Bancroft Prize
ばんくろふとしょう
An academic prize awarded annually by the Columbia University Board of Trustees to books on diplomacy and the history of the American continents.
HistoryDiplomacyAmerican HistoryNonfiction
- Established
- 1948
- Organizer
- Trustees of Columbia University
- Category
- Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
- Selection Method
- Selection
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Announcement Period
- around March
- Status
- Active
Description
The Bancroft Prize is an award presented annually by the Trustees of Columbia University for books on diplomacy and the history of the American continents. Established in 1948 through the bequest of Frederic Bancroft, it is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in the field of American history. The current prize money is $10,000 (increased from $4,000 in 2004). Many Pulitzer Prize-winning works are among the winners, and there have been cases where awards were revoked in the past (e.g., Michael A. Bellesiles).
Prize
- Main Prize
- Cash is awarded to winners as an incentive grant. The current prize amount is $10,000 per recipient (increased from $4,000 in 2004).
- Cash Prize
- 10,000 USD
- Academic honor and prestige
- Attention from media and academic circles
- May be shared among multiple winners
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selection and Awarding | Trustees of Columbia University | passRate | Announced through Columbia University's official announcements (library/news releases) and major media (e.g., The New York Times). |
Selection and Awarding
Judges
Trustees of Columbia University
Pass Rate
passRate
Announcement
Announced through Columbia University's official announcements (library/news releases) and major media (e.g., The New York Times).
Criteria
- Target: Books on diplomacy or the history of the American continents
- Academic rigor (research based on historical sources)
- Originality and new contributions to research
- Clarity of argument and quality of writing
Application Tips
Dos
- Conduct academically rigorous research based on primary historical sources.
- Present clear arguments and original claims.
- Publish with reputable academic publishers (preferably those with peer review and editing).
- Carefully organize references and annotations, clearly indicating sources of historical materials.
Don''ts
- Avoid superficial descriptions or incomplete citations.
- Do not rely on excessive subjectivity or unsubstantiated claims.
- Do not publish without sufficient academic verification.
From Judges
- Judging emphasizes originality and depth of research (utilization and analysis of sources).
- Clear research questions and persuasive argumentative structures are highly valued.
- Editing quality and publication format can also be important factors in winner selection.
Related Awards
- Pulitzer Prize for History
- Bancroft Award (Royal Society of Canada) (separate award)
- List of history awards
- List of American literary awards
- List of literary awards
Official Resources
https://library.columbia.edu/about/awards/bancroft.htmlPast Winners
Claudio Saunt
Winner
Lizabeth Cohen
Winner
David W. Blight
Winner
Waldo Heinrichs
Winner
Marc Gallicchio
Winner
Page Smith
Winner