Awards & Prizes Administered by LHA
Garnie W. McGinty Meritorious Award
This prize honors Dr. Garnie McGinty, longtime professor of History at Louisiana Tech University and author of Louisiana Redeemed: The Overthrow of Carpetbag Rule, 1876-1880 (1941) and the textbook A History of Louisiana (1949). It is awarded annually to recognize members of the Louisiana Historical Association who, over the length of their careers, have made significant contributions to scholarship in Louisiana history, to the historical profession in Louisiana, and/or to the Association. Nomination should be directed to elainet@latech.edu.
F. Kemper & Leila Williams Prize
This prize honors the founder of the Historic New Orleans Collection General F. Kemper Williams and his wife Leila. It is awarded annually by the LHA and the HNOC to the best book published on Louisiana history.
Glenn R. Conrad Prize
This prize honors Mr. Glenn R. Conrad (1932-2003), editor of the journal Louisiana History from 1973 to 1993 and Secretary-Treasurer of the LHA from 1993 to 2003. Conrad authored numerous publications, particularly within the field of local history. Conrad founded the Center for Louisiana Studies in 1973 and was its director from its inception until his death.
The Glenn R. Conrad Prize is awarded annually to the best published article on any aspect of Louisiana history from any source.
The President’s Memorial Award
This award is given annually to honor the best article published in the journal Louisiana History during the previous calendar year.
Hugh F. Rankin Prize
This prize honors Dr. Hugh F. Rankin (1913-1989), longtime LHA member and mentor to many current LHA members. Rankin, a WWII veteran, was a member of the History Department of Tulane University from 1957 until 1983. He was especially noted for his work with graduate students and for his service to the Southern Historical Association.
The Hugh F. Rankin Prize is awarded annually for the best previously unpublished, graduate-level paper submitted on any aspect of Louisiana history. Submissions should be directed to michael.martin@louisiana.edu.
Kimberly S. Hanger Prize
This prize honors Dr. Kimberly S. Hanger (1962-1999), whose work was tremendously influential within the field of Spanish colonial Louisiana history, particularly her monograph Bounded Lives, Bounded Places: Free Black Society in Colonial New Orleans, 1769-1803 (1997). Hanger also authored A Medley of Cultures: Louisiana History at the Cabildo (1996).
The Kimberly S. Hanger Prize is awarded annually for the best undergraduate-level paper on the Phi Alpha Theta program of the annual LHA conference.
Amos E. Simpson Travel Grants
This prize honors Dr. Amos E. Simpson (1925-2014), longtime LHA member and European history scholar. Simpson, a WWII veteran, was a member of the History Department of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette from 1956 until 1995. He cofounded the Center for Louisiana Studies and was noted for his service to European History Section of the Southern Historical Association.
Amos E. Simpson Travel Grants are awarded annually to offset travel expenses related to historical research in Louisiana archives and libraries.
