Sponsored by the Royal Historical Society, the BrANCH Harriet Tubman Essay Prize is awarded for the best undergraduate essays or research projects on any kind of nineteenth century American history by black, Asian, or other minority ethnic students based in the UK. In the current cycle, up to £500 will be awarded for the Tubman Prize.

A survey of our discipline undertaken by BrANCH, BAAS and HOTCUS, and supported by reports published by BAAS and the Royal Historical Society, has identified major obstacles to racial and ethnic diversity and inclusion in history departments in UK universities. One such obstacle is the progression of BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) students from undergraduate to postgraduate level. As an organisation, BrANCH is seeking to initiate positive and ongoing action in response to these obstacles.

Named for the fugitive enslaved woman, abolitionist, and activist, the Harriet Tubman prize has been designed to encourage more BAME students to consider postgraduate work in nineteenth century American history.

We invite submissions of undergraduate coursework written on any area of American history in the long nineteenth century by students identifying as BAME in their second or third year of undergraduate study (third or fourth year in Scottish HEIs). Work should be 2500-3500 words in length, including footnotes but excluding bibliography. While we expect the thematic content to be broad, judges will consider the level of knowledge, writing style, degree of original thinking, and overall quality of the piece.

Submissions should include a letter from a lecturer in the student’s department confirming their registration on an undergraduate course, alongside a permanent mailing address and email address for the student. Submissions, and any other queries related to the prize, should be sent to our EDI officer Aisha Djelid (aisha.djelid@reading.ac.uk).

Deadline for submissions: June 21, 2024.