AHA Prize in American History

The AHA Prize in American History is awarded for an outstanding work on any subject relating to United States history that is the author's first book or scholarly equivalent. Originally called the John H. Dunning Prize, this biennial prize was first awarded in 1929, and has been awarded in odd-numbered years since 1991. The prize name was changed in 2023. Research accuracy, originality, and literary merit are important factors in the evaluation of submissions. Only books bearing a copyright of 2025 or 2026 are eligible for the 2027 award. Recipients are announced on the AHA website in October and recognized during a ceremony at the annual AHA meeting.