2026 Anne J. Bailey Dissertation Prize

Open for Submissions

The Society for Civil War Historians welcomes submissions for the Anne J. Bailey Dissertation Prize, which is awarded to the best dissertation that takes the U.S. Civil War era (broadly defined and understood) as its main point of focus. The prize consists of a $2,000 stipend and honors Anne J. Bailey, a scholar of the western theater of the Civil War and long-time officer in the Society of Civil War Historians. Dr. Frances M. Clarke will chair the prize committee, and the award will be presented at the biennial conference of the SCWH in June 2026 in Richmond, Virginia. Dissertations that were defended between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025 are eligible. To be considered for the prize, applicants should submit a cover letter, a CV, and a complete digital copy of the dissertation, along with a letter of support from the dissertation advisor (submitted under separate cover), to Managing Director Lindsey Peterson at [email protected] by April 15, 2026. Learn more about past recipients of this prize and access a PDF version of the call at our website.