The American Historical Association recognizes a wide variety of distinguished historical work, which can take the form of an exceptional book in the field, distinguished teaching and mentoring in the classroom, film, or digital projects and resources. Since 1896 the Association has conferred over a thousand awards. The names, publications, and projects of those who received these awards are a catalogue of the best work produced by members of the historical discipline.
Awards for Publications (Books, Articles, Film, and Digital Formats)
The Herbert Baxter Adams Prize for the best book in European history from ancient times to 1815 (even years), and from 1815 through the 20th century (odd years)—the entry must be the author’s first substantial book
The George Louis Beer Prize for the best book in European international history since 1895
The Jerry Bentley Prize for the most outstanding book on world history
The Albert J. Beveridge Award in American history for a distinguished book on the history of the United States, Latin America, or Canada, from 1492 to the present
The Paul Birdsall Prize for a major book on European military and strategic history since 1870 (biennial; next award year 2020)
The James Henry Breasted Prize for the best book in any field of history prior to CE 1000
The Albert B. Corey Prize for the best book dealing with the history of Canadian-American relations or the history of both countries (biennial; next award year 2020)
The Raymond J. Cunningham Prize for the best article published in a journal written by an undergraduate student
The John H. Dunning Prize offered biennially for the most outstanding book in US history—the entry must be the author’s first or second book (biennial; next award year 2019)
The John K. Fairbank Prize for the best book in East Asian history since 1800
The Morris D. Forkosch Prize for the best book in the field of British, British Imperial, or British Commonwealth history since 1485
The Leo Gershoy Award for the best book in the fields of 17th- and 18th-century western European history
The William and Edwyna Gilbert Award for the best article in a journal, magazine, or other serial on teaching history
The Clarence H. Haring Prize for a Latin American who has published the most outstanding book in Latin American history during the preceding five years (quinquennial; next award year 2021)
The J. Franklin Jameson Award for outstanding achievement in the editing of historical primary sources (biennial; next award year 2019)
The Friedrich Katz Prize for the best book in Latin American and Caribbean history
The Joan Kelly Memorial Prize for the most outstanding book in women’s history and/or feminist theory
The Martin A. Klein Prize to recognize the most distinguished work of scholarship on African history published in English
The Waldo G. Leland Prize offered every five years for the most outstanding reference tool in the field of history (quinquennial; next award year 2021)
The Littleton-Griswold Prize for the most distinguished book on US law and society, broadly defined
The J. Russell Major Prize for the best book in English on any aspect of French history
The Helen & Howard R. Marraro Prize for the best book in Italian history
The George L. Mosse Prize for the most distinguished book on the intellectual and cultural history of Europe since 1500
The John E. O’Connor Film Award to recognize outstanding interpretations of history through the medium of film or video
The Eugenia M. Palmegiano Prize for the most outstanding book published in English on any aspect of the history of journalism
The James A. Rawley Prize for the best book that explores the integration of Atlantic worlds before the 20th century
The Premio Del Rey for a distinguished book in English in the field of early Spanish history (biennial; next award year 2020)
The John F. Richards Prize for the most distinguished book on South Asian history published in English
The James Harvey Robinson Prize for the teaching aid that has made the most outstanding contribution to the teaching and learning of history in any field for public or educational purposes (biennial; next award year 2020)
The Dorothy Rosenberg Prize for the most distinguished work on the history of the Jewish diaspora published in English
The Roy Rosenzweig Prize for innovation in digital history
The Wesley-Logan Prize for the best book on African diaspora history
