Brooke L. Blower and Sarah T. Phillips Essay Prize

The executive editors of Modern American History invite Ph.D. candidates and early-career contingent instructors (no more than two years past the Ph.D. degree) to submit essays for the third annual Brooke L. Blower and Sarah T. Phillips essay prize competition which honors the founding executive editors of MAH (2017-2022).

MAH showcases top-quality, emerging research on the history of the United States since the 1890s. The journal is dedicated to publishing academic work that stimulates debate and makes meaningful connections among the subfields of this vibrant and expansive field. In its short history it has come to be ranked among Journal of American History, Diplomatic History, and Journal of Contemporary History in total page views, total homepage views, and total mentions for articles in the past year.
Essays may deal with any period or topic in the history of the post-1890 United States. The author of the winning essay will receive a cash prize of $500.00, and the essay itself will be published in Modern American History (MAH).

Essays, including footnotes, should be based on original research and analysis, with a total count of between 11,000 and 14,000 words (including footnotes). Submissions should be sent to [email protected] with “2025 Essay Prize Entry” noted in the subject line. The author’s name, graduate program/home institution, brief bio, and abstract should appear in the body of the email. An anonymized .docx version of the essay should be attached.

Significance of the subject matter, significance of core claims, literary craftsmanship, and proficiency in the handling of primary and secondary sources are some of the factors that will be considered in judging the essays. The deadline for submitting an essay for consideration is June 15, 2025.

The final decision will be made by the Brooke L. Blower and Sarah T. Phillips Essay Prize Committee by September 30, 2025. Shortly thereafter, the executive editors of MAH will provide the winning author with details regarding the cash prize and publishing process. They will also notify runner-up authors with an honorable mention and the opportunity to submit their revised essays to MAH for consideration of future publication.