SHEAR Scholarship Prizes

The SHEAR Book Prize is awarded to an original monograph published in the previous year that deals with the period 1776-1861 in America. Within that period, the book may treat virtually any aspect of history, including political, economic, social, or cultural history, but the book must be an original monograph or a collection of original essays. Editions of primary sources will not be considered, nor will new editions of old books or anthologies of previously published essays. Selection is made by the SHEAR Book Prize Committee.

The James H. Broussard Best First Book Prize was created by and named for the individual most responsible for the creation of SHEAR as an academic organization. The prize is awarded annually to the best “first book” by a new author published in the previous calendar year and dealing with any aspect of the history of the history of the early American republic.  Selection is made by the SHEAR Book Prize Committee.

The Ralph D. Gray Article Prize is named for the founding editor of the Journal of the Early Republic.  The prize is awarded annually for the best original article published in the previous volume of the JER, as determined by a committee selected by the editors of the journal.

The James Bradford Biography Prize will be awarded annually to the author of an original biography, broadly defined, published in the previous year, of a person active during the era of the Early Republic.  Editions of primary sources will not be considered, nor will new editions of old books or anthologies of previously published essays.

The Mary Kelley Prize, honoring the best book published on the history of women, gender, or sexuality in the Early American Republic (1776-1861).  The prize is named in honor of Mary Kelley, the Ruth Bordin Collegiate Professor of History, American Culture, and Women’s Studies at the University of Michigan, who has produced path-breaking work on gender and intellectual history, the history of reading, and the history of education and is a past president of SHEAR.

In cooperation with our publisher, Penn Press, SHEAR awards the SHEAR Manuscript Prize  to an exceptional unpublished dissertation pertaining to the history of North America from 1776 to 1861. Within that period, the dissertation may treat virtually any aspect of the field, including political, economic, social, or cultural history.

For more information about these prize competitions contact the Executive Coordinator at info@shear.