Ray Allen Billington Prize

The Ray Allen Billington Prize recognizes the best article (essay of 10,000 words or less) on Western history published in any journal other than the Western Historical Quarterly. Established in recognition of the late Ray Allen Billington's leadership in the field of Western history, the award provides $400 to the author and $100 to the journal in which the article was published. The purpose of the award is to encourage authors and editors alike to seek excellence in the field of Western history. To be eligible, an article must deal with a topic relating to the North American West, including Mexico, Canada, and Alaska. Articles are judged according to the significance of each as a contribution to knowledge, the skill and imaginativeness with which the author has done research in original materials or has reinterpreted some well-known question, and the literary quality of the essay. Nominations must be published in the award year (2025 for the 2026 cycle) and may be made only by the editors of participating publications, though editors may seek the advice of their editorial board or a special committee. If a self-nominated article is received, the committee chair will ask the author to request a letter of nomination from the journal in which their work appeared. The award cycle opens January 15 and submissions are due by March 15, with recipients notified at the end of August. This prestigious prize has been awarded annually since 1979, recognizing outstanding scholarship in Western American history.