British American Nineteenth Century Historians (BrANCH) and the Peter J. Parish Memorial Fund are pleased to announce their annual student dissertation prize for the best pieces of work on American nineteenth century history.
Two prizes will be awarded: one for the best dissertation written by an undergraduate (UG), another for the best dissertation written by a taught postgraduate (PGT), who received their undergraduate or taught postgraduate degree in 2023, at a university or equivalent institution in the UK.
The word limit for the UG prize is 12,000 words. For the PGT prize it is 20,000 words. Both usually exclude footnotes and bibliography but exceptions can be made.
The work should offer some originality, either in its research or approach or argument, relating to the history of the United States between roughly 1789 and 1917.
The value of each prize will normally be £200.
All entrants will receive free membership to BrANCH for the calendar year.
The winning dissertations will usually be submitted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal American Nineteenth Century History (ANCH) and promoted through the BrANCH mailing list and social media channels.
Candidates should email an electronic copy of their dissertation to Professor Emily West, BrANCH chair (e.r.west@reading.ac.uk) by the closing date, and must include a letter from an institutional representative, tutor, teacher or supervisor attesting that the candidate is registered for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or received the appropriate degree in 2023 (this may be emailed separately).
Candidate’s names should appear only on the covering letter and letter from the institutional representative.
All dissertations will be assessed anonymously by a committee appointed by the BrANCH committee.
The committee reserves the right not to make an award in any given year.
The deadline for submissions to the Parish prize is November 3, 2023. The results will then be announced in early 2024.
Please send dissertations and enquiries to: Professor Emily West, BrANCH chair (e.r.west@reading.ac.uk)
