarded for legal history or biography and given since 2001.David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Legal History or Biography
, official website The prize is for $1,000 and is awarded annually at the

Birmingham Public Library The Birmingham Public Library, one of the largest library systems in the southeastern United States, consists of 19 branches and a main or central library located in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. The main library is composed of two buildings, th ...

Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Birmingham is the seat of Jefferson County, Alabama's most populous county. As of the 2021 census estimates, Birmingham had a population of 197,575, down 1% fr ...

. The ceremony is sponsored by the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library and the Birmingham Public Library.

Honorees

Past winners and honorees of the David J. Langum Sr. Prizes. *2016 (Historical Fiction Prize): Michele Moore, ''The Cigar Factory'' **(Historical Fiction Finalist): Chad Dundas, ''Champion of the World'' *2016 (Legal History/Biography): Risa Goluboff, ''Vagrant Nation: Police Power, Constitutional Change, and the Making of the 1960s'' **(Legal History/Biography Finalist): Edward B. Foley, ''Ballot Battles: The History of Disputed Elections in the United States'' **(Legal History/Biography Finalist): Charles F. Hobson, ''The Great Yazoo Lands Sale: The Case of Fletcher v. Peck'' ---- *2015 (Historical Fiction Prize): Faith Sullivan, ''Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse'' **(Historical Fiction Honorable Mention): Meg Waite Clayton, ''The Race for Paris'' *2015 (Legal History/Biography): Leonard L. Richards, ''Who Freed the Slaves? The Fight over the Thirteenth Amendment'' **(Legal History/Biography Honorable Mention): Nancy Woloch, ''A Class by Herself: Protective Laws for Women Workers, 1890s-1990s'' ---- *2014 (Historical Fiction Prize): Kimberly Elkins, ''What is Visible'' **(Historical Fiction Honorable Mention): Catherine Bell, ''Rush of Shadows'' **(Historical Fiction Director's Mention):

Laila Lalami Laila Lalami ( ar, ليلى العلمي, born 1968) is a Moroccan-American novelist, essayist, and professor. After earning her ''Licence de lettres'' degree in Morocco, she received a fellowship to study in the United Kingdom (UK), where she e ...

, '' The Moor's Account'' *2014 (Legal History/Biography): Nathaniel Grow, ''Baseball on Trial: The Origin of Baseball's Antitrust Exemption'' **(Legal History/Biography Honorable Mention): Lori Sturdevant, ''Her Honor: Rosalie Wahl and the Minnesota Women's Movement'' ---- *2013 (Historical Fiction Prize): Gary Schanbacher, ''Crossing Purgatory'' **(Historical Fiction Honorable Mention): Christine Wade, ''Seven Locks'' *2013 (Legal History/Biography): Whitney Strub, ''Obscenity Rules: Roth v. United States and the Long Struggle over Sexual Expression'' **(Legal History/Biography Honorable Mention): Alexander Wohl, ''Father, Son, and Constitution: How Justice Tom Clark and Attorney General Ramsey Clark Shaped American Democracy'' ---- *2012 (Historical Fiction Prize):

Ron Rash Ron Rash (born September 25, 1953), is an American poet, short story writer and novelist, is the Parris Distinguished Professor in Appalachian Cultural Studies at Western Carolina University. Early life Rash was born on September 25, 1953, in C ...

, ''The Cove'' **(Historical Fiction Honorable Mention): Steve Wiegenstein, ''Slant of Light: A Novel of Utopian Dreams and Civil War'' *2012 (Legal History/Biography): Samuel Walker, ''Presidents and Civil Liberties from Wilson to Obama: A Story of Poor Custodians'' **(Legal History/Biography Honorable Mention): R. Kent Newmyer, ''The Treason Trial of Aaron Burr: Law, Politics, and the Character Wars of the New Nation'' ---- *2011 (Historical Fiction Prize):

Julie Otsuka Julie Otsuka is an American author. Biography Otsuka was born in 1962, in Palo Alto, California. Her father worked as an aerospace engineer and her mother worked as a lab technician before she gave birth to Otsuka. Both of her parents were of Ja ...

