Joan Kelly Memorial Prize Grant

Joan Kelly Memorial Prize Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Historical Association
Amount: US $1,000
Last Updated: July 31, 2025

Summary

The Joan Kelly Memorial Prize, awarded by the American Historical Association, recognizes outstanding books in women's history and feminist theory that exemplify Joan Kelly's scholarly ideals. Established in 1983, the prize encourages originality, creativity, and a nuanced understanding of gender in historical contexts. It supports diverse voices in historical scholarship and honors Kelly's legacy of promoting women's contributions to history, with a cash award of $1,000 to the winning author.

Overview

The Coordinating Council for Women in History The Coordinating Council for Women in History connects women historians throughout the world from all career stages, supporting students and emerging scholars through prizes, mentoring programs, and workshops. We care and stand for women historians, constantly seeking to listen and ensure their growth and success. Our CCWH community stems from the determination and commitments of time, resources, and services of women historians who come together, and we hope that you will join us in this heart work. Our Goals CCWH seeks to broaden both the organization of women historians and the study of women’s history to represent as fully as possible the diversity of women in the United States and internationally. To accomplish these ends, CCWH will continue to: Strengthen ties between permanent and adjunct faculty, graduate students, secondary and elementary teachers and students, public historians, and the general public.Represent the interests of women in all areas of the historical professionResearch and publicize information on the professional status of women The CCWH offers six awards to help reach its organizational goals. Joan Kelly Memorial Prize Named in memory of Joan Kelly, this prize is awarded annually for the book in women’s history and or feminist theory that best reflects the high intellectual and scholarly ideals exemplified by the life and work of Joan Kelly (1928–82). The prize was established by the Coordinating Committee on Women in the Historical Profession and the Conference Group on Women’s History in 1983, to be administered by the American Historical Association and carries a cash award of $1,000. Submissions can deal with any chronological period, any geographical location, or any area of feminist theory that incorporates a historical perspective. Books should demonstrate originality of research, creativity of insight, graceful stylistic presentation, skillful use of analysis, and a recognition of the important role of sex and gender in the historical process. The interrelationship between women and the historical process should be addressed.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The general rules for submission are:Books with a copyright of previous year are eligible for the award the next year.Nomination submissions may be made by an author or by a publisher. Publishers may submit as many entries as they wish. Authors or publishers may submit the same book for multiple AHA prizes.Nominators must complete an online prize submission form for each book submitted.One copy of each entry must be sent to each committee member and clearly labeled “Kelly Prize Entry.” Print copies preferred unless otherwise indicated. If only e-copy is available, please contact review committee members beforehand to arrange submission format.