Bancroft Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 54 (2001) Winner
Michael A. Bellesiles
マイケル・A・ベレスィルズ
Michael A. Bellesiles
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- United States
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
Career
- Occupations
- historian, author
- Affiliations
- Emory University, Central Connecticut State University (adjunct)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Bancroft Prize | Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture | — | Columbia University (Board of Trustees) | 受賞（後に撤回） |
| 2002 | Bancroft Prize (rescinded) | Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture | — | Columbia University (Board of Trustees) | 撤回 |
Bancroft Prize
2001
Work:
Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture
Organization:
Columbia University (Board of Trustees)
Result:
受賞（後に撤回）
Bancroft Prize (rescinded)
2002
Work:
Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture
Organization:
Columbia University (Board of Trustees)
Result:
撤回
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture
2000 History 603 pagesA scholarly book arguing that guns were uncommon in peacetime in colonial and early national America and that a culture of gun ownership emerged in the mid-19th century; initially praised, the work later faced significant criticism for flawed and possibly fraudulent handling of sources, provoking a major academic controversy.
origins of American gun culturesource criticismhistorical methodology and credibility
Bibliography
- Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture (Alfred A. Knopf, 2000)
- Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture (Soft Skull Press, 2003, revised edition)
- Weighed in an Even Balance (Soft Skull Press, 2003)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- scholarly, source-centered prose (later criticized for problematic handling of sources)
- Recurring Motifs
- guns and civic culturearguments based on statistics and recordsintersection of historical interpretation and contemporary political debate
Legacy
Arming America was initially lauded and awarded the Bancroft Prize, but allegations of misuse and possible fabrication of sources led to an Emory University investigation, the author's resignation, and the unprecedented rescinding of the prize. The case sparked widespread debate about scholarly standards, peer review, and academic integrity, leaving a lasting effect on both the historical profession and public trust.
Academic Societies
- American Historical Association (AHA)
- Organization of American Historians (OAH)
Archives
- Emory University Investigative Committee Report (2002)
In Popular Culture
- Frequently cited in media and commentary as a prominent example of academic misconduct
Quotes
-
The book is a fraud.
Source: Garry Wills (C-SPAN interview) (2005)
Trivia
- Arming America won the Bancroft Prize in 2001 but the award was rescinded by Columbia University trustees in 2002—the first rescission in the prize's history.
- An Emory University investigation found serious flaws in the handling of sources; Bellesiles resigned from Emory at the end of 2002.
- A revised edition of the book was published by Soft Skull Press in 2003.
- Around 2012 the author was reported to be working as a bartender while continuing to write.