, '' The Buddha in the Attic'' ** (Historical Fiction Honorable Mention): Geraldine Brooks, '' Caleb's Crossing'' ** (Historical Fiction Director’s Mention): John M. Archer, ''After the Rain: A Novel of War and Coming Home'' ** (Historical Fiction Director’s Mention): James Hoggard, ''The Mayor’s Daughter'' ** (Historical Fiction Director’s Mention):

Hugh Nissenson Hugh Nissenson (March 10, 1933 in New York City – December 13, 2013 in Manhattan) was an American author. Nissenson drew heavily on his Jewish background in his writing, exploring themes of mysticism, Israel, and the Holocaust. Biograp ...

, ''The Pilgrim: A Novel'' ** (Historical Fiction Director’s Mention):

Sheila Ortiz-Taylor Sheila (alternatively spelled Shelagh and Sheelagh) is a common feminine given name, derived from the Irish name ''Síle'', which is believed to be a Gaelic form of the Latin name Caelia, the feminine form of the Roman clan name Caelius, meanin ...

, ''Homestead'' ** (Historical Fiction Director’s Mention): Shirley Reva Vernick, ''The Blood Lie'' *2011 (Legal History): Stuart Banner, ''American Property: A History of How, Why, and What We Own'' *2011 (Legal History): Joanna L. Grossman and

Lawrence M. Friedman Lawrence Meir Friedman (born April 2, 1930) is an American Legal education, law professor, historian of American legal history, and author of nonfiction and fiction books. He has been a member of the faculty at Stanford Law School since 1968. Bi ...

, ''Inside the Castle: Law and the Family in 20th Century America'' ---- *2010 (Historical Fiction Prize):

Ann Weisgarber Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

, '' The Personal History of Rachel DuPree'' (Viking) ** (Historical Fiction Honorable Mention): Robin Oliveira, ''My Name is Mary Sutter'' (Viking) ** (Historical Fiction Director’s Mention): Kelli Carmean, ''Creekside: An Archeological Novel'' (University of Alabama Press) ** (Historical Fiction Director’s Mention): Jackson Taylor, ''The Blue Orchard'' (Simon & Schuster) *2010 (Legal History): Stephen C. Neff, ''Justice in Blue and Gray: A Legal History of the Civil War'' ---- *2009 (Historical Fiction Prize):

Edward Rutherfurd Edward Rutherfurd is a pen name for Francis Edward Wintle (born in 1948). He is best known as a writer of epic historical novels that span long periods of history but are set in particular places. His debut novel, '' Sarum'', set the pattern f ...

, '' New York: The Novel'' (Doubleday). ** (Historical Fiction Director’s Mention): Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman, ''In the Lion's Den: A Novel of the Civil War'' (iUniverse) ** (Historical Fiction Director’s Mention):

Jamie Ford Jamie Ford (born July 9, 1968) is an American author. He is best known for his debut novel, '' Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.'' The book spent 130 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List, and was also awarded best "Adult Fiction" ...

, ''

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet ''Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet'' is an historical novel by Jamie Ford. The story is told in two parallel storylines, one following 12-year-old Henry Lee's experiences during the Second World War, and the other depicting Henry 44 years ...

'' (Random House) *2009 (Legal History): No Award ---- *2008 (Historical Fiction Prize): Kathleen Kent, '' The Heretic’s Daughter'' (Little, Brown) ** (Historical Fiction Honorable Mention): Elisabeth Payne Rosen, ''Hallam’s War'' (Unbridled Books) ** (Historical Fiction Director’s Mention):

Jack Fuller Jack William Fuller (October 21, 1946 – June 21, 2016)Biography at th was an American journalist who spent nearly forty years working in newspapers and was the author of seven novels and two books on journalism. Biography Fuller was born in Ch ...

, ''Abbeville'' (Unbridled Books) *2008 (Legal History):

Ernest Freeberg Ernest Freeberg is an American historian in 19th and 20th-century American culture, currently a Distinguished Humanities Professor at the University of Tennessee and previously the Lindsay Young Professor, Beaman Professor, and Head of the Depar ...

