The Society of American Historians, founded in 1939, encourages and honors literary distinction in the writing of history and biography about American topics. The approximately 300 members include professional historians, independent scholars, journalists, film and documentary makers, novelists, poets, and biographers, all of whom were selected for membership based on the literary excellence as well as the intellectual strength of their writing or presentation of American history.

Prizes and awards

The Society sponsors four awards, which are announced at its annual dinner in May: * The

Francis Parkman Francis Parkman Jr. (September 16, 1823 – November 8, 1893) was an American historian, best known as author of '' The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life'' and his monumental seven-volume '' France and England in North Am ...

Prize, given annually for a nonfiction book in American history that is distinguished by its literary merit, is named for the nineteenth-century historian whose multi-volume work, ''France and England in North America'' (Boston, 1865–92), is widely praised for its elegant style as well as its historical depth. * The

Society of American Historians Prize for Historical Fiction The Society of American Historians Prize for Historical Fiction, formerly known as the James Fenimore Cooper Prize, is a biennial award given for the best Historical American fiction by the Society of American Historians. It is awarded in the odd- ...

, formerly the

James Fenimore Cooper James Fenimore Cooper (September 15, 1789 – September 14, 1851) was an American writer of the first half of the 19th century, whose historical romances depicting colonist and Indigenous characters from the 17th to the 19th centuries brought ...

Prize, given in odd-numbered years for the best historical novel on an American theme. * The Allan Nevins Prize recognizing new scholarship is given annually to the best-written doctoral dissertation on an American subject. The winning dissertation is published by one of the Society's seventeen publisher members, which include both academic and trade presses. The prize is named for the Society's chief founder. * The

Tony Horwitz Anthony Lander Horwitz (June 9, 1958 – May 27, 2019) was an American journalist and author who won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. His books include ''One for the Road: a Hitchhiker's Outback'', ''Baghdad Without a Map'', ' ...

Prize honoring distinguished work in American history of wide appeal and enduring public significance was awarded for the first time in 2020. The prize commemorates the Society's former president (2016-2017), who died in May 2019. Tony Horwitz was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, a former staff writer for the New Yorker, and a distinguished historian whose distinctive voice was marked by surpassing humanity and grace. The prize is supported by The Cedars Foundation. * From 2008 to 2017 the Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. Award was given jointly with the

Roosevelt Institute The Roosevelt Institute is a liberal American think tank. According to the organization, it exists "to carry forward the legacy and values of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt by developing progressive ideas and bold leadership in the service of rest ...

for distinguished writing in American history of enduring public significance. Schlesinger was a preeminent historian of the twentieth century as well as a public intellectual noted for giving history a voice in public affairs.

History

The Society was founded by Allan Nevins and a few colleagues who were critical of what Nevins in a 1939 ''Saturday Review'' article called the "pedantic school" of history—academics who, he said, seemed to take pride in writing badly. Nevins, who taught history for over 35 years at Columbia University, was the author of more than 50 books, including an eight-volume history of the American Civil War and biographies of John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford, and Grover Cleveland (which won the 1933

Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography The Pulitzer Prize for Biography is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It has been presented since 1917 for a distinguished biography, autobiography or memoir by an American author o ...

). A journalist for fifteen years before coming to Columbia (he never earned a Ph.D.), Nevins was the master of a robust and readable style, and continued throughout his life to write for radio and the popular press.

Publications

In 1954, in an effort to bring good historical writing to a wide audience, the Society collaborated in establishing the magazine ''American Heritage'' as a popular illustrated bimonthly. The Society has co-published several books authored by members, including ''Profiles in Leadership: Historians on the Elusive Quality of Greatness,'' edited by

Walter Isaacson Walter Seff Isaacson (born May 20, 1952) is an American author, journalist, and professor. He has been the President and CEO of the Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C., the chair and CEO of CNN ...

(W. W. Norton, 2010); ''Days of Destiny: Crossroads in American History,'' edited by

James M. McPherson James Munro McPherson (born October 11, 1936) is an American Civil War historian, and is the George Henry Davis '86 Professor Emeritus of United States History at Princeton University. He received the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for '' Battle Cry ...

and

Alan Brinkley Alan Brinkley (June 2, 1949 – June 16, 2019) was an American political historian who taught for over 20 years at Columbia University. He was the Allan Nevins Professor of History until his death. From 2003 to 2009, he was University Provost. ...

(Dorling Kindersley, 2001); and ''"To the Best of My Ability": The American Presidents,'' edited by James M. McPherson (Dorling Kindersley, 2000).

Administration

The Society's officers for 2022/23 are

Annette Gordon-Reed Annette Gordon-Reed (born November 19, 1958) is an American historian and law professor. She is currently the Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard University and a professor of history in the university's Faculty of Arts & Sciences. She ...

, president, and

Philip Deloria Philip S. (Sam) Deloria is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux TribeTestimony of Ph ...

, vice president. Its administrative office is located at Columbia University; it is supported largely by annual dues from individual and publisher members. It is an affiliate of the American Historical Association.American Historical Association
Retrieved on 7 May 2019

References

External links

* {{authority control Academic organizations based in the United States History of the United States Organizations established in 1939 1939 establishments in the United States