, ''Democracy’s Prisoner: Eugene V. Debs, the Great War, and the Right to Dissent'' (Harvard University Press) ** (Legal History Honorable Mention):

Peter Charles Hoffer Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

, ''The Treason Trials of Aaron Burr'' (University Press of Kansas) ---- *2007 (Historical Fiction Prize):

Kurt Andersen Kurt Andersen (born August 22, 1954) is an American writer and was the host of the Peabody-winning public radio program ''Studio 360'', a production of Public Radio International, ''Slate'', and WNYC. Early life and education Andersen was bo ...

, ''

Heyday Heyday may refer to: * Titled works: ** Music: *** ''Heyday'' (The Church album), a 1986 album by the Church *** ''Heyday'' (Fairport Convention album), a 1987 album by Fairport Convention ** ''Heyday'' (novel), a historical novel by Kurt Ander ...

'' (Random House) *2007 (Legal History): Bruce J. Dierenfield, ''The Battle over School Prayer: How Engel v. Vitale Changed America'' (University Press of Kansas) ---- *2006 (Historical Fiction Prize): Sheldon Russell, '' Dreams to Dust: A Tale of the Oklahoma Land Rush'' (University of Oklahoma Press) *2006 (Legal History):

Saul Cornell Saul Cornell, is the Paul and Diane Guenther Chair in American History at Fordham University. He was Professor of history at Ohio State University and the Director of the Second Amendment Research Center at the John Glenn Institute. Life He re ...

, ''A Well-Regulated Militia: The Founding Fathers and the Origins of Gun Control in America'' (Oxford University Press) ** (Legal History Honorable Mention): Carolyn N. Long, ''Mapp v. Ohio: Guarding against Unreasonable Searches and Seizures'' (University Press of Kansas) ---- *2005 (Historical Fiction Prize): Peter Donahue, '' Madison House: A Novel'' (Hawthorne Books) *2005 (Legal History): Richard J. Ellis, ''To the Flag: The Unlikely History of the Pledge of Allegiance'' (University Press of Kansas) ** (Legal History Honorable Mention):

John W. Johnson John W. Johnson (1774June 1, 1854) was an American pioneer, politician, and fur trader. He was the 3rd mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, serving from 1833 to 1835. Biography Born in Maryland, Johnson came west in 1808, venturing into the vast Louisi ...

, ''Griswold v. Connecticut: Birth Control and the Constitutional Right of Privacy'' (Kansas University Press ---- *2004 (Historical Fiction Prize): Linda Busby Parker, '' Seven Laurels: A Novel'' (Southeast Missouri State University Press) ** (Historical Fiction Honorable Mention):

Sanora Babb Sanora Babb (April 21, 1907 – December 31, 2005) was an American novelist, poet, and literary editor. Early life and career Sanora Babb was born in Otoe territory in what is now Oklahoma, though neither her mother nor father were of the Otoe ...

, ''Whose Names Are Unknown: A Novel'' (University of Oklahoma Press) *2004 (Legal History): John M. Ferren, ''Salt of the Earth, Conscience of the Court: The Story of Justice Wiley Rutledge'' (University of North Carolina Press) ---- *2003 (Historical Fiction Prize): Robert J. Begiebing, '' Rebecca Wentworth’s Distraction: A Novel'' (University Press of New England) *2003 (Legal History):

Robert J. Cottrol Robert J. Cottrol (born January 18, 1949) is an American Jurist, legal scholar and Legal history, legal historian. Career Cottrol holds a chair in the George Washington University Law School, George Washington University (GWU) Law School and is al ...

, Raymond T. Diamond, and Leland B. Ware, ''Brown v. Board of Education: Caste, Culture, and the Constitution'' (University Press of Kansas) "Honors." (2004, Mar 21). ''Advocate'' aton Rouge, La Last accessed Oct. 8, 2012 ---- *2002 (Historical Fiction Prize): No Award *2002 (Legal History): Stuart Banner, ''The Death Penalty: An American History'' (Harvard University Press) *2002 (Legal History):

, ''American Law in the 20th Century'' (Yale University Press) ---- *2001 (Historical Fiction Prize): No Award *2001 (Legal History): Elizabeth Urban Alexander, ''Notorious Woman: The Celebrated Case of Myra Clark Gaines'' (Louisiana State University Press)

References

{{Reflist

External links

David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Legal History or Biography
official website
David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction
official website
Past winners
Awards established in 2001 American literary awards 2001 establishments in the United States